Last year, I had the privilege of meeting this little lad.
I waiting to meet the manager of the NGO that rescued this boy a few months back. I had gone there for an entirely different reason and did not know the story of this tiny bundle of energy that came crashing into the room like a rocket.
He was a happy child and friendly to boot. He began talking to me in Hindi as if I was his long lost friend. He told me about his friend, he asked me about mine, till his friendly teacher lovingly asked him to stop chattering and bothering me.
I didn't mind one bit. His enthusiasm and energy was infectious.
It was only later that his teacher told me his story, which had me in knots.
Apparently this boy was brought to Bangalore from his hometown somewhere in or around North-East, to work as a house help. He was made to do all the house hold chores from morning till noon. Given one meal a day. And in the night he would be chained to a pillar in the verandah where he was left to sleep in the cold and cruel night. He was all of five years old.
When the NGO rescued the boy, he was battered and bruised -physically, emotionally and psychologically.
It took the teachers, other elders and inmates of the NGO many months and lots of love and patience to make the little boy realise and believe that he was in deed a little boy and has still got a lot of childhood to live and enjoy and yes that this world is not a bad place after all and he can find his space in this universe and find it well.
When I saw him again yesterday he had grown a little taller, a little naughtier and a lot more happier.
Children are large-hearted, generous in spirit and loving souls. That's why they find it easier to laugh amidst the turmoil of their lives; and why they are filled with hope of a better tomorrow. And above all why they forgive the erring adults so easily.
How come some adults forget that they too were children once upon a time.......
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