Wednesday 10 April 2013

Through the window


From the dorm window, they saw. A final glimpse of their friend- those little fingers holding onto the stranger's hand tightly, those little eyes gleaming with happiness and those little laughs still bringing smiles to the people around. She was more than their friend- a gift from God, a little sister. This was her best hope to a new life, they knew. She was always a bundle of joy, even more when she knew that she was being taken out of the four walls that surrounded her home. This was one such time for her, she was too little to understand it all.

Amidst all this, there was one girl who was sitting by the stairs, not wanting  this moment to pass. She had gone through days like these, seeing her friends saying good-bye but never ever did she think that her best buddy would be one among those. It was this little kid that had made her life wonderful. Though she was just 3 years older, she was almost like a mother. That was the bond they both shared. Ananya was her baby.

Last day morning, Ananya ran into her room saying that she would be going away for a couple of days. Yes, that lady who had come to their home a couple of days back had promised to take her out. Ananya was elated but this girl knew that this was the longest journey Ananya was about to take. She put on her bravest face and continued to feel happy. Indeed, this was a joyous moment for she realized that it was the best opportunity for her Ananya. But this also meant an end of an era, 3 years of life as she knew it.

She clearly remembered the day Ananya came into her life. She was just two and a half years old when her home was this orphanage. She had been living there all her life and never wondered why kids came and went. It was at this point that Ananya became a part of their family. Nothing short of a doll, she was. When she took Ananya in her arms, the little giggle that passed through Ananya's lips was the most magical thing she had seen.  And at that very second, their journey started. Every moment of their waking day, they spent together. And since all her friends were elder to her, she was happy to finally have a younger sister to look after. They had nothing that they didn't share with each other.

But the most intimate thoughts she had shared with Ananya were her dreams, dreams of going to a school like any normal child, of having a play ground, of having birthday parties and cakes, but most of all, dreams of having a parent or a family to love. She couldn't even start to imagine what having a mother would be like. Those good morning kisses that could take you through an entire day, then dressing her up as a princess for school, dropping her off and reminding her to have her lunch (her favourites), waiting for her after school, playing with her in the evening and finally kissing her good night. The closest she had gotten to these were in movies. And yet in all these dreams, she still held Ananya's hands.

The children by the window said their final goodbyes and continued on with their playing. Yet, at this very moment she felt lost. Happy at Ananya having found a new home and dejected at not having been the one holding Ananya's hand. She felt guilty at not having participated in Ananya's happiness whole-heartedly. A tear rolled down her cheek. The next instant, Ananya was right there wiping that tear. Yes, she had come back to give her sister a good bye kiss, to promise to get her a gift from where ever the stranger was taking her and to be back soon so as not miss too much around her sister's life. At this point, all she could do was hug her Ananya and pray for her future.

She will miss her little angel, much beyond words could express. And there was something else words can't express, when would she be the chosen one?