Representing the season of ‘Fall’, the season of transitions and endings, Ritu is a dancer who embodies both elements with her history. Coming to Canada from India as a young bride, she struggled to find her place in the new country. On top of the cultural clash, her marriage is fraught with constricting rules that force her to hide who she truly was. The emotional turmoil, the lack of support, and the loneliness leave her feeling like a solitary leaf struggling to hold on against the cold winds that try to bring her down.
When her marriage finally ends, Ritu finds herself alone for the first time. Unsure about herself and her future, Ritu returns to her first passion. Dance. With each performance, Ritu regains bits of her old self while also discovering new aspects of herself. Her enthusiasm and enjoyment gets noticed and people start asking her to teach them.
Pushing past her own self doubts, Ritu begins to teach Bollywood dance to anyone who is interested. With each class of students of all ages, she grows more confident in herself and her new place. And with that confidence, she gives back to the community that she now calls home.