itni Girhain Baqi Hain is an anthology of short stories, produced by Angeline Malik, that touch on subjects often considered taboo. The series started airing in 2011 and gained widespread popularity, because of some thought-provoking episodes.

One of the episodes, Ghungroo, is about a girl, Amber, who dreams of becoming a classical dancer like Sheema Kirmani. Her love interest, Muneeb, who is also her neighbour, supports her in her ambitions. Her mother tries to discourage her from pursuing dance, but Amber is determined to follow her passion.

Amber’s father is allergic to the sound of ankle bells. One day he comes home early and catches his daughter practicing for a dance performance. As expected, he is furious and issues an ultimatum. She tries to reason with him, but her pleas fall on deaf ears. Her mother tries to placate him, but he is adamant and forbids his daughter from pursuing fine arts or dance.

The story takes an unexpected turn when Amber has an accident. She is in hospital for a month. When she finally returns, she has lost the use of both her legs and is now in a wheelchair. Her dream of becoming a renowned classical dancer has been shattered. When she confronts her father on the subject, he tells her why he is averse to the sound of anklets.

As an art form, dance has not gained widespread acceptance in our society. It is often associated with prostitution. This play endeavours to change that perception, by arguing that the art form need not always carry negative connotations. A lot depends on how an individual perceives it. While the daughter considers it a form of self-expression, the sound of ankle bells reminds the father of his extremely painful past, which rears its head, whenever Amber speaks of her passion for dance.

Ghungroo highlights how we are all prisoners of our past, which resurfaces, when we least expect it to. Like shackles around our wrists and ankles, it colours and influences our perception of the world.

The father is reminded of his mother, who was a prostitute. She was abandoned by his father when he was ten years old. The sound of anklets remains a painful reminder of his past and how his mother, on account of who she was, was ostracised and shunned by society, abandonment by his father being the final nail in the coffin. Understandably, he does not want a similar fate for Amber, but as he has never spoken about the reason behind his hatred for dance, his wife and daughter are perplexed by his opposition to dance.

Once he opens up and realises his folly, he apologises for his past behaviour and assures his daughter of his unwavering support in the future. The price life has exacts from her for her determination to pursue her passion, takes a psychological and emotional toll on him. When the realisation hits, he is flooded with remorse.

This short story raises some important social issues, without being preachy. Ghungroo highlights how we are all prisoners of our past, which resurfaces, when we least expect it to. Like shackles around our wrists and ankles, it colours and influences our perception of the world.

Surprise is the hallmark of this anthology and distinguishes it from run-of-the-mill productions. Ghungroo is an attempt to counter the entrenched societal beliefs and prejudices prevalent in this extremely regressive and patriarchal society, where dance, instead of being viewed as a medium of self-expression and an art form, is associated with prostitution.

Watch this play as it ventures into uncharted territory and attempts to tackle an issue that many would not dare explore.

The writer is an educationist. She can be reached at [email protected].