Toastmasters Speech 3: Face the Wind

Face The Wind

With the word Wind, a word that comes to our mind is Rains. During the last rains I was stuck in Bangalore Traffic. I was riding back from a friend’s house and my phone rang. I could not pick the call. It was my friend Anvith. I have known Anvith ever since. His wife Ananya, Anvith and me have been friends since we have known, who we are. As the phone stopped ringing I reached the street of my old house. There was a huge traffic jam. I brought down the side stand and walked by to check what had happened. The tree, next to my window in the old house had come to ground. They were in the process of clearing the tree.

Good Evening Friends, Fellow Toastmasters and esteemed guests.

This was the tree which used to stay grounded when the wind would blow from the left to right. The tree today had come down, because over the period the winds had changed and my favourite tree dint have the strength. But, I had studied all my board exams sitting by the window and those tough hours of study made me what I am today. It was tough then, but when I think back now; I realize the grind is what made me strong for the years to come.  My favorite tree could not do much, but as a human I was more fortunate.

My favorite tree was cleared. A leaf came over and stuck to my bike, which I put into my pocket. As I started driving, my tree and the call got my mind wandering. Memories started flying by to another rainy night and Anvith’s call. By then Anvith was married for 4 years and Ananya was getting close to the date. She was 7 months pregnant. That day’s call will stay with me forever.  Anvith called and I reached Cloud 9. We were expecting a news of premature birth and friends walked towards the ward. But, when we got close we saw Anvith sitting with his head leaning over the chair. Ananya had lost her baby, second miscarriage in a span of 18 months. Two of my best friends were shattered. We stood by him, no answer.  Their child was supposed to be the first baby amongst we friends.

My thoughts lost and as I hit reality; I was about bang into a auto. I managed to hold on. The rains had reduced in the last 15 minutes. I parked the vehicle to check the phone. I saw 8 missed calls from Anvith. Anvith does not call repeatedly, it was not his habit. I was scared now. The memories of 2012, started ringing. I did not want another bad news for them. They were already shattered. Ananya was pregnant after a gap of 2 years. Just then came a message, reach Lalbagh Nursing Home asap. I was shivering as I drove. Parked the bike and in the parking lot was Anvith, sitting on one of the steps facing the other side. I went by and just tapped him gently. Anvith turned around and hugged me tight, he just uttered “baby boy”. We wept like 4^th grade kids and waited for all friends to come in through the night.

Ananya and Anvith faced the Wind, I stood by the Wind of Pressure and Tough times of life in different time. My favorite tree, due to it helplessness died. We as human beings have more abilities to fight situations. Lets do it and Face the Wind. Face the Wind and Hold On Pain Ends.

Disclaimer: The characters in the above speech are fictious. Any resemblences to a person dead/alive may be treated as purely coincidental. Thank you.