Arunatara - 6

The Jet Airways Boeing 777 - 35 R with white engines and grey cowling was landing at Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji  airport  terminal one which is meant for the domestic planes. Terminal two is the international planes. Arunatara was watching the city of success from the window.  One side the city's impressive  skyline was eye feasting. The skyscrapers were gleaming in the beautiful orange rays of setting sun. just beside her sat Arati the wife of an army officer. It was the first time Arunatara was flying with her but Arati doesn't feel they are strangers. For a long time she watched Aruna on TV. Aruna glanced  at Arati who was ogling at Arunatara with owe and admiration.  " I watched the Maya mythological TV serial. Your dance has made it a resounding success." Aruna smiled and said " I am attending Turiya Films Maya serial Success celebration." Like Mrinalini Sarabhai, you are born to dance. You are eternal." said Arati.  " Dance is eternal. I am transitory" said Aruna.   They laughed together.  "I come to Mumbai rarely. This airport is something special" said Aruna to Arati.  

"Mumabi airport is the country's second busiest after the Delhi airport. The airport spreads over a total land area of 750 hectares and handles about 950 aircraft  per day. It  is named after the 17th-century Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in 1999 from the previous "Sahar Airport". It is situated across the suburbs of Santa Cruz and Sahar Village in Vile Parle East." Arati briefed 

Santa Cruz, Yes this name is familiar to me but I don't know that it is the name of the village. History is so interesting. It makes me feel great"  Arati understood that Aruna was excited to know more. 

"It is a Portuguese name meaning Holy Cross. Mother Teresa's missionaries had home for destitutes at this place.  This home had a chapel with big cross - Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz was actually the name of the church. The church which was destroyed by Marathas. Later when the railways started operations in 1888 they gave the name to the railway station. Thus Santa Cruz came into existence" said Arati.

The plane  was high in the sky looked like a sparrow, soon became a dove.  A few moments later it appeared like boat. It was coming close to the ground. 

From out side the Airport  Boeing 777  floating like a bird.  " Look there somebody at the boundary wall of the airport was shooting the plane with a camera in hand. why is he shooting? Don't they need permission?"  

 Mumbai is a paradise for the plane spotters. Like bird watchers there are plane watchers. From over the boundary wall of the airport that runs along the Gaondevi slum  somebody is shooting landing of the plane. After all this is popular and prestigious  Boeing 777.  Just at that moment the landing gear opened. Seconds later the wheels touched the ground producing white smoke.  The plane was on the runway. The passengers cheered.   The plane was taxiing (rarely spelled taxying,It is the movement of an aircraft on the ground, under its own power) gently gliding like a boat on the water. Finally when the plane stopped after a few minutes the boarding stairs was brought. Aruna took leave of Arati , walked ahead and reached the stairs. 

She looked around standing on the top of the stairs.  She is 5'10'', curvaceous body with pretty round face and dark black eyes.  Her eyebrows are challenging the cupid's bows. Her eyes are quivers that have stored powerful glances which are sharper than arrows.  Maskara touch up eyelashes remind cool shady Cadamba trees. Her neck is like a ivory seashell.  Her round firm breasts look like large round shadock fruits. With carbon color back open blouse and peacock color saree draped around her beautiful golden complexioned body she sparkled like a jewel in the orange shade of the sky.  A jewel that often the  rich craved to buy.

 As she started climbing down the steps her golden breasts started bouncing like pouncing tigers.  Her electrifying beauty passes a shock through the beholders' eyes.  Their hearts skip a beat and nerves get twisted with the heat.   She is the red star standing under another red star. Her foot is light and lips are dark. She is not the singing lark but a  dancing peacock  that gives beholders a sweet shock. Even at this middle age. She looks like a peacock with a beautiful plumage. No one believes that  she is fifty. Her ways with men  are thrifty. She is awesome with firm bossom. She has the look of a fresh blossom.  

Aruna a climbed down the stairs and started walking towards the exit gate. Several passengers were walking behind her. Some people recognised her and started saying " Oh! She is the dancing Queen" The commotion increased Aruna could hear their murmur. She was walking steadily with her half moons dancing. Their eyes are fixed on her half moons.  "Look  how her rotund back is dancing!"  said a lean man with his corpulent friend. "They are dancing rhythmically.  I am absorbed in the rhythm." replied the corpulent man. So my heart lost its rhythm ever since I saw that rhythm said the third man.

 Aruna stopped and turned back. She saw Arati coming towards her. She wanted to take leave of Arati. Arati saw her from a distance. "What a beautiful pose!" She thought. Aruna's stance reminds Arati of great sculpture on the  massive columns of Elephanta caves. The airport is transformed into Elephanta caves.  Arati who stood beside her and kept staring at her.  

Cameras her beauty can not capture 

She is creator's stunning signature 

Her lovely shape is a great escape

From dullness and despair

Men and women stand agape

where is the flower so fair

She has in her a thousand flowers 

Each flower has a lyrical poem

that  exotic fragrance showers

That entices bumble bees to hum

Aruna waved her hand on Arati's face and brought her into this world.  I want to see your dance live. I think you are you going to dance in the program.  " I am not sure, but there are dance programs ahead. I will send you invitation in advance." said Aruna. They both shook hands. Aruna walked to the exit gate where she saw the representatives of the Turiya Telefilm with bouquet in hands. They led her to Innova Crysta waiting for her. Aruna got into the car and the car moved. 

                                                                        ***

Aruna alighted the car at Oberai Hotel and saw Naidu waiting for her with a bouquet. Hello Aruna! Welcome to Mumbai. He gave her the bouquet and took her hand.  Aruna said shaking his hand" Mr. Naidu you are here!? It is bizarre when did you come?" asked Aruna. Naidu smiled " I traveled in the same flight and sat just behind you. You did not notice me. Of course You could not because there is always a group of people around you. Aruna smiled and left her hand but Naidu did not. I want to talk to you. I could not get you in the phone. That's why you traveled all the way from Hyderabad to Mumbai? You are great ! " laughed Aruna. "Not from Hyderabad, from Visakshapatnam" Aruna was shocked. The shock was hidden under her sweet smile and a pleasant  surprise was revealed. They moved into the conference hall.     

The large rectangular conference hall has a stage decorated with electric lamps. Behind six lavish decorative darbar chairs a colorful banner of Maya Serial was hung with actors of the play. Arunatara 's splendid dance pose dominates all the other pictures on the banner. Aruna was cordially invited on to the dais by the Producer of the Telefilm. The other actresses sitting on the stage were shining like stars vying with the electric chandeliers but they hardly had any glitters when Aruna got on to the dais. She out shined them all like the moon that outshines all the stars. Naidu was also invited on to the dais. Being producer of yesteryears he managed to get an invitation to the celebration of the small screen success. Mumabi University HOD of the Mythological studies, Director of the serial, Doordarshan Director and Head of Programs and a few actresses and actors were present on the dais.  Mumbai city mayor and a other prominent people were invited a s special guests. One among the special guests was Sashi , Member of the upper house from Kerala.  Aruna was center of attraction of the program. Her stunning looks haunted all the participants of the program. The university professor praised her dance. The city mayor praised her beauty. Mr. Sashi the MP while presenting Aruna a bouquet lost balance and in that pretext touched her tits. 

One participant from the front row of  spectators commented " what a courage! What a naughty man! " It is not  courage but wicked , Not naughty but insolence. It has been common in India that senior citizen politicians are openly touching women or passing sexiest comments against women. This lecherous man has terminated his third wife and craving for the fourth. The man sat next to him smiled and said that said " a woman is a flower. several Honey bees keep sucking nectar from it.  Even I want to make a film with her. The other man jeered at him thinking " I can not stand these lunatics" He muttered and shifted to the back rows. 

After the chief guest's speech the professor of Mythology is speaking. " The televising of the  mythological serial has huge impact on the admissions into mythological courses at Bombay University. There was an unprecedented surge in the admissions that I had to turned down several applications. I personally asked them to wait till next year. This is the first time in the decade we are running the mythology and history courses with full strength. I appreciate the director and the writer for making such a great serial. I wish that writers should consider stories with historical and mythological background. So that they can connect people to the culture and country."   If not for Arunatara Maya serial would not have become a success of this scale.  Every movement of her is registered in the minds of the audience. It seems that she is born to dance. She can serve the country better through her art  than being in politics.  The audience clapped incessantly. The conference hall is filled with cheers. Naidu who spoke next said that she should be in films. 

 Kerala MP Mr. Shashi spoke next. "Mrs. Aruna  has plenty of attractive aspects not only in her dance but also in her body. Beauty is the most important prerequisite to dancers but not all dancers have it. Her beauty inspires like her dance." He concluded.  The applause was much bigger. The sound was a bit frightening. "Most audience voted for your beauty." whispered Shashi to Arunatara. 

The program was over.  The stage was empty. All spectators were leaving the hall slowly. The chairs also looked empty. Aruna was walking slowly Naidu was following her. Aruna I have a Luxury suit booked for tonight. I want to discuss the next movie with you. Tonight let us stay back. He proposed. Aruna's face turned red. Look Mr. Naidu, I am not wet behind ears college girl. I can see through your plan.  You too know that. I know that you have a financial crunch. you can not make movies. your time is up. My chances in movies came to an end. I am searching my future in politics. I don't know where I am heading to.  I have tough time in the party with internal politics. I am walking on fire. I am disturbed to the core.  Tomorrow I have a party meeting at Hyderabad. I have to decide whether to continue as women wing leader or quit. My ticket is booked to Hyderabad. I must go. " Aruna , Let me be frank I agree that I can not make films but I will not ask any favour for free." Naidu took  a pack of currency held her hands and trying to stuff it.  Aruna turned furious " Mr. Naidu I still have some respect for you because of your rich past and poor present. Don't lose that."shouted  Aruna and forcefully withdrawn her hands.  A vexed Naidu too shouted at her and threw the pack of currency on her face. 

Aruna stood like a statue with utter insult and disgust. Two journalists came running to her with cameras in her hands. Shashi sent them off.  Some spectators who were moving slowly stopped to watch the game. There is cinema near by. Go watch if you want fun. The people simpered at him and went out. Tears were swelling in Aruna's eyes. She walked out of the conference hall with a heavy heart. 

Shashi followed her. She entered the restaurant, sat at a corner and ordered fruit juice. There is dim light. In that semi darkness Aruna felt a hand landed on her shoulder. She peered her eyes and made out it was Shashi. Shashi spoke so gently like soprano music " The people are wild. The world is vile. we can not expect better behaviour in this culture. People like you must come to the forefront and take the gauntlet. You are a woman of substance you should not be shaken by such storms stand like mountains. Aruna's grief enhanced. Shashi said again If you are the real leader learn to overcome the grief. There is a way to  increase the pain threshold  limit. 

Aruna looked surprised. " come on I will tell you this is not the right place. You should not take fruit juice at this time." He took her to the bar and offered champagne. Aruna was contemplative.  He blamed Velugu party but praised her work in Velugu party.  They both sipped champagne. The bar was cool and silent.  Velugu party is a family party. It is a small regional party that doesn't deserve  honest people like you. You need a bigger platform. Our party is a national party. He gave his card and put his hand on her shoulder.  I will make you the queen in the politics trust me. He pressed his hand on her shoulder. Aruna looked into his eyes. They are filled with desire. She said " I have to move" She rose from the seat and exited the bar.  Men are men. She said.