It is not very often that we meet people who leave an ever-lasting impression on our lives. Not all of us get that one chance to find our spark, our passion. When I was a little girl, one evening, my mother told me that she was going to visit the lady who lived across the street and that she wanted me to accompany her. Little did I know then that this lady would very soon become such an indispensable part of my life.

So there I was, all of five years old and thrown into dance class. Absolutely clueless and naïve, I felt like a tiny little fish in a sea, filled with whales ! While I struggled to get the basic steps right, I would be dumbfounded, as my seniors made the whole thing seem so effortless and I wondered if I would ever be able to live up to such high standards. It has been 16 years now and I have transitioned from the shy little girl that I was to a more confident young woman. And none of this would have been possible had it not been for this art. Dancing for me is more than a hobby. Its meditation!! Its therapy!! None of this would have happened had I not found the right Guru, at the right age, to train me in the beautiful art form of Bharatanatyam.

I have indeed been fortunate that Aunty has showered me with so many opportunities to perform on stage with my friends and seniors. The practice sessions and the rehearsals each tell their own tale of anxiety, nervousness, fear, expectation and hope. We would all show up for a rehearsal just praying that we get every step right and not give Aunty a chance to be disappointed in us. For Aunty, everything has to be just perfect. It would always happen that one of us would forget our ghungroos at home or one of us would forget the improvements that Aunty had made to our dance and all hell would break loose. Our dear Aunty would loose her cool, given the perfectionist that she is and we would just feel guilty for having failed our Guru. But in the end of it all, the final performance always turns out to be better than we had ever imagined and nothing would be more rewarding than seeing that smile on her face. Apart from dance, I also learn Carnatic music and Nattuvangam from Aunty. I cannot imagine anybody who is more patient than her, because teaching someone like me to sing is indeed challenging !

Aunty's courage, strength and her ability to smile in spite of all of the sorrows that life throws at her is what makes her a woman of substance. Words are just not enough to describe the respect I have for her. She has been my strength, my inspiration, my guiding light and I am indeed honoured to be her student.

aishwarya.ramani@gmail.com