When Fire Meets Passion

Dreams are meant to be fulfilled, live up to them !!

It was 10 past 11 at night on the known streets of Austria while Sandhya with her Indian habits was yet sipping tea; lost in her own thoughts of how far she had come in life. 

Sandhya was a tall rough yet beautiful girl of 38 belonging to the Indian town of Udaipur in Rajasthan. She was as if the most beautiful woman existing in Rajasthan. Not any sign of an acne or pimple on her face, no scars on her body, a beautiful whitish girl whom the sun had never kissed, because she was just as fair as snow. ‘Her eyes used to sparkle like the northern lights, and her voice was so soothing like a nightingale’s’, says one of her childhood friends. But then how did this soft ball of wool turn into one huge boulder Mumbaikars often find near Marine Lines?

As a young girl Sandhya was very fond of sports! But her destiny was such, that she belonged to a small village in Udaipur where sports was not even a career option for the men, then how could a woman think of it. She would secretly go out to play with her elder brother on the pretext of collecting wood from the forest. She would always grab all the gold medals during her school sports day but would never have the confidence to show them to her parents. Because once as a small girl she went in joy to show her father her medals and in return she got burnt with a frying pan… such was the temper of her father.

But her brother was her bedrock. Once he spotted the determination and spark in her for her sport, he was her backbone. Although he wasn’t a sport freak, he always admired that his sister stood out of the crowd and would hold pride in that fact. He would always encourage her to exercise and stay fit. He would go fetch woods from the forest while she would do her practice. Although he too belonged to that same orthodox family, his approach was not orthodox. Soon he started earning while Sandhya was in her high school. He got her admitted to a sports academy with the help of his friend. She started having access to professional coaching and equipment’s, but diet was yet a sticky wicket for her. The woman’s Heptathlon caught her eye. She was itching to do something which could showcase not only her speed but also her stamina, strength and mental endurance. And the Heptathlon was just a perfect event for her, where she could not only run, but also jump and throw. Her coach had exposed her to the triathlon as well, but she didn’t know swimming. And learning swimming meant investing more money and time, both which she didn’t have. From the very first month Sandhya outshined her seniors and broke their time records. Her coaches and trainers were also very supportive as they spot an inborn talent in Sandhya. They started bring her food as per her diet so that she could at least follow her diet once a day. 

She started traveling to club and district tournaments on the pretext of college educational tours. Her brother would handle everything at home in her absence and more than her well-wisher, he was her anchor. She knew he would handle all her lies at home and so she could totally focus on her game.

Everything was just feeling to be like a fairyland when few bombs dropped in from nowhere which proved to be the biggest setbacks for Sandhya. And those were the stumbling blocks that changed Sandhya from a soft, polite speaking girl into a bold, rough lady boss staying many miles away from her home and yet finding comfort in an unknown land.

While she was overjoyed by winning the gold in the senior girls’ category in the state tournament, things had gone haywire just as she got home. Her father had understood that she was competing in sports, a thing reserved for the elite class and not for them, as per him. Her was burning with fire at her brother and was all set to bounce at her as soon as she stepped in. As always, she walked in and started sharing the experience of her so-called educational tour that she had been on. Her parents pretended to hear her while her brother was making signs to her but she just couldn’t get them. Just while she was making up stories her father thrashed all her hidden medals to the floor and with that, tears rolled down her eyes. As always, she looked at her pillar of support, but today that pillar was also shattered. Because that pillar had heard enough before she came. Yet her brother stood by her and gave her his back. Now it was a war; siblings against parents; where although the siblings had a point they couldn’t win against their parents.

There was pin drop silence for a few days there. Sandhya had to leave her coaching and had nearly gone into depression. She refrained from going even to college. Their house door was made her threshold and she didn’t have the guts to cross it. She huddled down in a corner of her house where it was dark. She had left all hopes and so did her brother. Then from somewhere came a spark of light. Her brother’s friend helped her in securing a seat in Australia for sports Management. He applied for a scholarship and her wavering marks helped her secure one. She thought, “if not playing for the country, I can at least produce players to play for my country.”

They started going to college and reading books about sports Management. She slowly started creating interest in that field. Her visa was done and it was time to book her ticket but her parents were yet kept in dark about it. She just didn’t have the courage to speak up.

That night, her brother laid down the topic during dinner. That one glance of her father was enough to shatter all her confidence. He left his food and went inside. She looked at her mother, but her mother was just not ready to look at her. There was pin drop silence. No one uttered a word. After dinner Sandhya went to their terrace and started crying uncontrollably. Harsh flashbacks from her past haunted her. She could clearly see and hear her father’s anger and words the day she showed her gold medals won at school; she could once again feel her hand being burnt. She could literally recollect the wrath in her father’s words when he got to know about her coaching class. Just when she thought everything was over and was about to tell her brother not to book the tickets, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She felt some warmth and support in that hand. She knew she could rest her head on that hand. THAT WAS HER BROTHER’S HAND !!

He told her “You have wings of fire, fly high with them. Use your scars as swords, they have the power to leave a confident trail; just travel every step with temerity, roar loud to show the world what all a girl can do. Show the world who a woman really is. Don’t even give it a thought when the entire world says you ‘cannot’, just believe in the ‘can’ and leave the ‘not’. Don’t join any clan or community waiting to drown you in the waves of pity; even if they be your own parents; remember you are born with the wings of fire to bear the menstrual and pregnancy pain: use them to fly in your own palace. The entire male race will salute you; the ones who ridiculed you as a mere female will bow down and put you on a pedestal. The tears that you shed all this while would drench the fire that burns under your feet. Go out boldly and show the world that talent doesn’t ask about your gender, it only sees your passion and stubbornness to win. You must realize your power. Outcry and lit up the dawn. Your wound’s will fade off, don’t worry. Your sorrow will end one day. You have the potential to come out and fly as a new born Dove; born to rule the sky.” She just replied with a sad “hmm”. After a sigh, he continued “ remember those days when you used to hide and go to practice. Remember those days when you used to cook meal as per your diet at midnight. Remember those days when you used to injure yourself at practice and could barely walk, but you had to pretend as if all was fine with you. Remember all the risks you took to play tournaments under your college name. Recollect all the efforts all the coaches have put in you. Reminisce the proud words of your coaches. Your eyes are filled with passion for your sport, don’t let someone cut those wings. Even if they are your parents; FIGHT BACK. Once you achieve something and make a name for yourself, even they will hold pride in calling you, their daughter. But for that you will first have to create history. And history is not created by doing regular things that everyone does. It is created by stepping outside your comfort zone and sacrificing your everything, it is created by being the first in some field to do something which no one ever has done. Be the first to walk on such a career path that no man or women of this village has ever walked on. Take efforts to open that career for this village. Who knows tomorrow all girls might look upon you and talk about your bravery and sacrifices. It’s going to be a difficult task for a girl belonging to a small village of Udaipur to settle in the magnificent roars of Australia. Even language is going to be a huge problem there. But nobody talks about people who walk upon easy roads. Difficult roads always make up the hot topics of this village. You can open doors for the young girls of this village to dream big and think of something outside this village. Otherwise, everything will be this same way, people will continue to stay within this 4*4 square of this village and will never dare to dream big. Udaipur will continue to be a backward village of India; village about which Indians also do not know.” It had started to make some difference in her. Her face started to glow up and once again her eyes were shining with her passion for sports. And then he threw that common standard line of Indian households, “DO IT FOR ME” and that brought a drastic change in her. She started remembering all that he had done for her, the risks he had taken for her, his money, his support, everything. Now she was no longer sad about how her parents reacted, but was willing to move to Australia just because her brother’s efforts should not go in vain.

For a few days no one was talking to each other. But Sandhya had made up her mind to move. Her ticket was booked and she showed it to her parents. There was yet 1 month to leave when her mother told her in a sad voice “please don’t go Sandhya”. Sandhya didn’t respond to it. After a few minutes her mother again came up to her and told “we cannot afford to send you even to big cities in India then how are we going to pay back your brother’s friend for all that money he has put to send you to Australia. We can’t even buy one ticket to visit you how will we come to visit you. We are used to see you every day, now how should we live without you. We will get you a nice job here you please stay back--” and Sandhya cut her and gave her a befitting reply. She spoke in a tone filled with confidence “ parents always don’t know what is right for their child. You’ll were so knee on fulfilling societal expectations that you’ll never even gave it a thought how good I was in my sport. The very first day at the academy my coach told me I had an inborn talent. I have lived with you’ll for the past 23 years but you’ll couldn’t figure out that inborn talent in me? Papa was only interested in keeping up with the rules of the society, but I am made different. I don’t like to sit and cook and do a 9 to 5 job that barely even pays me. And if you’ll ever start respecting my game and believing in me and want to meet me then I will book your tickets to Australia and make all arrangements for you’ll there. And I am going to Australia with Bhaiya’s friends help but not on his money. I have got a place there on my merit through a scholarship. Bhaiya’s friend has paid a very minimal amount which I will repay to him within the next two months. I will take up a part time job there along with my studies and repay all the money spent by bhaiya and his friend. And after the completion of this course my 1 month’s salary will be equivalent to papas 3 years’ salary. Although I didn’t want to end up in this line; I wanted to play and win medals for my country, but now I will train young budding athletes to play and win medals for our country. And I will support each girl who comes to me. Even if her parents are not willing to pay the amount, I will teach her free of cost, I will pay her tickets for tournaments, but I will TEACH HER TO FLY, I will support her at all her steps. If you’ll would have supported my dream of becoming an athlete and let me continue my practice, tomorrow I wouldn’t be flying to Australia to move there forever. I would have been staying her with you’ll. But every time I spoke about my passion for sports and my love for my game I only got beating and scolding's from papa, you too never spoke from my side against him, I yet feel the pain of papa burning my hand when I was in school. Papa always loves to watch Mithali Raj and Sachin Tendulkar play cricket right; he always distributes chocolates when Leander Peas wins the Wimbledon title. Then why can’t he support his own daughter in that very field? I would have loved it if papa would have reacted to my medals the way he reacts to their wins!” and she gave a smile with watery eyes and left from there.

She went to the terrace and saw her brother just staring at the night sky. She knew although he was the happiest for her, he was also the saddest. They had spent all their years supporting and helping each other, and now a part of his daily routine was going to leave him alone. Now he cannot talk to her all day. They will no longer be a part of each other’s daily routine. They will no longer have each other’s back for even the silliest of problems. And a part of their life was just going to tear apart from them. They sat all night under the stars and spoke about everything under the sky. They laughed while reminiscing their silly fights during childhood till their stomach started to pain.

Time flew by and there were just 5 days for Sandhya to leave. By this time this news had spread all over the village and her parents were being mocked to raise a daughter like her. It had become difficult for them to even step out of the house because every time they stepped out societal judgements and rules were just thrown at them like stones. Outside the house her neighbors ridiculed her, and inside the house her father. The village Panchayat sent goons to her college to threaten her to not move abroad. They brainwashed her by saying that if she moved abroad, she would see her parent’s dead body the very next day. They threatened her that no girl in the village would marry her brother and no boy in the village would marry her. While Sandhya was never worried about her marriage, she was shaken by the fact of her parent’s death. She came home and decided to speak to her brother about this. By this time, it had spread all over the village and her parent’s had come to know about it. At home instead of consoling her, her father screeched at her “we are receiving threatening all day long because of you. I would pray to God that no man ever gets a daughter like you. You are only running behind your dream, and what about our lives? You are putting our lives at stake for a meagre dream of yours. I am capable of feeding you till you get married. I am letting you study because you want to but that doesn’t mean you will cross your limits—which you have always been doing. Your age girls are having their second child this year and you are still studying, yet I didn’t tell you anything, but now you want to leave the house; not to study but to run around in shorts and skirts in front of millions of people. What respect will I have in society from tomorrow?” Sandhya was shattered, she had nothing to defend herself but yet she spoke in a trembling voice “sports is my passion and it was my dream to win an Olympic medal for India. I gave up that dream because of you and yet you are shouting at me that no man should have a daughter like me? I would pray to God that let no daughter ever get a father like you who doesn’t ever support her. You like Karnam Malleswari lifting weights and winning medals wearing shorts, then what is the problem if I do the same thing. And that is my uniform, I wear it only while practicing, not to family functions and festivals. And I know I am going to get threatening; you are going to get threatening but you also know these goons are sent by the village panchayat. Instead of supporting us they are threating us and yet you want to please them. I will go to Australia under any cost and I will prove myself to you, to them, to everyone. One day whole the whole world will know my name and you’ll will be known as my parents not me as your daughter. But I will always credit bhaiya for this, I will never ever give you’ll even 1% of its credit.” She said this and left in anger sobbing. She went out and sat in the veranda.

Her brother caught her sight and went and sat next to her. Before she could say anything, he said “you go to Australia, nothing will happen to mummy papa. This threatening will go on for a few more weeks, but it’s just baseless threatening nothing else. I will take care of them. And you need not worry about my marriage. If I need to die a bachelor for you; I will happily do it. You just focus on your dream. I am waiting for your graduation ceremony. And always remember, I may be miles apart from you, but you will always have my back in every situation.” Saying this he gave her a tight hug, and everything felt at peace for her.

Finally, the day had arrived and there were just a few hours before Sandhya flew down to Australia. The house was filled with mixed emotions and so was Sandhya. Although her brother had told her not to worry, yet somewhere at the back of her mind she was feeling guilty for what she was doing. Only her brother came to leave her to the airport with his friend. With tears they finally parted and Sandhya began making her way towards her dreams.

She boarded the airplane and felt an ache in her stomach. She had read many times that ‘airports see more sincere kisses and tears than wedding halls.’ Visiting an airport was out of her expectations then, but today she felt this line hard. As the plane went up higher tearing apart the soft cotton balls, she felt as if she was a free bird flying high, going towards the destination where new adventure awaits her. She was soaring new heights with her wings of freedom.

After a many-hours flight she landed in Australia and felt like a totally new individual. She took time to understand airport formalities as everything was said in English -- a language she cannot very well follow. She had just caught hold of the formalities, when her bag went missing. After having a tough time enquiring about it, she got to know that some bags were to come in another flight and will reach no sooner than the next day. She was very shattered and sat there on the airport crying. An Indian Embassy noticed her and came up to her for a talk. They calmed her down, made her complete all the formalities for her delayed bag and put her in a cab to her hostel. Five girls from her same course had already begun their stay there and to her utter surprise they were very friendly and helped her settle down. She was prepared to face racism out there, but something unexpected happened. Her roommates greeted her a warm welcome and didn’t show any sign of racism or superiority. Out of the five, two were from Norway, one from Australia itself and one from Mizoram. She felt at peace finding an Indian with her. She gave her a pair of clothes to change and freshen up. Their house was no less than a Bangalow and she had her dream come true of visiting a bungalow. There were six separate rooms for each of them, a kitchen, a balcony filled with beautiful plants and a hall. Her room was double the size of her full house and their kitchen alone was her full house. Hall was like a full lengthy road, spacious and decorated lavishly. Food was already cooked till she had arrived and soon they sat to eat. Although she loved non-vegetarian food, the way of cooking was a little different for her. But nevertheless, she was left licking her fingertips. She had just fallen in love with their hospitality and they took care of making her feel at ease. Her brother was relieved to know that she had found good company.

Night while sleeping she was recollecting all the obstacles that had come her way and was so proud of herself to have crossed them all. She was even so thankful to God for giving her such lovely roommates who made her feel at home. Being a poor village girl she had the habit of getting up before sunrise and helping her mother in household chores. She got up quite early and prepared Kachori for breakfast – the delicacy of Udaipur. As her roommates began getting up, she was anxious and nervous about how will they like this breakfast, but everybody’s mouth began to water just by its aroma. They wound up their rooms and were just sitting and chitchatting in the hall when the bell rang and Sandhya’s bag finally arrived. She jumped in joy as if she had won a lottery.

All of them were very excited for their course which was going to start from the next day. They went to the stationary together to get some notebooks, reference books, etc. In the evening, they went out for a stroll and caught a glimpse of their university. It was quite nearby their hostel. They had dinner early and went to bed. All were equally excited to start this new phase of their life.

The D-day had arrived. All wound up their rooms, packed their bags and were ready to leave, while Sandhya with her Indian traditions was seeking blessings from the almighty. She finished praying and all of them left for the university.

It had a lush green lawn spreading over many metres, huge trees stretching over the ends from the main gate to the main entrance of the college. A huge canteen which can easily feed over 100 students at a time. A centralized sports ground with all field and track sports equipment’s; a fully furnished gym and a huge Olympic sized swimming pool. Next to the main entrance were badminton courts, table tennis courts and tennis courts. On the other side were games like carrom, chess and snookers. At the back was a golf lawn and gymnastics stadium. From the main entrance gate to the main building itself was a long ten minutes’ walk on the lawn through the trees and sweet birds and butterflies. As she started moving closer, she started feeling inferior complex because all over there were fair toned, unlike her. She entered the class and put a step behind. She felt as if she was that one black stone in a heap full of white rice which anyone would remove and throw at any time. But her roommates calmed her down and made her settle in. All were just glaring at her and she felt very awkward. She felt all the more awkward and dejected as the lectures started because everybody was speaking in fluent English and she took time to understand. But her roommates helped her to catch up with the pace. They took a stroll of the university during their break and were mesmerized with its architecture and the sports complex. The libraries were so lively that one wouldn’t feel like going away from there. Their first day was done and dusted and they returned to their hostel with fond memories of the day. At night after dinner her roommates helped her learn English.

Although the first few days were difficult for Sandhya, slowly noticing her passion and love for sports the college management and students started accepting her as one among them. Instead of teasing her for her complexion and weakness in English, they started supporting her. They helped her secure a part time job in a bakery as well. She would cook different delicacies of India and get it for them every day, and everybody would just fight to have one more bite. Slowly she started to settle in the Australian culture, but had yet not left her roots. She would hold pride in speaking about India. They caught up during weekends and went to explore the city, or would meet in the evenings and study together. She spoke to her brother occasionally and was relieved to know that they are safe. Soon she also repaid all the money of her brother’s friend and even sent some money for household chores.

The first year was successfully over and their holiday season had started. All returned to their motherland, but Sandhya didn’t feel like returning. Because she knew she was not going to get love over there. Instead, she started working full time and made more money. She only wanted to meet her brother, so she booked a ticket for him and he came to meet her on the pretext of a business tour. They sat for 4 days long talking and sharing her experiences in Australia. The smile on her face meant everything for her brother. She felt like she was complete now. But soon those four days passed away and it was time for him to leave. But this time he left behind a new Sandhya, who knew to face difficulties on her own, who knew to handle responsibilities, a Sandhya who took a stand for herself and nothing could make him happier than this.

Their second year started and they began to have internship programs. Her brother showed a few pictures of her internship, and her mother began to hold pride in that, but yet she didn’t support her. She was relieved that although Sandhya had moved to a country which was miles away from them, she hadn’t forgotten her roots. But her father was still adamant. Their half yearly examinations were on the verge when Sandhya received a call that broke her into pieces. She sat one hour like a dumb doll not knowing what to do. It was a call she will never forget in life. Her brother had met with an accident and died on the spot! Her friends tried to cheer her, but all was in vain. They booked her ticket to India and she could at least reach for his last rites. Her lone support system had crashed out and she didn’t know how she would survive without him. Her village yet ridiculed her and now she knew she had to take up the responsibility of her family. But she had to reach Australia before the commencement of her examinations. Her father screeched all day long to return to India but Sandhya had made up her mind to live up to her brother’s dream. She would not let his efforts go in vain. That day her brother’s friend came up to her and gave her a promise. The only thing she needed at that moment. ‘He promised her to look after her parents as if his own. And he assured her he would not let them suffer a void.’ She was relieved to know that she could focus on her goals in Australia and that her parent’s would be safe here. By this time her mother had somewhat begun to respect her career and she was pleased knowing it.

She returned to Australia but was not the Sandhya she usually used to be. She was very quiet and wanted to enjoy her own company. Her performance at job was affected and her boss started howling at her. They believed in a culture where the dead are soon forgotten, but it was not easy for Sandhya to live with this irreplaceable loss. She was a girl who had studied the Chief Seattle’s speech in college and was really living up to his words when he said “To us the ashes of our ancestors are sacred and their resting place is hallowed ground. You wander far from the graves of your ancestors and seemingly without regret. Your religion was written upon tablets of stone by the iron finger of your God so that you could not forget. The Red Man could never comprehend or remember it. Our religion is the traditions of our ancestors — the dreams of our old men, given them in solemn hours of the night by the Great Spirit; and the visions of our sachems, and is written in the hearts of our people.”

It took time to her to get back on track and accept this loss. Her mother would call her every alternate day and tell her to return back. She would study with all these things at the back of her mind, because her brother had never taught her how to live without him!! Yet she picked up herself and started to live a normal life.

This was the turning point in her life where a soft-spoken Sandhya turned into a rough, ambition-oriented woman. Her lone support from home had just disappeared and now she had no one who supported her, except for her brother’s friend. But yet she was relieved to know that he stuck to his words. He would visit her parents every two weeks and would give money sent by Sandhya for them. He would take care of them as if they were his own parents.

Her second year had ended and she was just one year away from graduating in her dream field. Her third year was filled with ups and downs. Her father would call and shout at her, but it didn’t make any difference to her now. She had become a strong woman who knew to handle responsibilities. Their college hours had increased, internship hours had increased and she had to rush to her job. By this time, she had gained the confidence of her boss, who now supported her in her dreams and helped her spread her wings to fly. She left home at 7 in the morning and returned no earlier than 11 at night. After coming home, she had to catch up with her studies while her roommates were peacefully dosing. But amidst all this rush and running from one place to another place, she felt at peace doing what she loved and loved being admired for her work. Their third year had finally ended on a happy note and they would be known as ex-students of that university from tomorrow. Everybody met that evening at the Great Barrier Reef to end their three years of long journey with some fond memories. Sandhya was mesmerized with the coral found there. She even did scuba diving and was on cloud seven when she touched them. The child in Sandhya had come out that evening and she was so thankful to her friends. She found it difficult to part ways with those friends who had become family; but that’s how life works.

They had to vacate the hostel soon and walk their own paths. Some friends took the call of starting to work, while some went into more specialized courses. Sandhya was in a state of turmoil. After a fierce battle of thoughts, she decided to go home and stay for 1 month where she would talk to her coaches and take their advice. She knew how her father would react, but yet she felt like going home for the first time in three years.

She packed her things and with a heavy heart parted ways with her roommates who had become no less than siblings. She took a flight back home and was elated to meet her mother with her brother’s friend on the airport. She was speechless at that moment. Her mother spoke to her in a low yet appealing voice “now that you have come back, please stay here forever. You completed your studies in your chosen field now get a job here in some bank or company and start working here itself. Now what for do you want to go to Australia. Stay back here, papa will also feel good and start behaving normally with you.” Sandhya was shaken by her mother’s words. For a few moments she didn’t understand how to react. She gave her a befitting reply “I didn’t study sports management from a reputed university in Australia only to come and work in a bank or shop in Udaipur. Mummy, I have graduated in sports management!”, she said in a fierce voice. She continued “if I wanted to work in a bank itself why would I have gone to Australia despite all the threatening I received?? I will not work in a bank. I will work in the field I have studied in.” Saying this they sat in a taxi back home. But this time, Sandhya didn’t have tears in her eyes. Instead, she spoke in a very confident and fierce manner, and her brother’s friend was astonished seeing her personality. That night when he spoke to her, he said “wherever Akash is, he will be feeling very proud of you. He always wanted you to do something different and make a name for yourself. He always wanted to see you taking a stand for yourself despite all the difficulties you faced. And today when you spoke without a drop of tear in your eyes, even I was astonished with the person you have become. Never take a second chance when it comes to taking a stand for yourself. And don’t you dare fall prey to the words of your parents or anyone in this village. Move back to Australia and start working there itself. Make a name for yourself and only then return back here. You will always have my back. Might not be the way Akash fought for you, but I will always support you”. Saying this Sandhya began to cry! She was moved by his words. She thanked him for all that he had done for her and her parents. Indeed, he was the starting cause for her moving to Australia to pursue this field and she always remained obliged to him.

The next day, she bought a proper house in the main market city of Udaipur with all the basic facilities. Now, her parents would no longer have to travel miles for water or slog carrying wood for cooking. Although her parents were apprehensive about moving to a bigger house, they started liking to live there. It made their life a bit easy. But yet they didn’t support her sports career. They would fight every night over this same topic, but Sandhya never fell prey to it.

After a few days she went to the academy and met her coaches. They were too, elated to meet Sandhya and were ecstatic on seeing this new Sandhya. They were very happy and proud of her for not giving up on her passion despite the difficulties that came her way. After a brief discussion they advised her to do a specialized 1.5 years course in track and field events and then start a full-time job as a coach. She was convinced that would even pay her more.

Her one-month stay had come to an end and after many fierce battles and fights she once again left home to find herself in the somewhat known streets of Australia. She enrolled herself in a specialized coaching course of track and field events. Over the course she bid adieu to her job in the bakery and started a part time job where she was interning for the previous two years.

This course brought with it a new hostel, new roommates and new friends. All of which were very distinct from the one’s she had made along the previous three years. She noticed a drastic difference in the behavior and hospitality of her previous roommates and the ones she had now; that all the more made her miss them. 

She faced a lot of criticism, racism, superiority-inferiority complex, teasing, bullying, mocking and what not. Nobody wanted to be her friend. It was like a battlefield where it was Sandhya against the whole class, but she yet shined amidst all of them. Because she was that new Sandhya, who had learned to swim even when a tsunami hit an ocean. Sandhya was all alone for those 1.5 years. She had no support from her friends, nor her family. Her only support was her brother’s friend but he too had some limits.

Her semester 1 result was a slap on all her friend’s and teacher’s faces. Despite all the difficulties and criticisms, she faced, she topped her class! Even at job she was loved by all the athletes. By this time, she had made enough money for her parents to live comfortably, yet they were against her job.

After the completion of this course she returned to India, hoping things might have changed, but to her distrust things had got even worse. Her parent’s and neighbors starting forcing her for marriage. But she knew once she gets married, she would not be allowed to work, she won’t have a voice of her own, and will eventually turn into that old Sandhya. Her career was yet MEAGRE JUMPING ABOUTS IN SHORTS AND SKIRTS. She had yet not gained respect she truly deserved.

Her coach helped her in finding jobs abroad. She applied in Canada, Austria, USA and Germany. They were quite impressed with her letter of recommendation from Australia, her overall academic status and passion for sports. Among them, Austria was ready to pay her the highest amount. She decided to settle in Austria. But this time she didn’t ask her parents, she told them confidently that ‘I have taken up a job in Austria and will be moving there next month. I am not interested in getting married so soon.’ That confidence in Sandhya literally shook her father and he was left speechless.

The village panchayat had got tried of threatening her and didn’t treat her like one among them. They knew their threatening’s were going to make no effect on her. But they created a black image of her. The youth was told not to visit their house otherwise they would follow the footsteps of Sandhya and leave this village—a thing considered as an unacceptable thing for them. Parents warned their children and more over daughters, from keeping contact with Sandhya. But this made no difference to her. Instead of focusing on these taunts Sandhya started to learn some German in order to make life at Austria a bit easier.

After a difficult one month in Udaipur, she moved to Austria. She found some sort of peace there amidst the unknown language, people and places. She bought a house there and was amazed to see all houses lavishly decorated even for sale. She was used to seeing empty houses in India put up for sale. But in Austria the houses were lavishly sold. No house was less than a 2bhk there. Rooms were quite big, with a big hall, comfortable kitchen and a beautiful balcony area. Her complex had a fully furnished gym, a huge swimming pool, a jogger’s area, and a badminton court. Their club house housed carrom, chess, snookers and table tennis. All the complexes were filled with greenery and flowering plants.

Sandhya set up her house and was just relaxing that evening. She gave a thought about the past 6 years of her life: the obstacles she has surpassed, the achievements she has made, and the name she has earned. And she was just so proud of herself for that!

The next day she woke up early prepared breakfast and went to seek blessings from the almighty. After that she even prayed to her brother’s photo frame and promised him that she would make a name for herself and will always credit it to him. 

She was enchanted with the layout of the sports academy. It ran over many sq. feet’s and was fully furnished and polished. She was in awe of the academy. From her very first day at the academy students started making a rapport with her. Her students started liking her and that was the best gift she could ever get. She was actually living the dream she once wished for.

Her athletes started displaying top-notch performances and made it for the Gold always. Slowly over the years her parents started to reduce their interference in her life, because they knew she was going to do only what she wanted to do. She slowly became a known figure in the sports circuit. Even the Indian coaches and athletes admired her coaching style and the outputs she produced.

Her athletes even reached up to the Olympics and World Championship Stages. They made their name at every stage. She even featured in India’s reputed Magazine for her sheer determination and grit to push beyond her boundaries. And from that day the whole world got to know her parents because of her! The Sports Authority of India even sent her a mail congratulating her on her achievements. Finally, Sandhya had made it to her dreams! The whole world knew her. All Indians recognized her efforts.

The Sports Authority of India was in the process of setting up Rajasthan’s first SAI Centre in Udaipur which would be completed in the following two months. They had sent out an email to Sandhya to join in as the head coach for athletics. And Sandhya could not be more elated that day! She readily accepted the offer.

She had last two months in her hand to work with her athletes in Austria and she ensured she gave her best. Those two months were a roller coaster of emotions. She herself didn’t know how she was going to part ways with those memories that she had created for the past 8 years. Over these years she had built some firm rocks from soft mud which had come to her, on the other hand she had also furnished few unfurnished already existing rocks.

Time flew very fast and she had just last 15 days in Austria. Majority of the time went in completing formalities, but she set the seal to spend the rest of her time with those athletes who were the founding rocks of her career; due to whom she earned her name. They went out in the evenings and spent time together after practice. Although Sandhya was their coach inside the academy, outside the academy her athletes were no less then supporting pillars, who never failed to cheer her. Some were her age; some were younger to her. But they always gave her problems an ear and were always up with solutions.

Last two days and then she would not get to see those cheerful faces every day! Her academy had arranged a farewell for her and she was just wonderstruck with the way it was executed. They presented her a diary filled with images of medals won by her athletes and short notes right from their heart. There couldn’t be any better gift than this for a coach. Along with it, they gifted her a photo frame with a group picture.

Sandhya’s packing was almost done and she was preparing herself mentally to leave behind this wonderful little world that she had formed. But she was equally excited about her next step.

She boarded the flight and was left in tears when she was taking a trip down that memory lane filled with the evocations of Austria. She landed in India and was exhilarated to meet her parents at the airport. She sensed something unusual in her father’s smile. Afterall, he had finally accepted Sandhya career and the way she wanted to live her life. He had ultimately started to respect her choices and accept that his daughter is built different, she won’t walk on the paths already made; she will make a new path for the generations to walk. Sandhya came running towards them and hugged them in delight and that was the best moment that her brother’s friend longed to see.

When they reached their village, rose petals and garlands were showered on her and people just could not stop praising her success and achievements. Eventually she and her brother had won!

To her delight she was called as one of the chief guests for the inauguration of the academy the next day and her whole village had turned up for that. The next day she began the second phase of her career as a coach in SAI, Udaipur. She found good company of colleagues and even athletes training under her, were performing exceptionally. They bought laurels not only for the state, but also for the country. They displayed top grade performances at all levels. Many athletes specially moved to Udaipur to train under Sandhya! Sandhya was in the process of creating young sportspersons to fulfil her dream of winning an Olympic Medal for India. And she eventually did achieve her dream.

After a long 5 years in India, she decided to take a holiday and go back to Austria with her parents, her husband and her brother’s friend just to get a glimpse of what she had created there. A feeling of nostalgia ran down her body the minute she stepped on the fields of that academy. Her parents were filled with pride upon hearing endless praises for Sandhya from the athletes trained under her. That night, Sandhya sat sipping tea on that very ground; lost in her own thoughts of how far she had come in life.