The Reminiscence

Tanvi looked at herself in the mirror. Her Arangetram was about to start in an hour. The beautician was finishing up her elaborate hairdo with the flowers and ornaments. She remarked “You have beautiful hair, Tanu…most girls use a lot of extensions for their hairstyle, but you have naturally good hair.”

“Amma ….why can’t I have a short bob cut ? The girls in my class look so stylish with their short hair and hairbands…. I am the only one with oily plaited hair… I hate it… they call me behenji”

 

“I have known your mother Chaitra , for the last 10 years..” the beautician’s words shook her out of her reverie. “She was a very talented dancer, though in the last few years she had discontinued her performances. I am sure you will be like her.”

“Amma ….please don’t come to my school teacher meetings henceforth. My classmates laugh at me, whenever they hear you stammer and speak. Instead of calling me Tanu, they mock me by calling me Tha Tha Thanu”.

“Tanu ! keep quiet” her grandmother had scolded her. “How dare you talk to your mother like that. You have no idea how much she loves you and how hard she works to take care of you, after your dad left us. You must be proud to have her as your mother and be like her.”

Tanu retorted angrily “I don’t want to be like her ! And I am sure dad left us because he also hated her” and stormed out of the room, leaving her mother in tears.

She could hear her grandmother comfort her mother “Chaitra, it is okay … don’t take it to heart…. She is a teenager. She doesn’t really mean what she is saying. Most teenagers are like that in their growing phase.” 

 

Tanu smiled at the beautician and said “Thank you Aunty … I hope I turn out to be like her… I want to make her proud today.”

“You will and I am sure about it .. Let us finish your makeup now, before your mother comes in. She has been hustling around since morning, getting things ready. Let us get you dolled up, my dear”.

Tanu smiled and breathed in. She could feel the butterflies in her stomach. Would everything go on well today? This Arangetram was important to her in so many ways. Mostly it was the opportunity for herself to reinstate the confidence in herself.

“Amma … I want a bike… I don’t want to go to school in a cycle anymore. My friends Suchi, Priya all have two wheelers. “

“Tanu …. you are too young to drive . Once you turn 18, you can learn driving and then we will buy a bike for you.”

“Amma… you say no for everything …. How come Suchi and Priya are driving two wheelers ? It is because their parents love them . You don’t love me at all. You just need an excuse for everything.”

“Tanu !!! Let’s go !! “. She heard Priya’s voice and walked out immediately, barely hearing what her mother was saying.

 

That day was brightly etched in her memory even now. As she looked into the dressing mirror, she could still visualize the events that had played out.

“Priya … my mom is not buying me a bike… I am sick of hearing ‘No’ for everything.”

“So what? You can drive my bike whenever you want.”

“Awesome …can I try it right away?”

“Sure…take it … Enjoy !”

She had started the vehicle and was buzzing it around, when a speeding van came in front of her. She had lost the control of the vehicle and all she remembered was an ear shattering crash before she passed out.

When she woke up, she was in the hospital. Due to the severity of her injuries, the hospital became her second home for a long period. Her mother was always by her side, cheering her up and motivating her. None of her so-called posh friends turned up to check on her. Her treatment cost escalated, and her mother had run from pillar to post, making arrangements for everything.

The recovery process was slow and painful. She slowly recovered from her injuries, but unfortunately due to the injury and complications, the doctors had to amputate one of her legs. 

It had left her shattered, as she had always been passionate about dancing. But her mother was always there for her. Her mother never brought up the topic of her accident for discussion. She withstood her mood swings, showered her with love, motivated her, and supported her- both physically and emotionally. She slowly underwent multiple sessions of physiotherapy and got used to wheelchair mobility. Being a middle-class family, she realized that it was proving to be a financial burden for her mother, but her mother never discussed it. She somehow managed everything like a superwoman. Tanu developed a new found respect and love for her mother. 

The last year had passed in a blur. It seemed like a dream, playing out in slow motion. She resumed her education after a break. Once the healing was adequate, they started exploring prosthetic options. They finalized a prosthetic leg with advanced mechanized features, and Tanu slowly started getting used to it, with the required medical support.

Once she was comfortable with basic mobility, her mother encouraged her to resume her love for dancing again. It had taken a lot of effort and was not easy. Yet with a new found grit and her mother’s unending support, she underwent training for the same.

Cut to the present day, after a gruelling year, she was all set for her Arangetram. Her extended family was thrilled and her dear mother was the happiest of all.

Tanu smiled and blinked away the unshed tears, before the beautician could notice them.

“There, we are done with your makeup. Now we will get you dressed up.”

“One minute aunty” Tanu said. She fixed and adjusted her prosthetic leg. Somehow touching it, gave her a sense of confidence.

She got dressed up and once she was ready, her mother came in. Her mother had aged a lot in the last year, due to the stress. Tanu saw tears of joy in her tired eyes.

“Amma …wish me luck” she said. Her mother hugged her emotionally.

She went on stage and faced the audience. The performance went on very well.

After the applause died down, Tanu requested for a mike.

She said “Many of you would be aware of my condition, my journey till date. I have used many physical support systems in the last year, like crutches, wheel chair and then the prosthetic leg. But this performance today, happened because of only one support system in my life, that was always there for me, that helped me reclaim and rebuild my life, and reinstated my confidence in myself. That support system is my mother. Amma, thanks for everything. I love you. Today’s performance was all because of you and dedicated to you.”

The audience cheered and clapped, as her mother smiled, wiping away her tears of joy.