The Ninth Night by Kavita Kanavia | Thursday Tale No. 21

  Change is the only constant. One day we are crawling; the next, we are running freely across a field of grass. We let go of things we once found comfort in and find ourselves embracing paths we never imagined we would take. 

  Life, however, is not defined by what we gain or lose. It is about learning how to rise, steady ourselves, and dance to life’s ever-changing rhythm. 

  The Ninth Night is a short story about a woman learning to tune her steps to that rhythm; meeting life, its challenges, and its transformations with grace.

The Ninth Night

Illustration by Mercy Rebonica 

  The Streets of Borivali were glimmering with tiny rainbow tinted fairy lights. All around, one could hear the beats of dhol and claps, few live performers singing while others reverberating records of Falguni Pathak - the Only Dandiya Queen.. It was Navratri, and the ground near the local temple throbbed with life. Women twirled in colorful skirts; men in vibrant kurtas matched their steps. The air smelled of roasted corn and incense.

In the middle of the crowd stood Anita Deshmukh, forty-five, in a deep-maroon saree. By her side was her husband, Prakash, just as enthusiastic, with his kurta sleeves rolled up. For years, the two had been known as “the dancing couple” of their society.. Every year during Navratri, the people of their society would eagerly await their entry—their co-ordinated and graceful moves, their seemingly effortless rhythm, and the energy that spilled from them onto the circle.

But, this year it was different. Anita had spent months battling health issues—her sugar levels had spiked, fatigue clung to her. Whispers around the society said, “Maybe she won’t be able to dance this time.” Even Anita had doubted herself. She had nearly given up, content to sit in a corner and watch others sway.

But Prakash wouldn’t allow it. “Garba is not about perfection,” he told her gently. “It’s about spirit. And your spirit has never been broken.”

On the ninth night, when Aarti, their daughter, placed jasmine flowers in her mother’s hair, Anita felt a spark. With Prakash’s hand in hers, she stepped into the pandal.

The music rose. In the beginning, Anita’s steps were slow and hesitant, her body ungiving and inflexible and her mind anxious of all the watchful gazes fixated on her. But Prakash, aware of her mental state, caught her rhythm, twirling her lightly, his steady eyes reassuring her that he was there for her – always. The friends and the neighbours from the crowd who had known them for all these years, were quick to recognize Anita’s fear and Prakash’s loving gesture. They all started cheering and clapping in encouragement. A few close friends who had only come to watch others dance, joined them too. Slowly, Anita’s feet found their beat, her arms opened wider, her smile returned like a long-lost friend.

The circle kept widening around them as people watched the couple twirl graciously into the garba rhythm. They weren’t just dancing; they were celebrating resilience, companionship, and the beauty of standing tall together after the storm had passed.

By the end of the night, Anita no longer felt the weight of her illness or the fear of being lesser. With Prakash spinning beside her, she was radiant—like the goddess Durga herself, embodying Shakti.

When the music ended, applause erupted. Anita folded her hands before the idol, whispering a quiet prayer—not for strength alone, but also for the love that healed, for the dance that revived, and for the Navratri, which reminded her that resilience shines brightest when shared.

- Kavita Kanavia

About the writer:

  Mrs Kavita Kanavia is an English teacher, poet, and short story writer with a sustained interest in language and creative expression. She is the author of Musing...A Kaleidoscope of Emotions, a collection of twenty-one poems that reflect on themes of childhood, love, life, loss, and introspection. 

  She has been recognised among the Top 100 Best Poets in a national-level online poetry contest organised by Super7 (S7). Her work has also been published in anthologies including Moon n Me and Sindoor Diaries. 

  Beyond teaching and writing, Mrs Kavita engages in painting and reading, enjoys nature walks, and draws inspiration from life’s simple and quiet moments.