TARA AND TIGGER Part 7

She sobbed. He left me and went to her. "Its ok junior" Tara said. "He is Tigger's pup" she told me.

"What happened?" I asked. 

"He got bitten by a stray dog during one of our walks. It was bad. Tigger was quite old by then. Evidently the dog had rabies. It was the worst time of my life. I did not leave the hospital. He suffered a lot. In the end we had to let him go, not let him suffer anymore. It was a painful decision." Tara sniffed."Tigger junior was brought home a pup a few months after that." she said.

I was at a loss for words. We sat without talking for a few minutes. She sat stroking junior's head as he fondly looked at her and whined. 

"You will come to my convocation on Monday, right?" Tara suddenly asked me."You can get a press pass. Please. I would really like that."

"Hmm...Ok. I have to leave tomorrow morning back to Mumbai. But I will be here on time on Monday. That's a promise. " I said.

"Thanks Kavya. I have begun to like your company a lot. I have had a great time the last 2 days," she said.

I, as always, not knowing how to reciprocate, squirmed uncomfortably and said "Me too". She was so direct and honest. 

We went to bed.

Good byes are never my thing. This time it was just tougher. I left with a heavy heart, home made sweets om Meghna, lots of advice from Paati, a hug from Tara, and an open invitation to drop in and stay from Aakaash. Junior stood by and wagged his tail furiously.

Today ,as I stood watching Meghna and Aakaash as the audience applauded Tara on stage, I felt so much a part of the family. I was honored to share this moment with them. A strong and independent daughter. Loving affectionate parents. Amazing grandparents. And a bond of trust,

friendship and commitment that holds them together through the toughest of times. 

We all stood together at the post convocation event for students and parents. There was food everywhere. I wanted to run. Some entertainment by the students was in progress on stage. 

Suddenly, Tara stepped up to the microphone. "Appa Amma, this is for you" 

She said and went on to sing in her lovely voice.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

It must have been cold there in my shadow,

to never have sunlight on your face.

You were content to let me shine, that's your way.

You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,

while you were the one with all the strength.

A beautiful face without a name for so long.

A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you're my hero,

and everything I would like to be?

I can fly higher than an eagle,

'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,

but I've got it all here in my heart.

I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.

I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you're my hero?

You're everything I wish I could be.

I could fly higher than an eagle,

'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Did I ever tell you you're my hero?

You're everything, everything I wish I could be.

Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,

'cause you are the wind beneath my wings,

'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Oh, the wind beneath my wings.

You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.

Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.

Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.

Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.

Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,

so high I almost touch the sky.

Thank you, thank you,

thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.

- song by Bette Middler

Everyone stood in stunned silence at her amazing performance before breaking into applause. Tara spoke. "Dreams are today's answers to tomorrow's questions. My parents knew all the answers to the questions my future would pose even before I started walking.'

"Amma and Appa. I know you don't like attention. But please humour me this once." Smiled Tara. "My parents were with me at every step, every juncture, every fall, every achievement, every failure. Not so they can catch me when I fall. Not so they can stop me before I make mistakes. Not so  they can raise me up on their shoulders every time I achieved something. Not to offer a hand to pull me up. But stood behind me to push and cheer me on. To try. Not to give up. To get up. To trust. To believe. To work harder. To make choices. To fail. To try again. To succeed. To be independent."

"What I am today is not what they wanted me to be, but what I chose to be. Therein lies their victory.  Cheering me on at every choice that I made, they have happily accepted my choices. I sometimes think, had I been a normal child, would my parents dreams and hopes be different for me? Nah...not a chance." She smiled.

"I know that I have a been a test for their patience. I know that life had not been easy. But not once have I heard them fight or grumble or complain about how things were. My mom gave up her career for me, she loves to cook. She wanted to have a business of her own. My dad loves to travel. I call it sacrifice. They call it love."

"All my parents want me is to be happy, independent and be a good human being. I truly appreciate that you have given me the most precious and expensive gift... the gift of education. And I assure you that I will not get it go waste. I have made a proposal to my old school(for the blind) and in collaboration with them and whatever help I can get, I plan to make this education available to as many physically challenged children, whose parents cannot afford it for them. Help to the parents in the form of counseling and monetary help to those who deserve it. Resources in the form of books, lab equipment, special training for the teaching staff and much more. This is just a idea in the making. I do have to find a job first." she laughed.

"But I will make it happen.I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, i will not refuse to do something that I can do - Helen Keller."

Meghna and Aakaash stood, looking sheepish. Feeling shy about getting all the attention. And proud of Tara at the same time. I for one decided I was going to do what I can to help her. I had contacts you know. All those years of toiling away from my family, its going to pay.

Flanked on either side by her two best friends, Shabana and Srinivas, Tara pointed to the audience and said, "I see my future clearly. Do you?"

I am taking part in The Write Tribe Festival of Words 8th - 14th December 2013. Today's prompt is dreams.