A Failure That Changed Me




A sea of faces loomed in front of me, as I stood on the stage, the microphone before me. I was in the ninth standard and just about to recite Mark Antony’s famous speech at Caesar’s funeral.

Flashback: My grandfather sat before me, nodding as I proclaimed, “Friends, Romans, Countrymen...” and went through the speech with nary a pause.
“Slow down, child! It is a funeral oration, not a train that you have to catch!”

I was living with my paternal grandparents as my Army Dad had been posted in a remote place somewhere in the East of India (locations were not to be disclosed!). Being the eldest grandchild, I was pampered silly and made to feel like a princess. My grandma made sure that I ate well, so well that ‘I just growed and growed’ as Topsy did in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. We had our own cows, and I could never refuse the soft fresh slices of bread liberally coated with white butter and sprinkled with sugar. (If you haven’t tried it, you have missed a slice of Paradise!)

To put things in a nutshell, I turned into Mark Antony, as his speech tripped off my tongue with ease. I could recite it even in my sleep.

Back to the present: As the sea of faces stared at me with single, undivided attention, I started in style. “Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears...” and I got to the end of the first four lines, when suddenly, I caught sight of a pair of sparkling eyes that seemed to have an element of malice in them. I stared back like Mowgli hypnotized by the snake, Kaa’s huge saucer-like eyes.

The next thing I knew was that my eloquence had dried up. Mark Antony had disappeared, and in his place was a petrified creature whose knees knocked together as she stood, staring at a sea of faces that had now begun tittering.



I don’t know how I got back home, and, for the first time ever, my grandfather was shocked out of his wits.
“What happened, child? You knew the whole speech so well!”
I nodded in misery and vowed that I would never allow myself to speak in public again.

Almost twenty years later, I was an Army wife and we had Ladies’ Meets which were great fun, as they brought out the best talents in the station. I was prepared to enjoy myself to the hilt when our Commander’s wife burst a bombshell.

“Deepti, I want you to be the Master of Ceremonies for the Ladies’ meet. I know you will do a marvellous job!”

In vain, did I try and convince her that I would die if I had to face a crowd.

In vain, did I try and convince my husband of the very same thing. All he said was,
“You can do it!”



I had a fortnight and by the end of it, I was a wreck. Halfway through, I had realized that there was no way out, and I decided to write down my entire script, jokes and all, and learn it all by heart, hoping against hope that I wouldn’t encounter a pair of sparkling eyes again, filled with malice!

I spent all my waking hours learning my speech. I would sit on the throne, stare with glazed eyes at the mirror, walk in the park and even attend parties, muttering under my breath. People around me gave me strange looks, but they had no effect on me. I was too far gone!

Finally, the dreaded day came, and there I was, dressed to the hilt, looking at a sea of faces all over again. I began with trepidation. The opening lines rolled out, the first joke got a roar of laughter, and then, a miracle took place. I began to relax and enjoy myself. The hours went by, and by the end of the meet, I was throwing about lines like a veteran.



"How far that little candle throws its beams/ So shines a good deed in a naughty world"
                                                                                The Merchant of Venice - William Shakespeare

Even today, when I speak in public, I thank that wonderful senior lady who brought me out of my shell and made me realize that I could face a crowd and speak before them. The lesson I learned that day was that fear can be overcome, if one has confidence in oneself... a lesson which I have tried to sprinkle around as liberally as I can. 







Comments

  1. Wow Deepti that was a great transformation, a welcome change indeed. All that was needed was a prod!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Anagha! That one prod is often so needed, and inspirational!

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  2. Replies
    1. Thank you, Siddharth Shankar Mishra! I am honoured!

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  3. Well done, Deepti! I hate the very idea of public speaking, and I admire you for being able to stand up and try again (and succeed brilliantly!) after such a horrible experience.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you ever so much, Kim! However, you talk so delightfully in your video blogs on books and reading. I cannot imagine that you hate the idea of public speaking! :)

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