A friend of mine gave me an electronic key board. One of those amazing synthesizers that you push a button and it can play almost any melody you can imagine. One button makes the sound of drums, another an organ, another strings. Disco, Jazz, Blues, you name it... all with the touch of a button.

It had been tucked away but as we unearthed boxes and moved furniture, there it was covered in dust. Kajal loved it instantly. She played with the keyboard for a while, plucking away. Before I knew it she came running into my room with the keyboard under her arm. Mommy, MOMMYYYY! She was jumping up and down. Look Mommy, Look Mommy... I learned how to play the piano.

She put down the synthesizer and pushed a button and out came the most beautiful melody. She touched her fingers to the keyboard, imitating how she'd seen the piano played in concerts we'd attended. As she plucked the keyboards the melody, pre-recorded, continued to play. Her eyes were huge, filled with the thrill of what she was 'creating'.

Wow, Kajal, how did you learn how to do that?

I don't know Mommy, I just learned! Then she danced out of the room humming to 'her' music...

It's hard to imagine that not that long ago my little girl didn't know how to play. Not with crayons, or children, or toys... playing was a foreign concept to her. Now, she finds joy in everything, she creates her own entertainment and thrills at what she's capable of creating.

She can play.