Survival .....

She fell down to the sly glare of the onlookers looking onto her. She heard a stern, almost military crisped words flowing into her ears. Mrs. Nair was screaming from a distant, “What is the matter girls?” Astha burst out laughing. She fell again. Majhil had an apologetic look in her eyes. It wasn’t shame. Just plain apology. She was cursing herself a hundredth time …… thousandth time ……. a millionth time …… the trillionth time till she lost count of all her mathematical numbers and figures. Her heart was racing like an A320 airbus that had lost control of its balance in a thunderstorm, none of the wonderful gadgets that it was equipped with, coming to its rescue and it was heading straight to the mountains for a disaster.

Mrs. Nair came forcing on herself, breaking the group that had gathered itself almost like a band of witches ready for conjuring the fallen prey, calling on their dark lords and offering them their reverence. Mrs. Nair shouted at the girls, “let me look..” Majhil lay as if ready to be swallowed by the universe but could just manage a small burp, quiet inaudible but to her it seemed as if they were chains of atom exploding, somewhere within her. She needed to be rescued. She needed to be rescued immediately. Mrs. Nair plainly added,”let me see your posture girl”. She stood up, a little shaken as the leaves of autumn trying to cling on to their existence just for a moment more. She stood with her arms over head, rising to the sky …. Her palm clasped together reverently … standing on her small two feet ready to be inspected and dissected like small frogs in an undergraduate pathology lab. She could hear Mrs. Nair distinctly now, “hmmm .. I see, the sole of your left leg is not in line with arch with your right … that’s a minor problem girl …. ok lets see …” as she grabbed Majhil’s sole and tried to set it in the correct position with the precision of a car mechanic, going on with his job with full understanding, confidence and exactness. She continued, “move ur left leg first and your right leg should just follow it.”

Mrs. Nair continued for sometime, as she instructed the music to come on. Majhil followed the beat, ardently following the manner that was just taught. Mrs. Nair slowly moved back as Majhil's body was blending with the flow of the music. She had gathered some pace now. She had quickly forgotten Mrs. Nair, Astha and her onlookers. Suddenly nothing seemed to be in between. No fear, no shame, no regret and no sweat. She had forgotten them as quickly as they had entered her life, not bits by bits or piece by piece but by a single shrug of self belief. She just turned and jumped with her left leg folding at ninety degrees and her right leg following it in opposite direction like a straight line on a piece of paper. There were no creases on her face …….. a sublime look in her eyes …….. and peace on her lips as she closed her eyes and came floating down ......