"I spy you!" - 29

He was keenly looking at her. She had to go up six steps to be on the stage. She walked up the steps just like Charlie Chaplin and there was a huge round of applause.

She shook hands with both the judges and gracefully accepted the prize.

“Now, we would like to know the true identity of the person. Could you please show your real face?” asked the senior judge.

She took off her hat and shook her hair loose. Then she pulled the brush moustache with alacrity.

Now there was a bigger sound of claps. All of them stood up to clap.

Vasupradha’s eyes scanned the crowd to single out the Mask man. Oh, he has removed his mask. By seeing him and his expression, her legs felt rubbery and she was sure she will fall down. She bravely came down the steps just like Charlie Chaplin both feet on each step and removing the hat at every step.

The claps continued till she reached the seat next to Durjaya. His mouth was agape with her charade.

He just kept on shaking her hand for quite some time.

There was quiet after that. All went for dinner. As she filled her plate with the snacks and searched for a place to sit, a voice said, “That was a smart performance!” The same voice, the manly voice, which was making her melt like ice cream.

She now looked at his face boldly. Really a great face. Each part of the face was made with perfection. And his body! It was a match for his good looking face. Oh God, I hope I will not fall for him. He has all the characters of Adonis.

“Thank you!” she said and sat down thankfully on a stool and placed her plate on the table.

“My name is Pushpahaasa! You are Vasupradha?” he asked.

So, this man has done some homework between my appearance on stage and the dinner.

“Pushpahaasa! Very rare name” she blurted out just to talk something. Then she bit her tongue. She knew what he will tell!

“Yes madam! Just like yours, my parents also searched the same scripture to name me!” he smiled. Oh God, what a smile!

She felt she was split into two. One portion wanted to see him forever. The other portion wanted to avoid him, that too only to avoid a heart ache!

Oh no, not during the first meeting. Have I not seen more handsome men? She tried to reason out herself.

Even as he was trying to strike a conversation with her, he got a call.

The moment he said “Yes!” and heard the message from the other side, his face became like a mask. He went some distance, spoke a few words, came back, nodded at her and left in a hurry.