******Chapter 1******

‘I wish I could utilize my free time better!’ Shyam began to wonder.

The COVID -19 situation has moved the time back to the 80s and the 90s, and as a matter of coincidence, Shyam was feeling just the same. He was left with tons of free time post his office hours. Precious time for his family of two. Maybe, even more.

‘You can spend your free time helping me in the kitchen’ said Ashwini, his wife. ‘Just look at me, I’m exhausted doing the household all by myself’.

Of all things he preferred to do, Shyam disliked being in the kitchen. He would willingly be in the forefront of an army line, but, he loathed at the thought of messing up the kitchen. For Shyam, who liked to have things in tidy, kitchen was a zone, which he willingly would not trespass. As per him, it was the women who understood the dynamics of the kitchen. All he could help Ashwini in the kitchen was to relish the food.

As he idled on the sofa, his thoughts oscillated in all probable roles that he could don. Paint? Sing a song?  Be extravagant on Tik Tok? No, he was not competent in any of these.

Out of nowhere, and in a flash, he remembered that he had stumbled across a word called ‘Toastmaster’. He began to unearth the origins of that thought. He remembered that he learnt about Toastmaster in a literary magazine. It was about public speaking.

‘Yes!’ he shouted. ‘Ashwini, I want to be a Toastmaster’, he said triumphantly.

‘What is a Toast?… Err..Tastemaster was it?’ she enquired. ‘I have heard a great deal about male cooks and chefs from you before’, she commented.

‘Are you being a male chauvinist?’, she questioned, in a voice that authorized the super power of their house.

‘Dear, it is called the Toastmaster. An art of public speaking. I would propose toasts, make announcements, and give speeches…. Do know? It would garnish enough faith and confidence in my approach to handle critical talks, whether be business or personal’, he explained with an invigorating interest.

‘It is known to decorate and change drab lifestyles’, he joked, holding her arms and surprising her.

‘Whoa! Watch it boy, you are already a pumped up speaker’, she quipped.

So, with the ignition set, Shyam was on his laptop yet again.

He did a Google search of Toastmaster clubs around his locality. The search resulted in more than five clubs. The nearest club was the ‘Fortune Toastmasters Club’.

He dialed their contact number.

‘Hello, Varun speaking!’ said a stern, but, a professional voice on the other side.

‘Hi Varun, I’am Shyam. How do u do?’ Varun enquired, with his interest still on a high.

‘I’am fine. Thank You!’ said Varun.

‘I presume, I have dialed the contact of Fortune Toastmasters Club?’, Shyam enquired for a start.

‘Yes, it is! May I know how I may be of any help to you?’ asked Varun.

‘Yes please, I have heard a great deal about Toastmasters, and I’am willing to be one. Can I join your club, please?’ Shyam enquired.

‘Why, of course yes. You are most welcome. We would be glad to enroll newbies.’ Varun sounded excited.

A short talk on first-time introductions conversed between the two.

Much later.

‘Before I email you the joining formalities, let me request your good-self to join one of our sessions this weekend as a Guest. That would give you an idea about our system, how it operates, and the different roles involved’, reasoned Varun.

Until that precise moment, Shyam had no idea about what involved at a Toastmasters club or its meetings. He was excited about the different roles that he would probably play. Of course, he was open to take any role, and why not? He liked it. The thought thrilled him.

‘Also, I would like to remind you a fact. Due to the prevalent situation of COVID -19, all meetings are conducted online. Hope you understand? This would continue until further notice’, said the stern voiced Varun, making Shyam believe how grave the situation was.

‘I understand!’ Shyam said, his mind calculating the number of days remaining for the weekend.

After a             productive conversation, Shyam received his joining letter, which he showed to Ashwini.

‘They look professional and sophisticated’, she exclaimed.

‘Geez, am I glad to be a part of it’, said Shyam.

And the weekend came quicker than expected.

Shyam received an invitation via an online app, an hour before the meeting. Dressed in neat formals, he looked dapper. He connected the online meeting.

The session had 25 participants. All professionals. The first look at the participants produced a heavy thud in his heart.

‘Lord, I cannot be this nervous’, Shyam thought. He could not afford to be nervous as he had decided this path.

‘This is like a school, man’, he thought to calm his nerves. ‘Look at them, all attentive and punctual’.

He did not want to show his nervousness to his wife, but, Ashwini understood that Shyam’s guts were being pecked out by his vultures. So, she joined him and calmly held his hands.

That was a soothing relief, and he thought he had atleast made the right choice in choosing her as his consort.

The ‘Toastmaster of the Day’ introduced the speakers and guests. The guest included Shyam and another gentleman, who looked like Jon Bon Jovi in his mid 40s.

One by one, the speakers unmuted themselves and spoke their scripts. Shyam listened with great intent. The prepared speeches were being spoken with great enthusiasm. It was professional and educative. Yet, there were moments of fun and joy.

Then came the unexpected. The ‘Table Topics Master’ was introduced.

As per the norms, guests were allowed to speak in the Table Topics session. It was an impromptu topic and quick thinking was required.

The Bon Jovi look alike was requested to speak. Shyam missed his name. He was asked to speak on a tricky topic. Shyam expected that Bon Jovi would falter. Also, one would expect that charm coming out of Bon Jovi’s voice, but, this man was squeaky.

The man did not seem to be bothered about his voice nor were the others, and he was strict, yet artful and amicable in his approach.  A total contrast to the actual Bon Jovi. Later, Shyam came to know that Bon Jovi was a Toastmaster from the same club and he was without a role for the day, so the guest that he was.

It was Shyam’s turn to speak now.

The Table Topics Master presented his topic – If not now, then when?

Hearing this, Shyam’s self was a concoction of fear and excitement. He stuttered a bit and looked at the screen gasping for breath. The confidence of speaking in public was getting stabbed. At the same time, his wife squeezed his hands. The assurance was back.

‘Hi and Good evening everybody. I’am Shyam, an aspiring Toastmaster.

This topic is apt to my personal life, because, many a times I had aspired to become something in life and to achieve it, was a hurdle, as I was procrastinating things. I do not know if I have to thank the present situation, which made me consider and reconsider my aspirations.

Well, I have to agree, if not now, then when? I think the free time that we have nowadays is enough to make us believe that if we invest it in the right way now, then, we can enjoy its dividends at a later time.

I might not even get a better chance in the future. As goes the saying ‘better late, than never’, I’am glad that I took the step right now, than procrastinate it to a later date.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity, to present my first speech.’

Shyam looked at the screen. The grid showed thumbs-up signs from almost everyone. Ashwini shook his hands. There was a huge sign of relief.

Shyam was awarded the Best Table Topics Speaker certificate, something which he had never expected.

After the session, Varun called Shyam and congratulated him.

‘You are an excellent speaker Shyam. A natural!’ was the compliment, which Shyam would cherish for the rest of his life.

                                                       *******Chapter 2******

After the success of his first speech, Shyam registered to be a Toastmaster with the Fortune Toastmasters Club. His name was on the official letter and printed as TM Shyam or Toastmaster Shyam. He was glad that the words ‘TM’ was prefixed with his name. For 30 years, he had been carrying his family name as initials and therefore, he believed that the now decorated name will trigger a major change in his approach.

In another two weeks, Shyam was supposed to give his first speech. It was an Ice Breaker, where he had to introduce himself to his new club members.

The last time he did such a thing was at an interview. But, at Toastmasters, the rules are to be varied. You were supposed to make it crisp, informative and entertaining, with a message to carry home. Not the usual formal or interview kind of stuff, and that made the task more difficult.

He had to be like an actor in a drama.

There was no shortage in motivation. The challenge was to select the best moments of his life and pen them in a way that would keep the audience attentive for the next six minutes.

Going back 30 years in one’s own timeline seems easy. Moreover, the best moments always stand tall for easy pickings. He decided to tell a tale on how he became a Toastmaster. He began to construct a parallel life.

For the next two days, he began to spin a tale. With the best of his remembrance of his yesterdays’, he created a two-page manuscript. Satisfied, he narrated it to his wife.

‘That is a good one dear, I’am sure the audience will be attracted to your speech, like a gnat to a lamp’, Ashwini said.

‘I hope the lamp post is steady. I’am nervous already’, Shyam rubbed his cold hands.

‘There is a saying – Practice and practice until you are perfect!’, Ashwini recollected.

‘Yes, hope I have nothing to worry. I think its the pressure to perform better’, said Shyam.

Of course, Shyam was determined, and so was the pressure to perform. But, he was not ready to give up.

‘So, just chill. It would not last until kingdom come’, said Ashwini.

The next big thing was to memorize the script. He rewrote his script multiple times until it was half of what he had originally penned down.

He memorized it in front of the mirror and even while having his bath. His wife insisted him to record his voice and practice. Things went okay this way, but, he was not satisfied until perfection was achieved.

He searched for online tools that would help. He came across an online app, a speech coach, which also had a mobile version.

The mobile version is a complete easier option. He downloaded it, logged in and recorded his first speech.

He was amazed by the effectiveness of the app. It calculated the number of ‘Ahs, Umms and Errs’ that he had used in his speech delivery. Not only that, it had pointed out the words which he had used multiple times and the pace at which he had delivered his speech along with the accuracy rate.

He was surprised but not disappointed. He did not imagine one could commit these many errors while delivering a speech.

But then, there was the assurance that he could deliver better, the next time. With a little practice he delivered his second speech and the meter showed an improvement.

Within a few days, the circular was out on the Toastmaster Whatsapp Group and Shyam registered his name for the speech. When the official flyer was printed he saw his name on it. It announced, ‘TM Shyam – Project L1P1 – Ice Breaker Speech’. He was glad and showed it to Ashwini. His evaluators name was also printed, someone by the name TM Mathews.

D-Day!

The online meeting commenced on-time and Shyam was at his dapper best yet again.

There were around 30 attendees on the screen, but, Shyam felt it was an entire population that was ready to peer at him today. But, somehow he did not mind. There was confidence that he would deliver his speech well. Even Jon Bon Jovi was also present.

His speech being the introduction was first in the list.

When Shyam’s name was called for, the Toastmaster of the Day introduced him formally to the club and then, he was asked to deliver his speech.

Shyam closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath and relaxed.

‘Dear Toastmaster of the Day, my fellow Toastmasters and my dear guests.

On an August month of 1988, in the cosmopolitan city of Bangalore, South India, something August had happened. A Toastmaster was born. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So, here am I presenting my first speech to you, and this was my story.

Thank You all.’

Shyam thought that he had said the entire speech in one breath. He gasped for breath and looked at the screen. There was a standing ovation. Ashwini was so glad that she started clapping and Shyam had to jump on his laptop to mute himself.

Shyam was on cloud nine and he awaited his feedback from his evaluator, TM Mathews.

As the name TM Mathews was announced, he began to search the screen for answers. To his surprise Bon Jovi unmuted himself and started to talk.

‘Him, he is a real critic?’ Shyam thought.

‘Wow, this should be tough’, he wondered.

‘It was a pleasure listening to your speech TM Shyam and I must say you have done a good job. You have delivered an excellent Ice Breaker story. There was confidence and perfection overflowing in your speech that I believe describes your persona’.

The evaluation went on for a few minutes and Shyam waited with bated breath, hoping that his was the best speech ever.

The icing on the cake was when he was informed that there were no major faults in his speech and the club was proud of the fact that they have found a good speaker in him.

Shyam was elated.

In the awards session, Shyam was awarded the Best Speaker award.

                                                     ****** Epilogue******

No one really knows how and when the door of success opens.

Shyam has won many accolades with Fortune Toastmasters Club since then. He is glad that he took the first step to beat his procrastination.

He celebrates his success well.