There really is something special about garba nights, Ruchi mused. The colours are brighter, the lightsmore sparkly and the music…oh there’s no music like garba music. Everyone was on the dance floor. Girls who could move
like a dream, boys with unlimited energy, uncles with two left feet,
oh and those overweight aunties.. gosh how could they
be so beautifully
graceful?
However, she alone stood rooted at the periphery, bound by a
strange self consciousness that refused to leave her ever since she could
remember. Her heart danced to the music, her feet tapped in perfect time but she stood still, soaking in the
atmosphere.
strange self consciousness that refused to leave her ever since she could
remember. Her heart danced to the music, her feet tapped in perfect time but she stood still, soaking in the
atmosphere.
Like each year, soon she was balancing a bunch of bags, clutches,
mobile phones and cameras and clicking pictures for friends and strangers.
mobile phones and cameras and clicking pictures for friends and strangers.
She felt a tug at her dupatta and looked down to find Seher, her three
year old daughter. This was her first time at the Navartris and boy, was she
excited! She loved everything about it. Her brand new chaniya choli, her jewellery
and her bright yellow dandiya sticks. But most of all, she loved being the
centre of attraction.
year old daughter. This was her first time at the Navartris and boy, was she
excited! She loved everything about it. Her brand new chaniya choli, her jewellery
and her bright yellow dandiya sticks. But most of all, she loved being the
centre of attraction.
How beautiful she is, marvelled Ruchi, part of me yet so much her
own person, so very different.
own person, so very different.
“Mama I want to dance,” said Seher
“Go on baby, go and dance,” she said pointing to the dance floor.
“I want to dance with you,” she said.
“Okay darling,” said Ruchi. She found a chair, deposited the bags
and phones and held out her hands clapping to the beat, letting Seher take up
all the moves.
and phones and held out her hands clapping to the beat, letting Seher take up
all the moves.
‘No mama,” said she, “not like this, like we dance at home.”
They’d often fooled around in their living room, clapping to the
beats, matching steps, clinking dandiyas. But that was different.
beats, matching steps, clinking dandiyas. But that was different.
She looked around self consciously then glanced at the small eager
face of her daughter. With an uncertain smile she lifted the dandiya and took a
few tentative steps. She looked around again. No one was watching. She relaxed,
yes she could do this. They were barely visible in the half light at the edge
of the dance floor.
face of her daughter. With an uncertain smile she lifted the dandiya and took a
few tentative steps. She looked around again. No one was watching. She relaxed,
yes she could do this. They were barely visible in the half light at the edge
of the dance floor.
‘Mama let’s dance there,” said Seher, after a few minutes, pointing right to the centre.
“No way,” said Ruchi. “You go on, I’ll clap from here.”
‘But mama everyone is
there, all my friends and yours. Let’s go pleeeeeese. No one can even see us here.”
there, all my friends and yours. Let’s go pleeeeeese. No one can even see us here.”
That’s the point, thought Ruchi silently.
“No baby, mama is tired, you go ahead. Go dance with Amrita Aunty.
Remember how she taught you the steps.”
Remember how she taught you the steps.”
“But I like the steps you taught me best and I don’t want to go
with Amrita Aunty,” said Seher stubbornly digging in her feet.
with Amrita Aunty,” said Seher stubbornly digging in her feet.
Ruchi looked at her, then at that daunting crowd. Oh how she hated
making a fool of herself. Seher tugged at her hand impatiently. “They are
playing our song. Come on ma, it’ll
finish,” she cried, almost in tears.. “Please ma.”
making a fool of herself. Seher tugged at her hand impatiently. “They are
playing our song. Come on ma, it’ll
finish,” she cried, almost in tears.. “Please ma.”
Ruchi sighed. She looked at her daughter. She had to do this. She would do it
and to hell with what who would say.
and to hell with what who would say.
“Alright,” she said, settling her duaptta. A smile lit up her daughter’s tiny face so bright it blotted out
everything else. She took her ma’s hand and they joined the circle of dancers
right in the middle.
everything else. She took her ma’s hand and they joined the circle of dancers
right in the middle.
And then they danced.. mother and daughter.. matching steps, forgetting
everything .. celebrating the music and their love.
everything .. celebrating the music and their love.
It’s Day 4 at ‘The Write Tribe Festival of Words’ (8th – 14th December 2013). Today’s prompt is Music. For some super musical entries from Write Tribers go here..
Pixie..yes it's magic to dance with someone you love.
The Little Princess..it was a case of a mom being inspired by a daughter. I have a younger sister too and she spoils my daughter rotten.
aww..mom's are indeed a girl's best inspiration! reminded me of the recent navratri where my sister and her daughter danced around like this…
Awww!
that is such a sweet and cute story!! 🙂
I'm so glad mom and daughter danced together creating their own magical moment!! 🙂
Sheethal when you have kids you'll know just how tough it is to say no to them. They have a hundred ways to persuade you.
Richa absolutely.. Kids are irresistible.
Music and kids. The two best things that set us free. And them being together well how could Ruchi resist?
Richa
That was just sweet of Ruchi to hear her child! 🙂
Vidya.. I told you l love happy endings and if I'm to write a story what's to stop me from making one.
Iihahs, Kalpana, Vishal.. Kids can make miracles simply by believing in things.
Roshan.. Wish we could the child in us alive.. Sigh.. Doesn't happen though.
Kathy.. Me too. It's rare for me to dance in public.
Hey Pratikshya.. You must.. It's quite an experience.
Jairam.. Music does help one to loosen up.
Rajlakshmi.. It doesn't come easily to everyone.. But once you can forget about who's watching it can be fun.
Robyn.. Yeah kids can do that.
touching post… and you know my nick name is Ruchi too… i would love to take part in the Navratri garba dances some day… 🙂
That was such a beautiful and cute post. I personally find myself moving to the music when it inspires me and more often than not all self consciousness is forgotten at these times.
awww I can understand the apprehension … I myself being shy … but once you get on the dance floor and shed off the apprehensions.. there's no looking back 😀
Amazing how kids can get us out of our comfort zone when no one else can!
forgetting everything, celebrating the music and their love…..
Nothing like music to create that bond.
Little girls are truly angels! Love how you easily concluded this post with a happy ending, Tulika! 🙂
Lovely story.
'Dance like no one is watching' – Kids know it best !
The little girl with her innocence managed to bring her mom out of the oyster to shed her shyness and inhibitions. lovely story. and this must be true with many ladies.
such a lovely story… and I agree with what Kathy said. We get self conscious after an age – that inner child who was so free disappears and thats really sad.
A lovely take on the prompt.
We become so self conscious as we age, don't we? If we really knew that no one was paying any attention to us and were intent on the beat and the music themselves they would never think twice. They would only experience the joy! I usually need to be well lit and fortified with drink before I will brave a public dance floor. At home, which is where I am most of the time, I have no qualms. ♥
U know the best thing about children? They bring the best within us and gently remind us to let go of shyness. Love it:)
What a beautiful little story. When music knocks on the heart we forget the outside world and dance to its tunes.
Sid.. Yeah.. Though the real thing was not quite s dramatic.
Michelle.. Sure does.
And music brings mothers and daughters together!
That's a cute, at the same time, inspiring story 🙂 And love the way you've weaved it. True story ?
Thanks for reading all of you brave souls. The minute I exceed 500 words I give up hope anyone ever having the patience!
Prasanna: I was glad too that she could let go.
Shilpa: absolutely. Thought I'd add a note dedicating it to N then chickened out!
Shailaja: you too? And you're right nobody is bothered except us.
Usha.. You do things for your kids that you've never done for anyone else.
Aditi: yes.. They do. Thanks for reading.
Children have a way of making you do things you perhaps had never ever imagined no? 🙂 that was such a sweet story!
Very cute little story. Loved reading it. It is really difficult to say 'no' to your innocent children.
I could have written this! It's exactly the scene that played out at a Dandiya party earlier this year.I cannot dance for nuts and for some reason, Gy insisted that I should dance with her! All the hesitation crept up, but I finally gave in and you're right! Nobody looked at us in disdain. Nobody noticed. I was so happy that day 🙂 Loved the unfurling of emotions, OM!
Oops! Just saw, my comment so very similar to Prasanna 😀
Lovely! Glad that Ruchi shed her inhibitions and danced with her daughter! Inspired from real life incident?
That's so sweet. Glad that Ruchi could finally let go of her shyness and dance along with her daughter. Only a kid can do the impossible 🙂