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And Tears rolled down!

Vedika is sitting in-front of the big makeup mirror in a green room of the biggest auditorium in New York City. She is here in the City That Never Sleeps for an Indian classical dance performance. Today, she is a celebrity and one of the renowned Bharatanatyam dancers and performs all over the country.

But this was not the scene as she is not a celebrity child neither she comes from any well-off family. She is a small-town girl. But with a big dream to achieve. Born to the parents in a simple middle class joint family that too in a small town, achieving her dream was quite a challenge.

Vedika, from her childhood, was told that she should learn how to manage a family as one day that would be her destiny when she would be married and go to her in-law’s house. But it was her father who was always beside her. Vedika expressed her desire to become a Bharatanatyam dancer only to her father and her father, though brought up in a conservative family and society, supported his daughter.

It was not a smooth sail when Vedika and her father had to break the ice in front of the entire family. Not a single member of the family was in support of her desire.

Her grandmother said, “Arre, shaadi ke baad nach ke apne pati aur baccho ka pet palegi?” (After marriage, would you feed your husband and children by dancing?)

Her mother also opposed.

Vedika was seeing her dreams getting shattered. She was feeling suffocated and ran to the roof, crying. She was looking at the open sky and thinking to touch the stars. But she feels like the stars are going even far away. Her father came and put his palm on Vedika’s shoulder. The gesture was something like an assurance that no matter what her father would always be there for her.

That week, Vedika was supposed to meet the renowned Bharatanatyam teacher in the nearby town. She was under the mindset that the meeting wouldn’t happen as everyone in her house are dead oppose to her dreams. But destiny has some other plans. Her father went to the dance institute to meet the dance teacher and made all the arrangements by himself and get Vedika admitted to the dancing school.

When Vedika got to know about this from her father she was joyous and that was the most cheerful moment for little Vedika.

Vedika asked her father, “How’ll I go for the classes every day? What’ll we tell at home?”

But her father had plans.

Vedika’s father gathered everyone in the house and spilled the beans. He said that he has got a good teacher for Vedika. But she needs to travel to the nearby town in the morning, attend her coaching class and on the way back go to school. She’ll be back home only after her school is over.

There were no objections form Vedika’s family as they had no problem with her studies.

From the next day, Vedika’s hard work started. Everyday she wakes up at 5 am and get ready for her daily routine. It’s not just Vedika who was doing the hard work. Her father was also equally involved with her. He takes Vedika every day to the dance class, wait for her to finish her class and take her to school before he goes to office.

Days, months, and years passed like this. Today, Vedika completes her 12th class and she has scored good in the exams. Everyone in the family is happy for her not just for her good result in exam. But also, they can now look for a match to get her married.

Vedika’s father thought that it’s now time to uncover the secret that the father-daughter were covering up for last 6 years. And why not. With great training and dedication, today Vedika is one of the finest students in her dancing institute.

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Vedika’s father broke the ice and told everyone in the family what the fact was all these years. All of them were just stunned hearing that and of course got offended too. After hours of heated argument Vedika’s grandmother and uncle gave judgement that she should now stop going anywhere till she gets married and stay at home.

This was not acceptable by Vedika’s father. Against everyone’s will he gets Vedika admitted to the college in the town where her dance institute is. Vedika continues her studies and pursuing her dream of being a renowned Indian classical dancer.

Five years passed like this. Vedika completed her graduation and post-graduation. And at the same time, with her dedication and hard work she has become one of the finest classical dancers. She has performed in many well-known shows in different cities in the country. Vedika’s name and fame took her to big cities in India. There are hundreds and thousands of her admirers all over the country today.

Today, first time she is performing in a show outside India. She’ll become an International star in the field of Indian classical dance. Today, everyone in her family is so proud of her, who some years ago were dead opposite to Vedika’s passion.

Vedika’s family members, including her father, are sitting in front of the TV to see her performing in an International arena. Finally, Vedika’s performance starts.

And Tears rolled down from her father’s eyes!!

This post is written for #StorytellersBlogHop FEB 2021 by Ujjwal & MeenalSonal

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