The
rising sun brought a sparkle to her eyes. She got up, rushed through her
morning ablutions and got ready for her first day at school. The patch work
ridden frock did not dampen her spirits. Didn’t that ‘chechi’ from the Tribal
Welfare Office say she’d get new clothes once she joined school?
“Neeli!
Neeli!”
They
sang out in a chorus. Neeli rushed out and joined the milieu of uniform clad
girls waiting at the entrance to her dilapidated hut. The frail half-clad
figure at the rickety door let out a sigh of relief, wiped a tear and held up a
hand to bid goodbye to the little girl. The figure slowly receded into the dark
confines of the crumbling walls, poured out the remains of the thin rice gruel
at the bottom of the pot into an earthen bowl and gulped it down. Taking a
sickle she slowly moved out and headed for the thick forest in search of
firewood and food.
*********
“How
much more do we have to walk?” Neeli asked the girl walking by her side. Her
legs were aching and tummy rumbling in hunger. The bowl of rice gruel already
digested on account of the long trek to school, Neeli felt her body go limp.
Looking around she found some berries on the wayside bush. She plucked and
popped in a few. Chewing on the berries she remembered the ‘chechi’ from the
Tribal Welfare Office. What had she said? Yes, she’d promised her mother that
Neeli would get two wholesome meals at the school. The very thought of
stomach-full of rice brought a smile to Neeli’s lips. She rushed forward and
joined the others.
The
small white -washed school building looked like heaven to Neeli. She entered
the school premises with new hopes and new aspirations. She knew that if she
could stick on here, life would never be the same again.
The
ring of the morning bell saw the school break out into a chaos. Swirls of dust
were blown up as the children rushed to form a queue for the morning assembly.
Neeli joined them.
“Are
they going to give us food now?” she asked the elderly girl standing behind
her. A giggle broke out. Neeli wondered what was so funny.
“No
silly. First we have to pray, then only will they serve breakfast,” the girl
replied. “You hungry?”
Neeli
nodded in affirmation. The prayer seemed to drag on endlessly. Neeli’s tummy
rumbled. The words leaving her mouth seemed meaningless. The only thing she
could think of was food, food and food.
A
bell rang heralding the end of assembly. The little legs scampered behind the
tall girl to the dinning shed. Elbowing her way through the milieu of students
Neeli grabbed a plate and ran to catch a vacant space in the hall. The hall was
a virtual ‘fish market’. Voices screamed over one another. Students vied with
each other to catch vantage spots. But Neeli was lost in the steam emanating
from the big, thick vessel holding ‘upma’. The wait seemed endless. Finally
the ladle made contact with her plate.
The hot, steamy upma looked like manna from the heavens. Neeli dug her fingers
into it. The heat in the stomach was hotter than the heat emanating from the
‘upma’. Neeli savored each morsel. Going in for a second helping she wished she
could take back some for ‘Amma’. The thought of ‘amma’ brought back memories of
the cold hearth and the thin rice gruel. Neeli decided she’d study hard. The
lure of free food and free clothing was strong enough to make her want to stick
on.
“Burp!
Burp!” Neeli wondered what it was. This had never happened to her. Eyes wide
she looked around. The girl sitting next to her let out giggle. Neeli looked at
her with questioning eyes.
“That’s
a signal. Your stomach is full,” the helper from the kitchen explained. Neeli
gave her a smile. “I’ve never eaten so much,” she said.
“Study
well and you won’t be wanting for food,” the lady said. Getting up Neeli headed
for the wash area.
*********
Class
was fun. Neeli learnt a few things and made a few friends. The hours to lunch
time flew. The bell rang once again. Little legs scampered to the dining shed.
Neeli joined them.
The
hot steamy rice, the dal curry, okhra dish and a ladle of curd left Neeli in
awe. She gulped down the entire serving in just a few minutes and asked for
more.
“Burp!
Burp!” Neeli smiled. A silent ‘thank you’ left her lips . Was it for the
heavens, was it for the hands that prepared the meals or was it for the
‘chechi’ from the Tribal Welfare Department?
It
was for all.
*********
School
over, the trek home was faster. Energized and excited, Neeli rushed ahead of
the others. Paru waited at the doorstep to receive her young girl. The sparkle
in her eyes, the smile on her lips was infectious. Seeing her happy face the
drooping sad eyes crinkled at the ends. A smile broke out on Paru’s face. Quickly lighting the hearth she made a glass
of black tea, took Neeli in her lap and gently patted her head.
The
next hour was spent on catching up on school and more importantly on the menu
served out there.
That
night Paru and Neeli had a sound sleep, one happy in the thought that her
darling would not have to go hungry henceforth and the other happy at not
having to nurse an aching, hungry tummy.
[ Post © Geeta Nair, 2014. All rights reserved. Published at Manjeri on 29-11-2014.]
****************************************************************************
I am going to
#BlogToFeedAChild with Akshaya Patra and BlogAdda.
Are you a blogger? Then do join the initiative. Your one blog post can feed a child for a year. Isn't that great!
Do let me know you've been here. Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
