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Latent Talents

Most of us are blessed with talents of varieties of the arts like music, dance, acting, painting, mimicking etc though it may be in very small doses. We actually practice them in our day- to-day life amongst friends and family members with out being conscious of it. While most of them out of sheer shyness never demonstrate them more openly, a very few who are conscious of their talents are encouraged by their near and dear and venture upon to develop on it and become renowned artists.

One fine morning our daughter HEMA made a visit to help her ailing mother and also to assist me in the household work. A timid and shy woman she is on rare occasions she comes out of her shell to have free and jovial talk with strangers. However there was no problem for her to cut jokes and indulge in hilarious laughter with her own parents and sisters. Her presence always generated a pleasant atmosphere with her giggling laughter prevailing at the entire arena. It was her natural personality irrespective of her own miseries and problems. She used to narrate different experiences at every time of her visit that was sprinkled with jokes, strange behaviors of people that included her husband, son and even herself. There was always a tinge of innocence coupled with frankness that would invite every body to involve in her stories.

Here is one such incident that was narrated by her with her typical gesticulations ably assisted with her body languages that would make a seasoned mimicry artist jealous.

When HEMA returned from the school and opened the toilet door she was aghast that it was not cleaned by her teen aged son-at least she imagined that way due to the dim light. When she tried to flush it out she was startled that the object was trying to move. On closer look she realized much to her shock that a creature was trying to climb up from the pit of the toilet and with the flushing of water trying to get itself from drowning. As the porcelain wall was very smooth it could not get a hold and grip to jump out. But it was valiantly trying repeatedly to save its life. The sight was pitiable for the kind hearted lady and tried all innovations to get it out of the pit with little success. She was describing us with the exact action of that struggling creature. She narrowed down her broad shoulders, and with her both hands extended up was imitating exactly how it was working on its forelegs. Every now and then its head was coming up from the pool and again fall back upon. She could give a similarity with my own actions when I used to try breast stroke of swimming awkwardly at CALCUTTA lakes. All the time her shining and healthy cheeks were giving different expressions ably assisted by that slight dimple. Her eyes were also dancing and rotating giving the full dimension of the crisis. Suddenly she stumbled upon the idea of bringing a stick and cleverly inserting it in to the pit to give a better support with more friction to the mystery creature. But before that she left only one escape route in the house that was leading to the verandah to eliminate the chances of its hiding inside furniture or other items. Finally it worked out and the creature could successfully climb over the pole and get out of the hole.

Now it was completely drenched in water and gave the appearance of a big rat. But on closer look it happened to be a squirrel and its tail gave the appearance of a rat’s only because all its lustrous and proud possession of bushy tail was drenched thoroughly with water and pitiably it was a thin long stretch that prevented it from maneuvering for quick movements and smart mobility. Unless it is dried thoroughly there was no chance of its escape to its natural surroundings. Some how HEMA brought it out under the fan to allow the water to dry up that happened after some minutes. It was a great relief for her that the squirrel regained its quick reflexes that it is noted for and vanished amongst the branches of neem tree in no time. This is after all a very small incidence, but the art of enacting that dramatic scene vividly captivating the full attention of the audience was typical of her and praiseworthy.

In south they call it HARIKATHA KALAKSHEBAM –about narrating the stories from RAMAYANA, MAHABARATHA etc that has its origin from MAHARASHTRA.

BY J.PANCHAPAGESAN FLAT-11,130 GILL NAGAR EXTN STREET CHOOLAIMEDU CHENNAI PH-044 23744963 EMAIL id- jpanchapagesan@yahoo.co.in