Memories....
It was when I was in my 7th class/standard that I participated in an ICSE recitation competition. God knows how I chose the poem, or what I was thinking - but I chose a comic poem. All I remember of the day is this: I went on stage in supreme confidence and was reeling off the poem (enacting it actually) till about 80% into it, I completely froze - the mind went blank, I couldnt remember the next word......and was reduced to staring at the audience, searching for breath. The silence in the audience was broken by a rising murmur - of shock, of amusement, of excitement.....some of the judges were given me looks of earnest encouragement.....but nothing was working.....and then, just like that, even as I was contemplating bursting into tears, out of nowhere, the words suddenly came back - I completed the poem and left the stage, head down embarrassed and face down..knowing that while honor may have just about been saved, clearly the prize was lost. But I was given the second prize, w
