The Smile That Shed Tears

The following story is a "TRUE STORY" of a person i kinow. The names are changed. But, the story is true. So, Happy Reading!

The Story Begins :

The Proscenium theatre was painted a shade of midnight blue. The arch separated the audience from the actors on stage. Seated in the courtyard below, the audience chattered about, waiting with flyers of the play in their hands. The velvety violet curtains were closed tight and behind it, chaos ensued. Last minute touches to the stage props and lightning & sound were being made.

Advitiya said no word as his father ripped the flyer of the play in their yellow painted living room. His mother screamed "What will people say?! Log kya kahenge? Humara beta nautanki karta hai?!"(My son would act like clowns on the stage) "You will at this moment stop all this non sense" declared his father. "You don't want to come, don't. Don't offend my profession. Theatre is my religion". And there it landed, on his right cheek,  leaving behind red fingerprints and a gasp from his mother.

The backstage was equally in frenzy, the lead was missing. And the rest were busy getting ready. The director took deep breaths and dramatically counted upto a hundred, trying to calm himself down. Powdered lithe girls moved about in their costumes and the actors were all getting their makeup done. But where was the star of the show? Getting slapped at home.

"Advi!" screamed his father "You insolent! Get out of my house if you can't give up this 'religion' of yours". He, as equally adamant as his father, he went straight to his room to pack his bag. "What are you saying?! He will come around eventually." pleaded his mother. "I will not harbour nautanki in this house!" His mother begged but her voice went unheard.

Waiting for the lead to turn up, they all grew restless. "Is he going to come?" "Should we get Salim ready for the role instead?" The stage manager stood up "We'll delay if we have to, Advi will turn up." She said. For she is the only one who got a phone call from Advitiya sayig he's stuck in traffic. But she knew better.

Wiping a lone tear sliding down his cheeks, he picked up his bag and glanced at the photograph on the wall. A younger him with his dad's arms on his shoulder. He clenched his jaws and set out into the chilly evening. Memories faded and popped up anew in his head. His first theatre performance at school, where his parents had clapped proudly at the little Raavana. What happened to the very same people when today he was to play a grown up Raavana in font of a crowd of hundreds? The slap still echoed in his ears.

"Nautanki karega! Mera beta nautanki karega?!"(Act like clowns, my son would act like clowns)

The audience was getting restless for the play had been delayed. The director sighed "We can't wait any longer. Get Salim ready."

"Welcome all! Today we are about to tell a tale having never been told. Applaud for the first scene of our musical, Raavana's Raag"

The curtains were drawn and there on the stage on an artificial rock sat Advitiya the Raavan. Behind his mask, the 10 heads of Raavana, he cried a million tears for they applauded, he got a standing ovation after each of his musical performance, yet his glassy eyes searched the crowd for the two figures who meant the most to him.

The last musical scene ended with Raavan dying by the hands of Rama. The dramatic scene was so emotional and vivid, the audience gave a standing ovation. As the names of actors were being announced, backstage Advitiya took off his mask and wiped his tears. Pats and hugs and praises followed. He was called last. And the audience rose, from behind the stage, the entire cast came onto the stage and applauded him. It was beyond him. He bowed in acceptance, he smiled and shed tears for his glassy eyes searched the crowd for them. Before he could find them, the velvet curtains shut tight...

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