Didi was standing on the right hand side wing of the stage and me on the left side. It was decided to have , one of us at each side of stage. The reason was very clear to us. It was an international level dance competition. Dance was over and we had served the purpose to do so.
The stage was Balgandhrav. One of the most prestigious stage in Pune with sitting capacity of almost 1000 and a very big stage to perform. Girls of our dance class were performing “Gananaykay” song in semi classical category and they had done it amazingly well.
Though we could not win the competition, as soon as the dance was over Didi was called on the stage to present with a Group dance Trophy, Certificate to each participant and the Group, as a token of appreciation of the performance.
I knew now the volunteers would ask us to leave the stage or at least the wings. She has been asking to do so, since the time performance started. But I told her the reason why we were there and managed to stay there till dance was done.
She was approaching me, but this time not only the volunteer but the lady who was hosting the show . Yes , both of them. I just nodded and was again busy looking at didi on stage. They had not given trophy yet. Don't know for what they were waiting. Those two ladies were asking me something over n over again. “Her Name? Her name” ...
Ohh Her name ...”Her Name is Akshada.”
Didi was presented with flowers and trophy, and now it was time for one more team member to be there. It was neither me nor the whole group. Only One girl “Akshada”and she couldn't get it. Sh could not get that her name was called. She could not get everyone was clapping for her. I elbowed her and told in a language she could understand , that she is supposed to go on stage and accompany Didi.
Every one on the stage , in the audience and backstage too ,were clapping for her. The other competitors too. I just changed the wing . Little bit away from the other girls of our class and to my own surprise the reason for this were those tears in my eyes.
Very rarely my tears accompany me, but yes this time I was crying. Experiencing over joy can actually make you cry. But why so? It was definitely only for Akshada.
How God can be so rude? So heartless? He had presented her everything. One of the most beautiful fair girl with large watery eyes which most of the times are associated with a dancer, yes she was dedicated ,honest, sincere and hardworking dancer. She is sent on earth for dance, I can see that ,purpose was very clear but then why without hearing ability?? Why did he forget that???
But she never had any problem with that. It was not only her physical challenge but financial challenge for her family to start her, taking dance lessons. It was some 5 years ago she joined our class and Didi never asked anything else other than her devotion.
Since then she is learning Dance, coordinating each and every move. For her exams ,we do not sit on the right hand side, which is the usual expected case from the examiner, but in font of her so that she can read our lips. And she never let us down, she never missed a beat. And she has passed 2 levels at 2 different university with flying colors. She has transferred every minute of our effort into a success story.
She can hear at a very low power with her hearing aids, but even wearing them cause a lot of headache and sometimes even the infection in her hearing canals.But against all these odds this little angle of just 14 years is learning this most hard classical dance “Bharatnatyam” and excelling in it . Every single stage performance by her let it be pure dance one or the “Hanuman” played by her in a dance drama of 60 students “Ramayana” .She has proved us correct and has always made us proud. This was one of such occasion. She had depicted Lord Shankar very strongly with her well defined expressions, those large eyes and looks to every step as we had thought of it. I could see the audience's expression when they came to know about her special ability. Even the thought that she has some problem had not touched anyone's' mind till the time the lady who was hosting the show announced this.
As usual her parents and this time additionally me were those , who were crying and she was enjoying the moment. The appreciation goes to her parents as well. Even not being so strong financially they had dared to follow what she wanted , they had dared to send her not only to dance class but the school of completely physically able student. They were taking care of her timing , dropping her to class on time and picking her up as she can not travel alone. Without hearing the voice of cars sometimes it is difficult and risky to cross the roads for her. The moment we looked at her, it was time to turn our tears into smiles.
The smile of her which said this is just the beginning and I have a long way to go and you all can not cry for me . I am going to make you smile. The twinkling eyes promised that she is going to achieve more than this . She is the greatest inspiration not only for other students in the class but for me too. We always creep over the things not being in our favor, and think that we don not enough things keep on searching for something more but forget to thank , at least we have everything we need ,to try ,to excel, to get the best thing we think we deserve for ourselves. Yes god bless her with the strength and all positive attitude for all her achievements. I do experience truth of the saying "Ignorance of the ability creates disability".
