The efforts that they put in to derive little pleasures from life were clearly visible in all the performances we saw that day. We clapped and cheered for a variety show that included everything from well-coordinated group dances to deep Urdu poetry and charming Shah Rukh Khan impressions. Beyond the sound of token encouragement, they’d managed to entertain the audience so well that everyone knew it was now the sound of a completely ‘engaged’ crowd that was now being heard. It was much like a well-rehearsed school annual day of sorts, as performance after performance rolled like waves of emotions. Even if this were a one-day escapade for them, we knew as they grew comfortable calling us by name that they were going to carry these moments with them for a very long time. The pang that a day’s happiness was all we were managing to give them gave way to the realization that we were fortunate enough to share that happiness with them that day. As the day ended with the thumping beats of ‘Zingaat’, our visitors along with us took the stage to dance away as one integrated group. While helping them file out and waving them goodbyes right afterwards, I was stuck with one thought in my head as I revisited the internal conversation about how small my problems were or how big theirs were- “Goodwill and support aren’t meant to be seen as boomerangs but rather as skipping stones”
- Manish R
PGDM Candidate 2020, SPJIMR Mumbai
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