और_Fun ? (ORPHAN)

SHREE while locking gate

 

    I joined the library as I am preparing for government exams. I was running through my daily routine. I was in the library that day. Sun almost packed his bag to set. Sun rays were tired of shining for the whole day and were getting diminished. As it was Shravan month, the weather was attracting all his fellow children towards his own beauty. My library is situated inside a government school and in the same building on the top floor there is an orphanage. I came out of the library for the toilet and I was passing by and suddenly my eyes fell on a small kid who bent on his knees, holding the gate of school. He was witnessing that beautiful weather out there. I guess his age was nearly 10 to 12 years. He didn't know that I was watching him. He was enjoying it but my heart squeezed out. Kids from an orphanage were not allowed to step down unless their caretaker gives permission. He came for some work, like he carried down the utensils of the food they had in the afternoon. Those food suppliers took those empty utensils bags and went off. And the kid was in charge for that day, so he locked the gate and was taking advantage of some bonus time.

   I freshened up and came back and I was standing a little distant behind him. But immediately after seeing him, dozens of questions started floating in my head. Suddenly he wondered if somebody was behind him. He was a little bit freaking. I smiled at him but due to new norms I forgot that I was wearing a mask and he couldn't see my smile. I walked near him and I stepped towards him, he started freaking more. I asked his name with a soft and low tone. He with a hesitating voice uttered, “SHREE”. I really felt bad because he was hesitating to talk with me. Maybe he was not used to talking with strangers. He was frequently stealing his glance from me and was looking back at me. I tried to make him comfortable around me but he was becoming more unstable near me. He was bare footed. After a few seconds a voice reached us calling SHREE? He answered, “yes mam I am coming”. And immediately he increased his footwork towards stairs. I extended my feast to make fist cheers but he was so unstable he refused to strike my fist with his. But he held his fist. And ran away through stairs staring at me unless we lost our sight.

     But yet all my questions were unanswered. Few of them were, how he might be feeling for that very moment looking outside? How will he survive his whole life? What will he do if nobody adopts him? Will he get a chance to pursue his dreams? Where will he go to celebrate festivals, achievements, good occasions once he grows up? Do they know their exact birth date? I dug out for more information about them and got to know that they get new clothes twice or thrice a year. Fortunately, we do have some kind, generous people in society who donate many things like stationery, food, clothing, basic cosmetics and many more. But my immediate question was can we donate love, care, affection to them?

   Thinking of all this faded away my smile and mood. SHREE was floating in front of my eyes holding those questions. While I was returning to my flat, I saw some small kids riding bicycles and were enjoying themselves. I continued walking and I figured out that in the parking of my building there were some bicycles which completely sunk into dust, due to jo use. Thinking of this brought me to a new question. SHREE and his companions too might be feeling motivated to learn and ride bicycles across the city, play mobile games and to play some outdoor games. But unfortunately, they had no choice except indoor games. First time I realized being an orphan also has so many restrictions and they are stuck inside a cage. It's ok with us because we have parents and they don't allow us to play outdoors. But they are an orphan though they are bound to many more restrictions.

   Technology it's something they hardly know. How privileged we are that we have parents by our side, who looks after every odd, even though we never get satisfied and constantly keep complaining about so many issues. We keep on demanding, fighting, taunting, getting angry and upset with them. But these kids are so young then us but yet they are more mature enough that they never raise any single issue nor they complain about anything. They make themselves more satisfied, comfortable and joyful in whatever they have. 

   Was running late to the library the next day. I saw some kids come down at the entrance to collect their breakfast from the rickshaw which was to be served to them. I looked for SHREE but it was his fellow mates turn to collect the breakfast. All of these lovelies collected the bags and all stuff and while doing so their eyes were filled with eagerness and enthusiasm watching other kids who were playing out on roads with advanced gears. I noticed they felt sad for themselves. Again, I felt stunned. I froze. A day or other those questions keep bombarding me. 

  - Sooraja❤️