Title: A Night in India

by Pinkcat4569

No spoilers, Rating: K+

Part Three

After everyone had eaten, Bernie appeared in front of the canteen.

"Ladies and Gentleman, tonight for your entertainment we have a special display of Indian folk dances. Different regions of India have different dances. The following is not a specific form, it is more of an homage to the different dances you shall find across India."

To Becker's surprise, alarm, and excitement, Jess appeared, wearing the same thing she'd had on all night. As music resembling a Bollywood film played, Jess swayed her hips slowly, moving around the little stage area. She moved her arms side to side, carefully making hand gestures as she went. The gestures seemed an important part of the dance since she made so many of them. She carefully pointed her palms up, moving her fingers into various positions.

She moved her head from side to side, gracefully. She slowly twirled, allowing the sari to twirl with her. Then she shook her hips, not gyrating but slowly, rhythmically following the music. She reached up at one point and removed the veil, bringing it along as she danced. She was graceful as she moved her hips and her arms, the fabric of the sari and the veil sashaying around her. She then lifted her hands above her head, pointing up, and smiled. The music stopped.

The room broke into applause. She then looked at Becker and smiled. He simply sat there, pleasantly smiling. She hadn't noticed him clapping, but she wasn't offended. The way he looked at her was better than applause. His smile was sweet, his cheeks lightly pink, and his eyes never left hers.

"Thank you," she said, bowing to the audience. "I've only had a few lessons, and honestly I am rubbish. So, I've asked my teacher to perform for you, and trust me, she deserves the applause. Please welcome, Sashi."

A beautiful young Indian woman came in. She was barefoot, wore a bright purple dress, adorned with lots of beads and jewels, chains and necklaces. She looked a little like a gypsy dancer. Sashi began to dance, and Jess walked over to Becker.

"That was beautiful," he said softly as she returned to his side.

"Thank you," she said breathlessly. "It's a lot harder than it looks!"

"You were right, by the way. I do owe you an apology. You were very graceful," he said.

She blushed. "Thank you." They smiled at each other.

Jess turned to watch the performance, and Becker did too, but he couldn't help sneaking peeks at Jess.

Sashi danced alone, doing some of the moves Jess had done, but much more complex. Then, four other dancers, all women, joined. They twirled and moved in a circle, doing mudras, the name for ritual movements of the hands.

The dancers linked hands performing a few circular movements as one, then they broke into two pairs, with Sashi in the middle, doing a solo of complicated back bends, splits, and rolls. The other dancers linked hands and moved around in circles. Then the five dancers lined up and performed more hip movements and mudras.

The audience broke out with applause at the finish of the performance. Jess clapping and screaming.

The music began playing again, and this time men in Indian dress began to dance. They wore long flowing coats in white or a faded, dusty red, with pants of the same color. They carried large brass pots that they put on their heads as they danced. At one point they took their hands from them and balanced the pots on their heads as they danced.

Whistles and murmurs of amazement complemented the dancers. Becker, however, was not paying attention. In the back of the canteen, behind the lunch counter, Jess had retreated. She was doing something with her sari.

Becker watched as she removed some of the necklaces. She then began to unwrap the sari, making Becker realize that it was one long piece of fabric. As she unwrapped the sari, her legs became visible. The long piece of fabric came off, revealing a short orange skirt. It was delicate but a little stiffer than the sari material, with green embroidered into it. Next, Jess took off the green top, revealing a sleeveless tank underneath. It was the same orange color as the skirt, and was made of the stiffer material. It had light orange embroidered into it and thin bands of green around the collar, sleeves and waist band.

As for Jess' waist, Becker could see it now, as there was a space of several inches between the skirt and the tank. Her belly button was showing.

She removed the veil completely, and took down her hair. She then put the necklaces back on. She kicked off her flat orange shoes and put on a pair of red high heels.

She joined Becker at the table. "Better?" she asked.

"Definitely," he said with a big smile. "You looked beautiful before but," he said as his eyes lingered on her legs, "I prefer this look."

Jess laughed.

The dancers had stopped, and the floor was turned over to anyone wanting to try some folk dancing. Sashi and the other dancers remained, offering guidance to the new dancers.

Abby was pretty good at the mudras. Connor kept causing one of the pots to fall to the floor with repeated loud bangs. Matt didn't approve of the dancing at all. He wanted to hold Emily in his arms as he danced. Emily enjoyed the dancing, so Matt finally backed up and just watched her.

Becker and Jess stayed at their table. Becker was satisfied with staring at Jess' belly button and legs. Jess was content to sit and be stared at.

Lester was arguing with Bernie.

"There has to be an alcoholic beverage indigenous to the peoples of India," he said. "What kind of a culture would condemn husbands to sobriety all the time? It's barbaric."

"At least this time Mr. Lester," said Bernie, "you should have a 100% attendance tomorrow morning."

Lester grunted. "True, although Japanese night seemed much more fun. What I remember of it, of course."

Bernie just smiled.

Lester glanced over at Jess. "I wonder what that pretty little head has in store for us next time?"

"She did mention something about Greece," said Bernie.

"Greece?" asked Lester, perking up. "They have that wonderful ouzo, don't they?"

Bernie groaned. "Sir, the way people are misled by ouzo to think they aren't drunk, then get hit later on with intoxication, you'd have a minus percentage of workers the next day."

"True, but it will be one hell of a good party. Bernie, I'm making this a direct order: starting stocking up on ouzo."

"Yes sir," said Bernie. "I'll also stock up on pain medication, coffee, and all kind of remedies for hang-overs."

"Good man."

Jess and Becker had heard.

"Goody," she said, clapping her hands. "Pita bread, lots of fish, grape leaves, gyros, baklava..."

"Togas," said Becker. "Are you sure you want to subject this crowd to Temple in a toga, because you know he will."

Jess laughed. "So will I Captain. Can you stand the sight of me in a short little toga?"

Becker smiled. "Is this a trick question?"

"Maybe you should join Connor in a toga," she said, causing Becker to look at her in alarm. "Ooh, let's make it 'GREEK TOGA NIGHT.' Everyone has to wear a toga, and crowns of laurel leaves, ooh, and sandals. This will be so much fun."

Becker groaned and said, "Just make me sure you pass me some ouzo before you put me in a toga."

End of "A Night In India"