MIDWAY: Gift of gab

If ever I were to relive a moment of past, I would most certainly prefer the glorious day when I ranked second in a poetry contest in school. It was the first time I was being awarded any prize in a competition requiring to make a speech or a recitation. The importance of that day shall be intangible without the vivid narration of the day. I was never a skillful communicator or an impressive speaker. The fear of unknown would always intrigue me and had me stumbling with words and stuttering with speech. Becoming a prey to a constant apprehension

wouldn’t help as well. The diffident mentality was slowly creeping in my head and I was on the verge of giving up my efforts to solve the problem.

Determination ran rich in my veins when I used to explore every way of correcting my poor skills. Desperate to acquire the gift of the gab, I used to remain glued to TV lending my ears to the news readers on BBC and CNN. Charismatic! Some made the job look so easy. But then, they were but one of a kind. Embarrassment resulting from terse remarks about my inability to communicate often drove me to despair. On top of that, any signs of improvement eluded me. Small wonder my friends were expecting a pathetic recitation that day. But, to my own surprise, I went on with a loud clear voice with some element of eloquence. And I was declared second. How did I do it? I myself have no idea. Since then, there is no looking back.

Presently, I feel like an optimum communicator. That one moment quite realistically changed whole lot of things in my life.

Finally, I got the monkey off my back. It’s a pleasure to hear street-vendors shouting business,

the RJs talking pleasantly or the show-anchors conducting themselves in an envious etiquette, not to mention the politicians shouting their throat out while addressing the throngs. This makes me believe that the gift of the gab is not an inborn trait but a skill to be acquired after relentless honing. I believe that this precious trait has saved me from the mortification of being a nervous, reticent blushing face throughout my life. Now, I think those who made a mockery of my shortcomings must be eating a humble pie.