Power to choose

Lately, I had a very enlightening conversation with my manager.

Manager: okay, I will see what can I do for your project, but, if you remember you went to
                 H.R regarding your issues last time.

Me: Yes, I had doubts, so I asked her few questions.

Manager: See, you can go to your managers, or you can come to me, but going to H.R!!
                Many people will not like it!!

I was amazed at the audacity of that man, who had very tactfully enlightened me that it was my biggest mistake to go to H.R, and, in future, if I do so, I should better be aware of the consequences.

That very moment, I felt, the double standards and moreover I felt my helplessness.

What one can do!!!

I am sure all of us have been there. That one defining moment where one had 2 choices: either accept the way it is or fight back!!!Some of these choices you are very proud of and some of it go in vain.

One of the very proud choices that I made was joining Shiamak  Davar dancing classes which has definitely fetch me a lot of appreciation! But, Nothing comes easy, neither this one.

As, I was going through Delhi times, I came across this enrollment ad from Shiamak Davar, I asked my parents. To my surprise, they agreed in one go, though, they have always felt that such things are waste of time and money.

My first class was amazing so was my entire batch. From instructor to students, it was like all together a different world. A world that taught me so much, that moulded my personality. Of all the things that I learned, one was:

                        “Invest in learning; it will add youth to your life”

The night my performance ended, I could feel the void; there will be no more classes ,no more fun, and no more learning. My parents straight away said ‘NO’ for another batch and denied any financial help. But, the desire to perform again, in front of huge audience, drove me insanely towards it.

                        ‘Believe in your dreams, there is always a way’

I shared my grief with my friend, and he told me to work with Shiamak as PR to fund my fees. But it was in Gurgaon, I have to take 10 minute bus ride till AIIMS metro station and then 40 minute metro ride till Huda city centre and then 15 minutes’ walk towards the center.

“I'll do it”. Those were my words, I never knew, where it came from.

“Take that one step and god will make everything fall in the right place”

But the battle had never been easy, now that I have deduced the way, how would I convince my parents who were pursuing me to join MBA coaching classes! Funny life!!

They instantly said ‘NO’, the way I said ‘NO’ for MBA. I begged and begged and did all the drama I could. And, then I delivered the million dollar dialogue, “I want to stand on my own feet, let me experience the hardship of the outside world”. Trust me it will work every time.

‘Pursue till you die; Nobody can take away the power of persuasion from you’

I struggled to travel from south Delhi to Gurgaon, I was exhausted. But, I managed to complete the 15 day tenure and got myself enrolled. There was this little secret that I didn't disclose to my parents, that I wanted to be a part of the professional group of Shiamak- ‘THE SPB’.

After this show, I was selected by ‘Marzi Pestonji’ for the auditions of SPB,after getting rejected twice.

My parents didn't approve again!!!They clearly blacklisted the option of dancing for me. I told them this is just an audition and nothing else, I will forget about dance after this (In my funny little head, I said “Kidding”). Thinking that this will end my madness, they approved again.

Luckily, I got selected, and another round of persuasion started. This time my parents were serious, they didn't let me join. They discouraged and scolded me every time I talked about it. I didn't join that one batch, that meant a whole world to me at that time. But, you know what, I had HOPE!!!!

“Don’t lose hope is the moral of the Story”

So, When the next batch started, the summer funk, I knew this was my last chance, either I will do SPB or will lose it forever. I pursued my parents again, this time, ‘I am at your mercy’ blackmail; I told them this is actually going to be the last (As I was moving out of the city for job). Again, to my surprise, they gave up, don’t know for what reasons. I lived my dream and the life that I always dreamt.

A dancer last for maximum 3 minutes on stage, and it took 3 months to prepare that piece. That is the beauty of dance.

Remember, in the end, that we choose every day! Every day gives us an opportunity to make things right.

I made my choice, the choice which was not realistic, with the educational background I had. In that, I made my way. Today I realized maybe it was not for the dance, not for the SPB,….but sometimes it is for the journey.

A journey of self-discovery……………………and that was my CHOICE!!!