"Mummy.. mummy..just cum here..help me tie my hair"..Fiza was shouting at the top of her voice.I was busy in the kitchen.I rushed to her side.To my surprise she was wearing her pink laced frock instead of her school uniform."August 15" she smiled looking at my surprised face.."i have to say the pledge today ,let me practise it.".she went on as i took the comb and pleated her pretty long hair."India is my country.All Indians are my brothers and sisters..."
I thought of my own school days.How every independance day was celebrated with great pomp and splendour!How we hoisted the Flag,the sweets which fell all around as the flag went up high..Along with it soared a proud Indian's dreams also..high..very high..Our freedom is the sacrifice of many great people..The sound of my History teacher ...images were flashing as if in a film..A sense of guilt snatched me.Today someone else should remind me of My Independance Day..
"Pappa is gonna drop me to school today..school bus will be late".Fiza's words brought me back from my thoughts. Farhaan had already started the car." Fiza ..dear..come on..its getting late. Pappa's patients will be waiting"i could hear his anxious voice as i helped pack her school bag."Bye mummy" i kissed her forehead."How's this flag,i made it yesterday.of course pappa helped..." "its cute.". i replied as she entered the car holding the little tricolour flag...Farhaan was listening.."So Fiza ..tell ur mom that ur pappa is not only a paediatrician but a great artist too.." Fiza giggled. "So great artist,wont u cum for lunch?"i asked him as the car took reverse turn."most probably not..i have a meeting after OP.now dont u worry about that.Lunch will be provided there.."He smiled..A smile as beautiful as the one he gifted me when we first met.."there are some things too" ,a small voice inside me hushed."which time can nver change" .i waved them goodbye as the car disappeared round the corner..I could still see the tricolour in Fiza's little hands ...reminding me of things i missed over the years....
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After lunch.I switched on the TV. Independance day programs..I heard the calling bell.I rushed to open the door..A littl boy..may be of Fiza's age.A rag picker.havent seen him before.He asked me something about old cans and ol..i couldnt hear..I kept staring at him.Here is a boy,the same age as my daughter.,in shabby dress,no footwear,skinny with sunken eyes..No mummy to comb his hair..No pappa to drop him to school..mayb no school for him at all..His bones stared at me as if in an anatomy class!.
I dont know still why i asked that ,But this was the first thing that came to my mind ..Maybe the mother in me spoke.."Have you had any food today"I think he was taken aback.After a couple of seconds he said"No"
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I watched him taking food with mixed emotions.In between he told me his story-The story of little Ramu,-how his mother brought him up after his father had left them when he was just 2 years old.Now his mother is suffering from some illness of which he had no idea.so that justifies why he set out to earn a living at this tender age...Or really does that?school was not at all his concern.How could one spend such long hours in classroom when there are beautiful meadows,tree tops and fields bellowing to him?-Genuine question..Sometimes ignorance is a bliss ..I thought...Or is it the other way round?What difference Fiza and Ramu has?They simply happen to born in two different families..two different circumstances..In a country celebrating more than 60 years of Independance.What is it that we are celebrating with millions of children like Ramu wandering in streets..whose rights are we protecting by making hundreds of laws and amendments..Whose dreams are soaring up today along with the Tricolour in the air?..maybe nobdy should ask these questions.Maybe they are not questions any more just like the fact that these children are no longer children!
...****************************
Ramu hugged me goodbye.A child's hug-what else can convey love better than that!!!Love comes eveyday to u but many times in disguise.Sometimes we fail to recognise it and on days wen we do we realise how beautiful life can be..Today it came as Ramu..I thought....I caressed his oilless hair..Remember all that i have said..I think my words had an impact on him"and let me have a look at ur mother..come with her tomorrow" Thanku Doctor Aunty" I saw hope and happiness glittering in those eyes..
Just then Fiza's school bus stopped in front of our gate.She ran to me with the tricolour flying.How was the pledge?i asked her.She did not reply.She was staring at Ramu.Who is he? she asked..
"He is an Indian..ur brother"..i said..she didnt notice the little tears in my eyes.Maybe the gentle wind has already caught them before they fell down!!
*******************************
I thought of my own school days.How every independance day was celebrated with great pomp and splendour!How we hoisted the Flag,the sweets which fell all around as the flag went up high..Along with it soared a proud Indian's dreams also..high..very high..Our freedom is the sacrifice of many great people..The sound of my History teacher ...images were flashing as if in a film..A sense of guilt snatched me.Today someone else should remind me of My Independance Day..
"Pappa is gonna drop me to school today..school bus will be late".Fiza's words brought me back from my thoughts. Farhaan had already started the car." Fiza ..dear..come on..its getting late. Pappa's patients will be waiting"i could hear his anxious voice as i helped pack her school bag."Bye mummy" i kissed her forehead."How's this flag,i made it yesterday.of course pappa helped..." "its cute.". i replied as she entered the car holding the little tricolour flag...Farhaan was listening.."So Fiza ..tell ur mom that ur pappa is not only a paediatrician but a great artist too.." Fiza giggled. "So great artist,wont u cum for lunch?"i asked him as the car took reverse turn."most probably not..i have a meeting after OP.now dont u worry about that.Lunch will be provided there.."He smiled..A smile as beautiful as the one he gifted me when we first met.."there are some things too" ,a small voice inside me hushed."which time can nver change" .i waved them goodbye as the car disappeared round the corner..I could still see the tricolour in Fiza's little hands ...reminding me of things i missed over the years....
********************
After lunch.I switched on the TV. Independance day programs..I heard the calling bell.I rushed to open the door..A littl boy..may be of Fiza's age.A rag picker.havent seen him before.He asked me something about old cans and ol..i couldnt hear..I kept staring at him.Here is a boy,the same age as my daughter.,in shabby dress,no footwear,skinny with sunken eyes..No mummy to comb his hair..No pappa to drop him to school..mayb no school for him at all..His bones stared at me as if in an anatomy class!.
I dont know still why i asked that ,But this was the first thing that came to my mind ..Maybe the mother in me spoke.."Have you had any food today"I think he was taken aback.After a couple of seconds he said"No"
***********************
I watched him taking food with mixed emotions.In between he told me his story-The story of little Ramu,-how his mother brought him up after his father had left them when he was just 2 years old.Now his mother is suffering from some illness of which he had no idea.so that justifies why he set out to earn a living at this tender age...Or really does that?school was not at all his concern.How could one spend such long hours in classroom when there are beautiful meadows,tree tops and fields bellowing to him?-Genuine question..Sometimes ignorance is a bliss ..I thought...Or is it the other way round?What difference Fiza and Ramu has?They simply happen to born in two different families..two different circumstances..In a country celebrating more than 60 years of Independance.What is it that we are celebrating with millions of children like Ramu wandering in streets..whose rights are we protecting by making hundreds of laws and amendments..Whose dreams are soaring up today along with the Tricolour in the air?..maybe nobdy should ask these questions.Maybe they are not questions any more just like the fact that these children are no longer children!
...****************************
Ramu hugged me goodbye.A child's hug-what else can convey love better than that!!!Love comes eveyday to u but many times in disguise.Sometimes we fail to recognise it and on days wen we do we realise how beautiful life can be..Today it came as Ramu..I thought....I caressed his oilless hair..Remember all that i have said..I think my words had an impact on him"and let me have a look at ur mother..come with her tomorrow" Thanku Doctor Aunty" I saw hope and happiness glittering in those eyes..
Just then Fiza's school bus stopped in front of our gate.She ran to me with the tricolour flying.How was the pledge?i asked her.She did not reply.She was staring at Ramu.Who is he? she asked..
"He is an Indian..ur brother"..i said..she didnt notice the little tears in my eyes.Maybe the gentle wind has already caught them before they fell down!!
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it was brilliant...! the only odd thing i found was 'doctor aunty' staying at home, hope, it's just her day off.
ReplyDeletethanku dear :-)
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