Magic Wand

Tani is in second grade. At the school's Annual Day function she is performing in the group dance. It is Bihu. 

Her nanny is Assamese who tells her about Assam's all traditions. Tani specifically has developed a fascination for this dance form. 

For the first time, her class is to perform, not on the small stage in school, but in the large auditorium of the city as they are graduating to the senior wing of the school. And this is tradition. 

The nervousness among teachers is palpable. The rehearsals are rigorous. And school work has almost come to a standstill with the preparations taking the forefront. Each morning all gather in the large rehearsal room and wait for their turn to practice.

Rehearsals for group dance are scheduled in the morning and the remaining time Tani sits with other participants of the group dance and watches others rehearsing. 

Among the other performances, the play is too exciting for Tani, and how she wishes to be part of that? 

 But the school rules said that each child could participate in only one item so that more kids could have an opportunity to participate.

As days passed, Tani would sit in the hall and observe the play curiously every day after her rehearsal. 

It is well-written keeping in mind their age. 

Mrs Kapoor, the English teacher, is behind all that creativity. It is the story of a little boy, Aarav, who is celebrating his birthday party. One of the gifts he receives is a book of nursery rhymes. As he reads the book, he falls asleep. And in his dreams, he reaches Nursery Land, where he meets a fairy. The fairy introduces Aarav to each character in Nursery Land. Simple Simon, Humpty Dumpty, Little Bo Peep, the man who sold hot cross buns, the little teapot, Little Miss Muffet, Georgie Porgie — they all come alive.

For Tani it is magical. She would imbibe each instruction given to the actors as they rehearse. She yearned to be part of this skit. She pleaded to her class teacher but rules are the rule and to be followed. 

A day prior to the Annual Day, disaster struck. The little girl who was to play the fairy fell ill. An attack of chickenpox it was. Since the play was the main attraction of the Annual Day, worry lined the brows of all teachers. Then came the moment Tani was going to remember forever. Mrs. Kapoor looked at Tani, and said, “Will you play the part of the fairy?” She had so desperately wanted to act in that play that She had imagined herself in that place forever. She knew the dialogues already and it didn’t need much practice to fit in.

The rest happened very quickly. Dressed in a white gown and silver wings with a beautiful silver wand in her hands she gave a lovely performance. Everything went according to plan. The play was a super-duper hit. 

Soon, someone dragged her off stage and pulling off her white gown tried to hurriedly get her dressed in a saree to perform Bihu.

After the performances, all kids were escorted to their parents among the audience. Tani was lost in her reverie, still wandering in the Nursery Land, when her name announced on stage for the best actress of the evening. 

She felt the fairy from Nursery Land just waved her magic wand and made her wish come true that day. Sometimes Life is magical and wishes do come alive.