Little Orphan

           The bell rang for the fourth period. The timetable shows "Grade 6". I continued my work until they came.
           They came and occupied their places as usual- I understood by the noises they made. but still there was a shadow near the door. I looked at the door without raising my head. A pair of little bare feet had located in the door way. My eyes traversed from feet to head. A new face!
"Are you a new comer?" I asked. The girl said nothing. The hesitation was written all over her little face.
" Are you in grade 6?" I stood up and asked.
" Yes madam, She's from our class. She was absent" A talkative student replied on behalf of her.
"Oh! that means you've added  3 more weeks to your holiday? What's your name?"
"................" She muttered something.
"Please talk louder" I went to her.
"Lakmini!" the representative shouted.
"See Lakmini, you've come in the middle of the lesson. How do you catch up previous lessons. This is a new subject for grade 6. What in the world were you doing these 3 weeks? Tell me, why were you absent?"
She kept silent.
"She had a funeral madam." again the representative.
"3 weeks! a week is more than enough for a funeral" I took her cold hand and fetched her to my table.
"Now Lakmini, tell me who passed away?" I sat on my chair and asked, taking her closer to me. A nasty smell emanated from her.
"No representatives please." I avoided the answers from the other students. I wanted to make her talk.
"Switch on your computers and continue your work" I said to the rest. Then I turned to the little rabbit expecting her answer. Her face hung down. drops of tears wetted the carpet.
"Ok dear take it easy. Everyone in the world dies someday." I stroked her dirty head.
"Is it your grand ma?" I tried to get the answer from her.
She shook her head and began to sob.
All my attempts to make her talk went in vain. Questioning grew her sadness. I left her alone and went to the 'representative' and found out it was her father that had died.
A little later, I went to her.
"Dear, I know its very sad, but what to do? There are so many fatherless people. I also lost my father. Be happy. You have your mother. Help her with her work. Come to school regularly. Study well. We'll help you. Don't cry!" I tried to console her, but she did not stop crying.
"Madam her mother had also died when she was a baby." the representative interjected.
I was shocked. Many questions popped up in my mind, but I did not ask. I thought of a remedy.
I guided all the students to play a game, joined Lakmini to a group. I could see that she was recovering little by little. There was a smile on her face.
"So Lakmini, was it interesting?" I asked at the end of the period
She smiled sweetly. She was fully recovered.
"Did you enjoy?"
"Yes, madam" her voice raised.
"Let's play another game tomorrow!"
She smiled. All the black clouds had blown away.
"Do you have any sisters or brothers?" I started questioning.
 "Yes madam, I have a brother. He's in grade 3" She has become talkative.
"With whom do you live?" I tried to come to the point.
"With our grandma. She loves us very much"
"How does she earn your living?" I asked.
"She goes house to house and does some work. they give money, food or clothes. Sometimes I go with her too." she replied.
Now I had to hang my face to hide my tears. The carpet was wetted by my drops of tears over her dried tears.

12 year old "housekeeper"

 After the religious observance the gate was opened. The late comers entered one by one, heads hanging with the weight of guilt. Dinesh was among them. I was surprised. The cleverest, most obedient, enthusiastic student in the class.
"Look Dinesh is also among late comers!" I pointed out to one of my colleagues nearby
"Why, haven't you noticed? he's always late." She said.
" Really? Only today I checked late comers. but it can't be. He's a good boy- for what I've seen in two months"
"Yes, He's a good boy. That's why the principal doesn't punish him"
"What? He doesn't punish for that fault?"
"Dinesh is allowed."
"Why? It motivates him to come late. Delay is not a good habit."
"That's true, but can't help, he has many responsibilities."
"What do you mean responsibilities? he obviously doesn't have kids to look after does he?" I said with a tone of humor
The expression on my friend's face remained unchanged, thoughts of humor disappeared from my mind
"Yes he gets up early in the morning, makes tea for his two younger sisters and father, cooks breakfast and lunch and  prepares lunch packets for the four of them. Then he readies his two sisters, one for the school, the other for Montessori. After that he takes his youngest sister to Montessori. The teacher comes at 7.30am. He has to wait until she comes to handover the sister. Then he comes to school with the other sister. First he drops her off at the primary section. Then he comes to the senior section. The time is almost eight then. The school... "
"enough! enough! I can understand" I closed my ears with both hands. My head was spinning. How much of a  load can a child bear on his little shoulders while doing his school work so perfectly?
" Why? can't you bear his story? Most of the students here are like that. They bear more loads than a normal child could"
"What has happened to his mother?"
"She's abroad. a housemaid in the middle-east"
"Why doesn't his father do the household chores and free the poor child?"
"He's a laborer. He earns, spends more for drinks, a few for the family. How can a drunkard  look after children- In fact he beats them. I think his mother has gone to escape him."
"It's unbelievable! A 12 year old boy looking after himself, his siblings and father, and smiling through it all!"