After many months of planning, the ten musketeers of Mr K’s choice reached Moscow. I starved my food-o-holic self to fit into some slim cuts I had purchased three years ago – before I could break the tag I had conceived A junior.

Anyways the time had come to squeeze myself into those outfits and look wow. Few hours after I landed, I fell off of a ramp at the trampoline park, hit my head to a wall and crash-landed into a pile of sweaty and dirty sponge peanuts.

I think I swallowed a piece of it, I can still feel the dry texture in my throat. I was being pulled out by my guffawing friends that’s when they realised I was not crying with joy. 8 quacks treated me that day. Sometime during the 4ft fall I had hit my ring finger on my right hand, YES, my feeding and fending hand. My fingers were iced and then pulled, straightened and then curled. I managed to put on a poker face deceiving my friends of the intensity of the pain and reducing Mr K’s guilt. The next day I earned a hot red cast by a qualified doctor.

That night I cried while getting ready. I am a hyper, no, a over hyper person. I even work in my sleep. This sudden dependency was annoying. I had already missed out on rifle shooting that morning and now the kajal was on my cheek. The gang of girls was on stand-by waiting for my distress call. In a couple of minutes I was dolled up and good to go.

I am blessed like that, with friends who love me despite my unavailability for them. Many incidents occurred where my friends displayed their unconditional affection for me.

My restriction was suddenly my blessing. My inability to be able to participate in other touristy stuff allowed me the luxury of company of my friends. I discovered how selfish I have been, content with their friendship that I forgot I had a role to play too. I had not spent any carefree time with the ones who matter the most to me to simply ask of their wellbeing. So much had happened and so many times they needed me but I was not there. I was busy keeping myself busy. My family, my friends and I as well need more of my time. As I need more of them too.

My hot red cast is off, replaced by an ugly looking tape. But I can’t get the red out of head. If I had not fallen that day I could have injured myself very badly.

Ruchira Darda

I am Ruchira Darda, a relationship coach, parenting expert, author, and entrepreneur with over 16 years of experience. Based in Mumbai, I work extensively in the areas of mindful living and emotional wellness. I am a TEDx speaker and focus on personality identification to help individuals and families build stronger, healthier relationships. I also lead and actively support initiatives such as the Lokmat MahaMarathon.