The Awakening

Accepting pain as our greatest teacher

- Rita Chhablani

Proclaimed as a child prodigy at the age of ten, Kumudini stood at the podium after having received the highest national award for the unusual ballet, a dance drama, she had produced and choreographed single-handedly. After years of sheer hard work, she stood now at the acme of success with camera bulbs flashing away continuously in her eyes.

Ministers, top government officials, businessmen, journalists from leading national newspapers - all her loyal patrons and faithful fans were present.

Brought up in an orphanage and now look where she was. Pride filled her heart.

It happened while she was coming down with the award in her hand. She stumbled, and would have fallen if a hand had not reached out and steadied her. Kumuduni detested the idea of someone helping her. She considered herself at the peak of good health maintained by a daily regimen of tough yoga postures and a proper diet managed by world-renowned dieticians.

“I am a retired doctor. If I were you, I would go see a doctor, dear daughter,” she heard a weak and feeble voice say. Kumudini felt submerged by humiliation when she saw it was an old bent woman with kind concern on her face.

The other woman said gushingly, “I have been a great fan of yours … have seen all your performances. My granddaughter, Alka learns from you and praises you a lot.”

Kumudini felt like screaming, “Stop talking!” snatching her hand away and rushing out to the cool confines of her luxurious Mercedes waiting outside in the porch. But she knew there were a hundred eyes watching her. She felt faint once again. Maybe she should go see her doctor, as suggested by the old lady, she thought reluctantly.