Assunta's gift of the gab

SILENCE fills the hall. A roomful of eyes are focused on you. You take a deep breath and wipe the sweat off your palms. Composed and confident, you walk on stage. Suddenly, your biggest nightmare comes true: You're lost for words. 

Speaking in front of a large crowd makes most people nervous. For 16-year-old Anisha Pradhan, the challenge was not only to speak but also to think on her feet during the impromptu speech competition at the South-East Asian Forensics Tournament held recently.