Quotes from A Time to Dance

“Because friendship is about laughing when the other person is joking to make you feel better. Even if you don’t find her joke all that funny.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“I want to tell the nurses no scale can measure
the pain of my dreams
dancing
beyond reach.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“My skin tingles as I step into the music,
give in to the icy thrill of pleasure
that spreads through me whenever I dance,
the pleasure of leaping into a cool lake on a
sweltering day.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“I'm not sure I can empty myself of wishing for those able bodies I don't own.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“My hand slips into his as though it remembers his touch and we've held hands often in a previous life.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“Will you go out with me for a cup of coffee?" "No." "No?" "I prefer tea, thank you.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“You don't have to climb ladders to reach God. He dances within all He creates.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“Jim was cricket practice; Govinda's the real match. Match. Get it?”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“How does the new leg feel?' I don't point out their question misses a point: even this new leg doesn't feel.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“It feels like Shiva destroyed my universes of possibility, like He's dancing on the ashes of my snatched away dreams.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“I feel the American’s eyes on me, looking as though I’m more than an amputee, a number, a chore. He crosses over to me, his strides large, a broad smile on his lips. “Veda? Did I say your name right?” “Yes, Doctor.” “Call me Jim. Please.” His left hand in his pocket, he holds his right hand out to me. As though we’re equals. “Thank you, Doctor—I mean—just Jim,” I say. He chuckles. “Haven’t done anything yet.” He has. No older man ever invited me to shake hands. No other adult ever asked me to call them by name. He even said “please” although I’m a patient.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“The van lurches forward. My thoughts race back.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“I can dance beauty into my body”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“I don't mind pushing my body to test my balance. I don't want to push my mind back to where the accident led me.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“I take a step down into the space where light is an enemy but not even darkness shrouds my terror.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“Chandra told me once about absolute zero, a temperature cold enough to bring the universe to a standstill. My heart feels like it's at absolute zero.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“I shake my head. It was all me. My mistake. I read too much into everything. Dreamed, imagined, and let my thoughts get as out of control as my body. “Veda,”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“Dance isn’t about winning or losing,” he says, “it’s about enjoying how your body moves.” I”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“Nothing else fills me with as much elation as chasing down soaring music, catching and pinning rhythms to the ground with my feet, proud as a hunter rejoicing in his skill. The”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“I lean into his touch. He looks shy and almost as scared as I was just feeling. I burst out laughing. Never imagined we'd share being scared the first time we went out together. "What's so funny now?" "You. You look so frightened." "I am frightened." He exhales. Then smiles and slides closer to me.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

“I'll be back in his classroom, back in competition, back on my own feet. Or rather, back on my own one foot.”
― Padma Venkatraman, quote from A Time to Dance

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