I have to get some sleep before the performance. “Ha! Get used to it brother, you are in a media college!”
10th August 2015, my phone rings at around 10 P.M.
“Hey Aakash, you will have to come for the group practice, it’s the final chance to rehearse before tomorrow’s performance. Be here in half an hour,” said a super senior from the other side.
“But I haven’t prepared my solo act.”
“Hardly matters man, you will get time to prepare. We’ll be done in a few hours, maximum by 4 a.m.” He appeared indifferent to the norms of sleeping and resting but I was not and hence iterated the fact that I have to get some sleep before the performance. “Ha! Get used to it brother, you are in a media college!”
Jump to 5 a.m. the next morning, eyes drowning into sleep, body resisting movement but the situation demanding me to prepare a solo act that included dancing, singing and acting. I chose the best remedy to every problem, I slept!
An hour before my performance, I was sitting by a friend backstage and she wished me luck. ‘I’m not performing, I haven’t prepared anything!’, I said with immediate regret. I had to do it, I had to perform, I can’t back out! I arranged for a laptop and edited out a piece from a famous Bollywood track for which I had prepared a dance a while back. I quickly thought of a situation which fit with the song and chose the song “Dua”, by Arijit Singh and knitted them along with passion!
Though I lost the gold to an unmatchable performance, a few hours later, I saw myself alongside my Professors and the Chief Guest, with a silver medal slung around my neck. Well that was a big deal at that point of time. Not for anyone else, but the part in me that questioned my capability was at least answered in the best possible manner. It was an unforgettable day!
Article by: Aakash Dutt Sharma (Batch of 2018)
Photo Credits: Unknown
