An enigmatic juggler

 Sakshi was entering the huge circus tent, with twelve years old brother walking beside her. He was very happy as he finally got a chance to watch circus. He had been requesting his parents from a long time but because of their busy schedule, they sent their two children only. Sakshi was eleven years elder to her brother and would take care of his brother like a mother.

They both sat in the front row and were enjoying the performances. After the performance of the birds, which was beautifully choreographed, came the clown.

"He is not looking like a clown Di! He is so tall! I love small clowns!" Saketh who had been a big fan of clowns ,said nervously.

"Let's see what he does! You will enjoy it!" Sakshi assured him. But she also felt that clown had a stronger physique to be a clown.

The joker came in the center of the stage and started performing his juggling show. He was amazingly seamless and fluid in his movements. The siblings were enjoying the performance and saketh even clapped and cheered loudly. Suddenly, the clown looked at Sakshi and their eyes met and Sakshi felt like everything came to a standstill! She felt a peculiar and strong emotion inside her. She was surrounded by hundred of people but it was the clown only whose presence she was feeling. People were shouting and cheering but she was not able to hear anything and there was a complete silence for her.

          The  joker's face was covered with paint, disguising his identity....but his eyes were full of emotions. The link between their eyes was broken by saketh who said something to his sister which was incomprehensible at that moment. The clown turned his attention towards the rest of the audience. He was juggling with common props like balls, cubs and rings which then he turned into  fire torches and knives. Sakshi was looking at him mesmerized by his eyes. She felt instant connection with him which she never felt with anyone before.

                   When the performance was over, and the audience were rolling with laughter, the clown bowed to the audience and he came towards the ring where Sakshi was sitting, and looking at her with the same hypnotizing look...he bowed! He took his cap into his hand , twisted it and placed it on his head. He placed his right arm on his heart and bowed and Sakshi felt that it was specially for her. He winked at her, tuned around and left. Sakshi didn't remember any of the performances after that, because, she was busy looking towards the clown went off.

                   ******************

     It had been two days since siblings went to the circus, and Sakshi still felt linked to the clown's eyes. And the next day, her friends planned to go for the show, she happily agreed.

  "Dad please book the tickets for the same seats which you have booked that day!" She told her dad. She was tossing and turning in her bed because of the anxiety to see the show again.

                      *****************

  She was wearing a beautiful pink tunic and light makeup for the show. Though, she never paid attention towards how she looked... and kept that God had blessed her with sharp features, but this was special! She wanted those eyes on her again.

   And, it was finally the joker's performance. As soon as she saw him walking towards the ring, her heart started pounding. He came and directly looked at her and smiled! He started his performance  intermittently looking at her. After the act was over, he bowed to the audience, and then finally to sakshi in a style, which was only for her. Twisting his cap, right hand on his heart, he bowed to her and winked...and then exited the ring. Sakshi didn't remember any other thing after that.

    After the show was over, and  when they were to leave  the tent, her friends decided to take pictures with circus performers but Sakshi was looking around for someone else.

"May I help you mam !" Sakshi was suprised by the voice and for fraction of a second, wished that it should be the clown! She turned around And saw a handsome man around thirty, dressed in rich clothes and wearing an authoritative  look on his face .

"Ummm...actually my friends and taking pictures..so I am waiting for them!" She said looking at her four friends who were surrounding a tiger trainer .

"Oh....okay! Did you enjoy the show mam?"  He asked.

"Yes! A lot...you ...do you work here?" She asked squinting her eyes.

"Actually I own this circus!" He replied with a smile.

"Oh ..really! I never met a circus owner before!" She said with a smile ' you know who the clown is then!' she thought

"Haha! They are normal people like everyone else!" He replied.

She smiled at him. She was intermittently looking towards the performers tent in hope to see the juggler.

"Well, if you really like the show, then I will request you to give your number so that I may get a chance to invite you for our special show!" He said.

"Okay!" Sakshi gave her number. She was delighted that once again she Would get a a chance and a reason to see the clown and if everything goes well, she could even get a chance to meet him.

" Hey Sakshi ..who is this handsome?" asked her friend.

"Oh! He is the owner of the circus,Mr....?" Sakshi looked at him questioningly.

"Oh! I am shekar!" he replied with a smile.

In a while shekar was surrounded by Sakshi's friends posing for selfies.

                 ******************

That night Sakshi got a message from shekar, thanking her for her appreciation of the show. And that was the beginning of endless conversation between them in the coming days. One more time Sakshi managed to go to the circus with her cousins and Saketh. She saw the clown and accepted his bow  with a smile. She would often practised his bowing style infront of the mirror at home. She met shekar also, not just once, but many times. They even went for a coffee and dinner once.

                     She felt very comfortable with shekar, and whenever he was around, she felt as if she is the most beautiful and important person in the world. He would always make her special.

And finally the day came when the circus company was  about to leave to the other city. Shekar called her for a special show where the circus artists performing to show their appreciation towards the people in the city for their relentless support and encouragement. She went to the show and saw the juggler clown.He performed and bowed infront of her and even winked at her again. He left the ring...and when a the performances were over, shekar with selected group members came to the ring. He thanked people who heartedly for their support and even promised to visit the city again.

       Shekar looked at Sakshi and smiled! Sakshi was leaving the tent when she got a call from shekar, who invited her to have dinner with the circus team. She agreed happily and shekar took her to the make shift dinning room. There were a group of performers welcomed her. She felt so delighted. She knew Shekar was very attracted towards her....even in their meeting she often doubted that he would propose her. And, she was also attracted towards him. He was the only person who understood her very good. With him, she never had to ask for anything,...he just knew her so well! Her friends often teased her by calling call them as made for each other.

        But there was a small space in her heart who still was waiting for the clown. She even asked Shekar about him.....and he told her that the juggler was very shy and often keeps to himself only.

                       In the dinning room, there were performers wearing normal dress and without makeup ....'if the clown is around ,I may not even know...and what I should ask shekar...the juggler who winked and bowed at me! and how will he feel then?' she thought. She felt that all the performers knew that she was her owner's choice. With that thought, she focused on the people around,.....she talked to them......laughed with them...and she was really enjoying the moment and feeling like she was the part that family. She saw Shekar was looking looking at her with admiration.

      "I am like a father and mother for my troops! They are my family...and I love them a lot!" Sakshi remembered shekar her that once. He really loved his people, she was sure of that... and she would love to be a part of Shekar's life and this family! She thought.

                    *******************

The next day, Shekar was meeting her for the last time. His troops would be out of city the next day! He wanted to meet her family and so, she invited him to her home. Her parents liked him a lot and he asked them her hand! Sakshi was very happy that he asked parents and not proposed her directly. They agreed happily when the dinner was over and Shekar stood up to leave, she went out with him!

"See you soon ,Sakshi!!" Shekar said. He went towards his car and turned around and bowed to her! He twisted his imaginary cap, put his right hand on his heart and winked. Sakshi looked with wide eyes ....she ran to him.

"You....are you....? She mumbled holding his face in her hands.

"Yes Mam!!! I am the juggler!" he replied winking at her.

Sakshi didn't know what to say....she hugged him tightly.... And they both laughed happily!

        Though it was their last meeting for a while, but it was a promise of a wonderful life ahead!!!!