With everyone

"Why won't you do something for the New Years party? All the neighbors are doing something."

God, my mom just doesn't seem to give up. Why this so important to her is beyond me.

"I am not interested to be on stage by myself ma." I reopened my phone to continue watching the video. "Besides, if all of them are doing something, there needs to be someone to watch and cheer them as well." I heard some muttering as she walked away which sounded like "stubborn". Well you don't say.

I resumed my video. It was the climax of the movie we watched last week. Half of my friends circle went out to get water right before the ending and the other half were on their phones. How do people not like this part? I had walked out with them glancing over to catch glimpses till I left.

As I watched it now, it was what I had seen a million variations of on social media in reels and videos since.

The friends who fought apologized and they all enjoyed a concert together.

A pang of shame accompanied me as I was scrolling past the different versions of it I had saved on Instagram.

Nah, everyone must have corny cheap thrills to feel good. They must be. Right? Surely?

I see the time and swiftly lock the screen. I have definitely exceeded the fictional quota for the day. My phone brightened by itself testing my self-control. It was Nancy.

"Why aren't you in the RSVP sheet? Aren't you coming? You have to be there. You cannot miss this time. I'll freeze if I don't have someone to see in the audience"

I smiled. For a person who has a passion of anchoring and hosting events, how can you still have stage fright?

"I'll be there, just not on stage." I replied and threw my phone on the bed.

The day was filled with message overload. What is with everyone today? I never get this many messages. I resisted the urge to check, as I couldn't bear the feeling that I might watch the video again. I strutted around my building, a little puzzled that I didn't spot Nancy or the others. Especially before New years. Usually I can see them buzzling around preparing for tonight's party. Hmm. Maybe they are, just not outside.

Before I knew it, it was evening and my mom started chasing me to get ready. The theme was space. I looked around - looks like I don't have any party outfits fitting the theme. My mom seemed to read my face before I register my thoughts. "What will you wear now?"

I looked around, my eyes caught my favorite. But then I immediately refused myself and shook my head.

I definitely cannot wear that. Or... can I? It definitely fits the theme.

The shirt was a illustration of the solar system with faces with a quote "The earth is never alone."

As if telepathy was real, my phone buzzed with the latest message from Nancy: "Wear the dorky team space outfit. Those of us that don't have it torn will be wearing it. I have no idea why you like it lol."

I grinned and my mom shook her head and walked off. This was the last confirmation I needed.

Later that night, my mom and I proudly strutted into the hall - her wearing her stunning saree with the blue sparkles and me with my science dork shirt. Everyone turned to greet us and I wasn't sure, but I could've sworn gave me pity glance.

The event started - I saw the plays about the space colonization and the choir about the orbits. Suddenly I had myself wishing I was doing something too. I clapped and cheered the others, and hid back my urges to volunteer to do something last minute. Suddenly the lights went out.

Oh my goodness. Nancy hasn't performed yet -

And suddenly I saw my friends appear with spotlight on them one by one. Mohan, Garima, Nishanth, Ravi, Hema.....Nancy! As they came to center of the floor a little ahead of me, I saw what was happening. They started moving to spots with a star on the floor as if to take meant positions. I could see their space shirts glow along with my own in the light. Nancy looked up a second and grinned at me and looked down again as the lights dimmed down with music gently coming up.

IT WAS A FLASH MOB!

The beats - I know these beats! They were from the movie we watched! The band of friends would play this in their every gig. I had been messaging non stop about this choreography of this song this year on our friends group and they started performing on it.

Wow.

I saw people slowly joining in from the back. One by one, the people from my sides started joining the group. I looked to my side- my mom had joined them as well!

IT WAS THE SAME CHOREOGRAPHY I SHARED!

Well played ma.

Nancy kept signaling for me to join them. I smiled and rushed to join them. My head was giddy with happiness. The steps came to me right away. What I loved more though was that -We were in sync.

Everyone had learnt the steps, the sneaky lot.

I caught myself as I stumbled over the step where we jumped 3 times to the beat. A couple of others in my view tripped and caught themselves too. I laughed and resumed back to the music totally out of sync now.

But it didn't matter.

As my friends and I completely went out of rhythm with the song we were laughing and started dancing in a circle like kids just swaying their legs in and out. We laughed so much that we had tears in our eyes. I looked around them, a grateful curve appearing on my lips.

Somewhere I knew there was a video of this being recorded and a part of me couldn't wait to watch it on repeat without shame for the rest of my life.