It all started when I caught Ma’am Amber pointing at me through the door while I was taking my chemistry class. After taking permission from the chemistry teacher, I went to talk to her outside the class.

I was told that our ‘Welcome party’ was due that week and I was to deliver a ‘thank you’ speech on behalf of my class. I couldn’t control my joy at this great news. I was good at speeches and the fact that I was trusted for by the teacher for this made me so proud.

I was given clear instructions – it had to be one minute and thirty-five seconds long to be precise. I am currently in my first year of intermediate and it isn’t easy to manage studies and handle other tasks. That night I gave my speech a thorough read but didn’t practice it loud as it was two in the morning and everyone was sound asleep.

The next day I was told to meet Ma’am Amber in the staffroom so that she could listen to my speech and point out any mistakes. I did stutter during it, but I assured her that I would practice more. I was then told to visit the senior vice-principal of our college along with other participants, but I had a busy day ahead and was unable to meet her.

It was the morning of party and all of the participants were taken to the venue to practice onstage for the final rehearsal. My turn was at the end and by the time it came, the time allotted for the practice was over. In the last few minutes, I quickly recited my speech to some teachers and left for home. After only five hours, we had to reach the venue for the dinner.

I attended my tuition class and rushed home to get ready and left for the venue. When I entered the hall, I was first blinded by the lights and then stunned by the volume of the sound system that was playing soft music. There were projectors, multimedia, spotlights and what not.

I sat at the table of my class right in front of the sofas prearranged for the chief guests and teachers.

The evening started gloriously with the two compares introducing the guests of honour. There were skits, dances, hymns and poems. During a senior’s speech, I was told that it was my turn next and made to sit on a chair next to the stage. I didn’t have the written speech with me because I had it all in my mind … or did I?

My legs went numb and so did my hands. My mouth wasn’t cooperating with the tongue, neither were the eyes with the mind. I realised the evening would have been more fun if I had been just part of the audience. Then I heard my name being announced. Dragging my lifeless legs up on the stage and hiding them behind the dice, I set the microphone at the right level. I was blank for a few seconds and then spoke the first lines that came to mind, but they were the last paragraph of my speech! Then I stared at the audience and they at me.

Laughter could be heard breaking out and my face started to burn red with embarrassment. Our principal initiated an applause to encourage me but it embarrassed me more. Delivering whatever came to me of my half-crammed speech, I made a run from the stage. Eyes blinded by tears of defeat, I rushed backstage and buried my head on my teacher’s shoulder. I cried a river. She tried to console me but what more could she do? I finally made my way to my table.

The programme was now coming to an end when the chief guest was called on the stage. Telling about his experiences, he stopped at one point saying, “All the skits were wonderfully executed but one personality that impressed me was the girl who came to say thank you. Can you come to the stage again please?”

Barely listening to him and lost in my own thoughts, I was jerked into action by my friend. As I made my way onto the stage, I wondered why he had called.

When I was near him, he said, “Everybody messes up, even I did during this speech but what is crucial is that you accept it and cover it up and the way you came back was amazing. You spoke less, but your accent and your confidence was marvellous!”

“It means a lot sir, it really does mean a lot,” I said. Our principal stood up with the bouquet that he was presented with at the start and came up on the stage and offered it to me. After the three of us were photographed, I made my way off the stage, beaming with happiness and confidence.

The applause was still resonating through the hall. What a night it was, one thronged with every emotion there possibly existed.

He carried on his speech and then dinner commenced and the night officially ended. The purpose of reminiscing the whole night is to refresh one fact: God never abandons you even if you are in the dark, it is not necessary that you know it right away, it takes time and everything is done for our own good.

Published in Dawn, Young World April 1st, 2017