Threads of Me: A Journey in Verse and Story

Speech with a Poetic Interlude

When asked to deliver a speech in college, I was presented with an interesting challenge: to share three distinct aspects of myself—qualities or incidents—that define me. I decided to approach it uniquely, blending creativity with introspection. Instead of merely narrating events, I intertwined two of my defining qualities into poetic verses and narrated a recent incident through a heartfelt story.

To begin with, I’ll start by expressing my gratitude for this opportunity to share my true self. God, I hope I do justice to what I think versus what I speak thereafter!

When you start something new, it's like a high dive into the unknown.

You might know how to swim, but you might still drown on your own.

Bombay, as I like to call it, is my fresh start.

Being the city of countless opportunities, I am desperately looking for my part.

There are endless possibilities here, millions of chances to try,

Filled with emotions—sometimes so happy, and the other minute ready to cry.

But that, I feel, is the beauty of this place.

It makes you adjust to small spaces,

Yet always offers its embrace.

So, here I am—a newcomer in this city, trying to find her way,

A gentle heart with much to say.

I’m laughter shared and tears unseen,

The spaces in the in-between.

Why do I say this in such a manner? Simply, I love to write.

It all began years ago, after a major fight.

When chaos stirred and words were hard to find,

I let the pen ease the storm in my mind.

Writing became my refuge, a place to be free—

A calm amidst the wild waves of my inner sea.

I’ve always been hesitant to share my writings;

In the archive of my notes is where I feel most exciting!

The fear of judgment often makes me fumble,

And public speaking—just as right now—might make me stumble!

So, that sums up a lot about me.

But, as we were asked to deliver not two but three;

I’d like to share a very recent incident with all of you.

Everyone might remember the day—July 4th, 2024.

Ringing any bells?

Yes, it was the day the World Cup was finally coming home! Oh, wasn’t everyone so hyped about that? Even I was!

With our captain’s announcement, a blue wave of excitement swept over the city of Mumbai. And, by virtue of luck, I happened to be present there.

The team’s announcement of driving through Marine Drive at 5 PM and then heading to Wankhede had the city on chokehold. I was thrilled to go, but our college classes clashed with my plans. We were stuck till 3:30 that day, and going from Powai to Marine Drive in just 1.5 hours seemed impossible, especially with everyone rushing in the same direction.

I thought my day was over. But as I was heading back to my PG from college, I bumped into a batchmate in the lobby. And, with very low battery but very high energy, we randomly decided to go for it!

We managed to reach Marine Drive by 5:30. The excitement, the crowd, the enthusiasm—it all seemed worth the hype!

But, as always, the team didn’t show up on time. They arrived 2.5 hours later. During that time, my friend and I almost gave up—three times, to be precise! But it was our eager hearts that kept us waiting for just one glimpse of our champions.

Oh, and here’s a small but important detail about me—I can’t handle large crowds. I’ve fainted before in similar situations.

So, after a long wait, the bus finally arrived. We were standing on the roads of Marine Drive, and when it came closer, the excitement couldn’t be contained. The crowd rushed toward the bus, and I found myself caught in a near-stampede. What started as a dream quickly turned into a nightmare.

The chaos overwhelmed me. I was gasping for air, struggling to make my way out. After a huge effort, I finally managed to reach the side-lines.

I did catch a glimpse of every player, but at what cost? What I suffered wasn’t worth it. That day, while everyone was celebrating history, my memory of it turned bittersweet.

To make things worse, my friend and I got separated. With networks jammed and phones dead, we had no way to reach each other. Eventually, amidst the dispersing crowd at Churchgate Station, we reunited. With hearts heavy and feet tired, we made our way back home.

That day taught me a few things. I realized that while excitement is great, being prepared for the unexpected is crucial. I also learned to respect my own limits—no event is worth risking your safety. Lastly, I promised myself I would think twice before jumping into something like that again.

This is a part of me delivered to you.

Now, my writing is yours to review.

This is me, Gouri Kothari,

Signing off.

Thank you.