The opera house was thundering with loud cheer.and applause that seemed to be unending.
But all of a sudden everything went silent. All she could feel was a deafening buzz increasing exponentially in decibels that carried her down to the memory lane.
Papa’s nanhi pari, Gudiya used to run around the house for hours moving her hands in a weird manner which gradually metamorphosed into graceful dance movements. Every function that she performed in, be it in her society or her school, she brought out a completely different aspect of her personality. And her talent was equally acknowledged and appreciated until that fateful day.
While returning from school she met with an accident. Her father couldn’t survive the injuries and Gudiya suffered severe injuries including multiple fractures.
Her mother was shattered but gathered herself for her little princess.
As days passed by, nanhi Gudiya recovered from her injuries and the focus of her mother shifted towards academics and her passion took a backseat.
“Gudiya, what’s this? Again a remark in your diary for incomplete homework. Listen now you’re growing up and girls in our society take up respected professions. Better concentrate on your studies. There’s no space for passion and hobbies at this stage of life. We need a stable and secure future for you and I don’t want this world to comment that I wasn’t able to guide you correctly after Papa”, her mother used to often scold her.
“You can follow your passion later. As for now you and I both will have to lead our life exactly the way this society expects from us”, her mother reminded her every second day.
Hence Gudiya’s passion became limited to her school cultural and annual functions.
Years flew fast and Nanhi Gudiya grew into charming Soniya.
Soniya was as good in her academics as graceful she was with her movements. Her marksheets gained her entry in a very reputed college.
Soniya took up English honours as she wanted to be a lecturer.
But her passion to become a classical dancer was still limited to her performances in the culture events of her college and inter- college competitions.
It was during one of those functions, that she met Sahil.
Sahil, a student of final year economics honours fell for her at first sight.
Together they weaved their future dreams.
“I’ll always support you in pursuing your dreams Soniya”, Sahil lovingly replied whenever Soniya enthusiastically talked about her wishes and goals.
A couple of years later, they got married. Soniya, now a professor at a prestigious college and a student of Bachelor of performing arts, training in Bharatnatyam . “”Ta-thai-tigi-thai-tak-dhin-naa………..””
The rhythm and the beats that had attracted Soniya since her early childhood, now seemed to become a reality.
But before this could actually happen, her IAS husband got posted in a remote area and the family expected her to accompany him. After all, a wife’s duty was foremost.
“How do you expect me to leave my job and just move on like a normal housewife with you”, she had questioned Sahil that night.
“What about my dreams and your support”…… “I do support you dear but we also have a bond as a newly wed couple, we have a family to start. You can follow your passion there too by teaching in some schools and helping girls learn the basics of dance to pass time”.
“After all it’s not about earning money, I’m there for it”, Sahil’s reply broke her heart and she got no support either from her mother or in-laws.
She reluctantly quit her job to join Sahil.
Soniya tried taking up a job in a school but her husband’s post came in her way. He didn’t want people to mock him. How could a DM’s wife be a normal school teacher, he argued.
And thus Soniya finally turned into a housewife heading several mahila samiti’s and welfare organisations which were formed more for the entertainment of the likes of her rather than for some serious social work.
Once a NGO invited her for an event, where she performed a dance drama to educate girls but the very next she became the topic of discussion.
“How could she do this ???”, they all questioned.
“Doesn’t she care about her husband’s dignity?
She felt suffocated.
A few months later, a pregnancy followed by twins completely changed her life.
Her dreams, passion, all set aside.
Working 24/7 to take care of kids, behaving as an ideal mother and yielding to everyone’s expectations.
Years flew by.
But one moment, one act washed away everything she’d done.
And there she stood alone abandoned by the man for whom she had sacrificed everything in life.
It took her another couple of years to recover from the shock but then she promised herself, her life.
She started her dancing journey once again.
“Isn’t it too late”, people questioned but now she didn’t care to reply or pay attention to their comments
And today during the arangetram ceremony she finally embraced her happiness on stage.
Everyone was talking about her, not as a wife of somebody or a chairperson of some committee but as a woman who had dared to dream and defied restrictions posed by her age and circumstances.
And amongst that loud cheer, she announced an academy for girls from smaller towns where they would be taught to live their dreams”.
