The Helping Hand

Logu was walking home from school. She was selected for participating in a cultural programme. Both her sisters were surprised when the Principal called out her name too and so was Logu. She least expected to be one of the group since she was always diffident and never asserted herself be it at home or in school. She was an above-average student but shied away from any activity that would make her visible.

The third daughter in a family which believed in the supremacy of a male progeny, she was targeted by one and all for anything and everything. Only when she went to her maternal grandmother’s house did she experience any kind of love or appreciation. While her dadi would forever curse her, nani was a gem and truly loved her the most. She was docile and soft-spoken and obedient, which qualities were found lacking in her elder sisters.

When the school bell rang, Logu went to meet her class teacher to find out whether there was some mistake. There was no other Logu in that school. Logu – a name she despised – Loganayagi shortened to Logu. It was all the more difficult to accept as her elder sisters were Premalata and Hemalata. Her teacher seemed to be waiting for her and told her that it was she who had recommended her name though there were many to oppose her.

Sumitra Madam patted her shoulder and said, “Be brave, my child. You are talented, only you do not know your own value. Never pay attention to anyone who is ridiculing you, but go ahead and do your duty. Everything will fall in place. Before I forget, please come an hour early before class so that I can coach you properly. All the others in the group have previous experience but so is not the case with you. I have never seen you on the stage even in a group performance.

While she was excited that she too will be one of the participants, she knew that both her elder sisters would try to belittle her at the least opportunity. Undoubtedly, they were very pretty and graceful dancers, but they had become conceited on that score. She sometimes felt that she was like Cinderella with both of them bossing over her. She could often be spotted in the kitchen helping their sickly mother while both of them could be seen playing with their mobiles. While both of them would change their mobiles every time a new model was launched, no one would even offer her an old handset, saying that she did not need one as she had no friends.

The next morning, she was off to school for practice. Her teacher was waiting for her and started the class right away. At the end of an hour’s practice, Logu was surprised at herself. Her teacher had patted her on the back and said that if she continued with the same energy and determination, she would get selected even for the inter-school competitions. Within a week she had picked up enough to practise with the group. It was a ribbon Kolattam which was a group dance where everyone held one of the ribbons that were hung as a bunch from the ceiling and move with graceful movements to make a braid of the ribbons by weaving in and out.

At first, it had seemed rocket science to Logu, but after the week’s extra coaching, she showed that she could perform just as good as her sisters, or for that matter, even better than them. The D day arrived and decked in a new sari and with her face beautifully made up, Logu was totally transformed. Their dance was well received and the results of those selected for the inter-school competition were announced at the end of the programme.

Logu had to pinch herself hard when she came to know that she was the only one from her class who was selected. That evening none of her sisters spoke to her. She broke the news to their mother, who was too involved in her own chores, that she did not even utter a word.

From then on, it was Sumitra, her teacher who paid extra attention to her and her studies. Needless to say, she performed so well at school that even her father had to comment on it! At the school final, she decided that she would register for a Diploma in Fine Arts, instead of a regular degree course.

Though out of school, Sumitra continued to be her mentor and the first person who would applaud all her achievements. One day Sumitra sent word to her that a film producer was looking out for a new face and wished to know if she was interested.

She was as always, diffident but Sumitra pepped her up and soon shooting schedules commenced. Her looks did not matter but her performance did and her very first picture was a great hit and won several accolades for her.

There was no looking back now. With her sisters seething with jealousy and her parents not willing to cuddle or sense any feeling towards her, she accepted Sumitra’s request to shift with her. When she left the house with a suitcase, no one stopped her or even asked her where she was headed for. This seemed strange to her. It appeared as if no one would miss her too!

In the comfort of Sumitra’s house, both teacher and student talked to each other at great length under the moonlit sky. Logu then came to know that Sumitra had suffered a broken marriage and her daughter had been wayward and paid the price for it. She had taken an instant liking to Logu when she came to the school and had determined that she would groom her well and make her independent.

There are such Messengers of God in our lives too. We need to keep our eyes and ears open to seize the opportunity if and when it comes our way. Sumitra had no regret for her earlier marriage nor for her daughter who never once bothered to inquire about her.

Logu had been repeatedly asked to change her name to something fancy, but she had refused to say that this old-fashioned name would keep on reminding her of the hard times she had gone through and the identity she had established for herself through Sumitra. Not everyone would come across a Sumitra extending a helping hand, and she intended to make the most of it. Sumitra was with her and she filled in for Sumitra’s daughter and together, they strove to make the world a better place.