Its 3 am and am WIDE AWAKE!!! And I hate it! My mind is abuzz with lots of thoughts and the cold weather is so not helping. Its not cooling my mind, but my feet.
Outside, the lamplight shines, everything is calm and serene. Except my mind. One hour from now my dog will wake up, another hour or two from then, my parents. And the morning noises will begin to come alive. I hope I will be asleep then.
I hate this waking nights thing. Its not that am in love, I think it never really gave me sleepless nights infact! But its the kids. And that, I hate even more.
Spent the entire day with Amrita today. The morning began with a courageous visit to the eunuch temple in the slum area of sector 26. Same colony where the 13 yr old got raped. But we had to go the temple. An old eunuch stays there. She/ He is the head of the entire lot, and that is their adda. That (wo)man is a septuagenarian, originally belonging to Sri Lanka. (S)he was very sweet, offering us a ‘very sweet’ tea, insisting we drink it. All that (s)he does, is sit in that temple and give blessings and manipulates and monitors the working of the ‘biradri’ from there. S)he proudly, has saved a lot of lives, is the supposed grandmother of two of the kids at Snehalya. She had adopted their father, and now, due to the hospital’s mistake of giving him HIV+ blood after an accident, the kids parents are suffering. And the kids are in Snehalaya.
The kids are home for the vacations. I had to meet the boy, Karan, and his parents, to inform them about his new school - St Marys, and so to ensure that he reaches Snehalya on time. From the temple, after a half hour chat, we proceeded to the kids place, a rented 2 room set. Their mother was home with them, the father away to PGI. They were pleasantly surprised to see the didis come in. And soon the pleasantness wore off with karan running away in tears due to incessant complaints by his mother, and me, who scolded him in front of the others. Oops! (but i called him later in the evening and apologised.)
Anyhow, after informing the mother of the details, Deepa and her much hyper Bua, decided to guide us out of that ‘house jungle’. On the way, I was informed that Deepa is facing trouble at school. She goes to a big reputed school of Chandigarh, where lots of rich brats study. She had been avoiding school at all opportunities, because the kids, from bus ride onwards, make fun of her. Shes facing outright discrimination for her present and maybe her past too. She comes from Snehalya, doesn’t carry a tiffin, so on and so forth. And the little girl is traumatised. Understandably so.
We were never in favour of sending her to that school, because we knew what may follow. But the Sisters never thought such things existed. She is the lone one going to that school from among my kids. Assured her that the matter will be looked into, and we’l do everything possible to make things more comfortable for her. My goal- change her school. Trouble- she is an ace student, the school’s principal is NOT going to relieve her. Struggle- somehow get her out, save her and her childhood.
Anyhow, we left that place then, with Amrita getting a hint of Suchreet’s ‘life’s adventures’. A great thing about her, she is never surprised, or ill at ease, is as comfortable as it can get.
And then, the spending time together began. That being a long detailed experience, shall be dealt with later!
Wen i finally returned home in the evening, I marched upto Mr Jesse’s place. Spat out Deepa’s story, obviously with the sub-text that his intervention and help is needed. What followed was not the most happy of all conversations, and definitely not the happiest of emotions. But after our share of not listening to each other, but making sure that each person’s arguments are heard, peace followed. But that, only after a rare ‘confessing’ walk. Seriously, what-would-i-do-without-you! :)
It was late wen I entered my home. My mom was waiting, not worried though, for she knew I was around only. ‘What the hell!’
But then; is that not what the kids at Snehalaya would give anything for? For waiting, anxious, concerned parents!
These kids, Karan and Deepa, are very special. They keep me awake all night. The day they came to the kids home, I was told their ‘story’. I tossed and turned all night in my bed, thinking about them, and the millions more like them. Today too, from Deepa, my thoughts stray to the others there.
I mean- REALLY! WhAAt the HELL!
I think I need some meditation or something to remain sane, to think and then not think and then just sleep and think in the morning! I think I NEED A LIFE!
Its 4 Am and weather outside has changed. From the drizzle to mild rain, it has transformed into a full fledged downpour on a wintery Dec early morning. A thunderstorm with lightning, drowns the glow of the lamp outside. Oh God! What about those who live on the roads? And that lil lost, injured golden lab at PFA, pleading us to take him home?
The fault, I think, lies with the rain. But that doesnot help to soothe my nerves.
And nor does a hungry growling tummy- since it just forgot to sleep tonight!
P.S-
I think its becoming a kids and friends blog!
The Poetry in my life, doesn’t seem to be coming alive!
