There were a total of 6 couples to perform the dance and out of that the only reel couple was Chitra and Abdul. They were to be the last to perform. There was a big screen setup backstage where the contestants can watch the others perform live as they waited.
The auditorium was packed since the programs held by their community was famous for their quality and grandeur. Since the population of their block mostly comprised of young couples the majority of the audience were also young as it was mostly comprised of them and their friends. So the atmosphere was electric with enthusiasm and energy.
Chitra was nervously watching the packed auditorium when she heard a coyly female voice calling her name from behind. She turned around to see Pooja and Narien, the couple representing their neighboring block walking towards her. They were both in their late twenties and was one of the hotshot couples of their community. She didn't know them well personally, but she never liked them as they always walked around with an arrogant air about them like they were above everybody else. She had briefly met Pooja an year back in another one of their community functions. She was seated next to her in the audience. And they had got to know each other a bit. Though Pooja always talked sweet on the outside Chitra never felt any sincerity behind her words and false smiles. The dance competition held that day was for solo performances and both Karthick and Narein was in it. Chitra could still remember her disgruntled expression when Karthick was announced as the winner of the competition instead of her husband. She had stomped off throwing a disgusted glance in her direction and they had never talked to each other since.
"Wow you look hot.." Pooja said on her usual coyly false voice as she looked Chitra up and down.
Chitra knew she was dressed sexier than usual but it was nothing compared to what Pooja was wearing. The skimpy glittering blouse Pooja was wearing was showing off a generous amount of her ample cleavage. And the skirt she was wearing though floor length had big slits on either sides that started all the way from her hips so that her entire legs would become visible every now and then when she moved. Combined with her hourglass figure and a dangling navel ring to top it all off she looked drop dead sexy.
"Thanks Pooja." Chitra replied back smiling. "But look at you. Wow!! Next to you I probably look like a housemaid." She joked.
Both Pooja and Narien laughed out loud at that. Chitra could tell Pooja really lapped up that compliment and secretly agreed with her statement. Just then Abdul walked upto them.
"Hey man" Narein greeted him. "We heard you were stepping in for Karthick tonight. Too bad Karthick couldn't make it though. He was hell of a dancer."
Chithra could tell Narein and Pooja were thrilled at Karthick's absence by their expressions. His presence would have made the competition a hell a lot tougher for them.
"Yea too bad" Abdul said wistfully. "He was sorry himself for not being able to make it. But hey, he trained us himself for this performance."
Narien and Pooja exchanged a look at that.
"Cool. He must have taught you a lot of moves" Pooja said snidely.
"Actually since I am such a great dancer Karthick recommended its better I don't move much at all and let Chitra do most of the dancing" Abdul said laughing.
Narien and Pooja laughed along gleefully. By their happy expressions Chitra could tell they have pretty much guaranteed their victories in their minds by now.
"Too bad we don't have much of an competition now. We have been training hard thinking Karthick and Chithra was gonna be our competition." Pooja said with fake sadness.
"Hey don't count us out yet." Abdul said indignantly. "We could still surprise you".
"Yea right." Pooja said giving Abdul's sturdy body a lookover. Though he was well built with six packs Pooja could tell there was little to no flexibility in his body.
Chitra was disgruntled by Pooja's arrogance. She so wanted to wipe that smug smile off her face. Till that moment Chitra only wanted to participate in the competition. Now she so badly wanted to win as well just to rub it in Pooja's and Narein's face.
Just then the loud voice of the host reverberated through the air welcoming the audience. After a short speech the voice announced the start of the dance program and introduced the first couple. The rest of the couples waiting backstage moved near the screen to watch their competitors dance.
The highlight of the function was its energetic crowd. They were a rampant lot cheering, jeering and catcalling all along the way. Siddharth, Prem and Faisal has managed to get seats in the front row itself as they were direct guests of one of the competitors. Prem had brought a video camera with him ready to film everything.
Once the dance performances started it was absolutely pandemonium in the hall. The audience cheered and clapped for the good performances and howled their throats out for the bad ones. One hour and 4 dances later it was turn of Pooja and Narien to perform. They had witnessed all the four performances from the backstage and they were all mediocre at best. They were confident and sure they had the competition in their bag. Chitra had even overheard them discussing how they were gonna spend their price money on an exotic vacation.
By the time they went out to perform Chitra was absolutely fuming. It was just her and Abdul in backstage now as the couples that have finished performing has went to join the audience.
The moment the opening beats of Pooja and Narien's performance began the atmosphere of the hall has become absolutely electrifying. To say it was hot was an understatement. The steps they have choreographed for themselves were so intimate that they were touching and caressing each other throughout the song. The whole performance seemed like one long musical makeout session with some dance thrown in between.
The winner of the competition was to be decided through sms voting from audience. And right now they were all heavily in favour Pooja and Narien after the sensual feast they have just put up on stage. Their performance ended on an high note with Pooja wrapped up in Narien's arms and her legs wrapped around his waist in a close embrace with his face buried in her ample cleavage. The performance ended with tumultuous applause and a standing ovation from the audience.
Meanwhile backstage Chitra and Abdul was staring at the screen openmouthed.
It was Chitra who voiced out loud what was going on in both their heads.
"How on world are we going to beat that?"
"We aren't." Abdul said dejectedly. "The best we can hope for now is the second place".
"No we can. We must." Chithra said determined. "Our choreography has a lot more actual dance moves in them than they do."
