‘’I am with You’’
Its a great coincidence and story happened to a friend of mine. Her name is Sangeeta. She was my neighbour. We used to live in Chawl system in Mumbai. A chawl system is narrow lane colonies of single room houses. It consists of ‘kholi’ which literally means a room. One multipurpose room that functions as a living room, guest room, study place, sleeping space, and a kitchen that also serves as a dining room. Sometimes a kitchen also served as a bedroom for a newly married couple, to give them some degree of privacy. I always felt the Chawl system was a great example of Barter economy where everything was exchanged between people who lived there, right from the bowl of sugar and salt to the books, clothes, foods, drinks, thoughts, gossips and sometimes guests too. I have also witnessed culture of sharing of traditions, sometimes little caring along with fighting and arguing too. Whenever any new tenant arrived, It always became the hot topic of the chawl and it lasted up till someone new arrived.
I used to play with Sangeeta as a small joker. We were around about 35 children from all the rooms of chawl used to play together in the narrow area between rooms. We used to call it ground. We never knew that games are broadly divided into two types, indoor games and outdoor games. For all the children in chawl it was one and the same. Because some of us used to play cricket and football and some managed to play chess, carom and marbles in the same place. That was still a wonder for me. Sangeeta as she was elder didi (elder sister), she was the leader of the group. Whenever children fought then as a leader she used to solve their problems. She was a peacemaker. We all knew she would judge things properly and so always thought why don’t she go and solve all the problems of adults in the chawl.
I always envied her bright memory, her dedication towards her studies and family. She was the role model of all the children living in a chawl who belonged to economically lower middle class families in India. Below each and every roof of the chawl there was only one truth said and repeated again and again by the parents that study well, learn good habits, otherwise you would die living in this one small cave like us and know one could ever recognize you, you came on earth you did nothing and you died.
We children always admired Sangeeta and wanted to be like her literally wanted to score high marks like her. After watching her taking so much efforts we all decided we will also study hard and will score high marks in the exams but at the end of the day we all never could study like her. According to our parents a television set boom in chawls was main reason for the distraction in studies. But Sangeeta was very firm minded girl, I remember there was not a single thing that could distract her. She was not like other girls who could spend hours and hours in front of mirror looking and admiring themselves. Sangeeta being a scholar had a chance to come out of our little pond like standard of living to the big ocean of success. She was a very innocent, caring, loving, affectionate girl. And her one quality that moved everyone was her sharp memory. She was blessed with photographic memory and for the same reasons she was a very popular student in her school and always received respect from all the teachers.
But what is the point if all things are good or perfect. Some of us say life may be little tough when God is not with you, but the truth is, Life becomes toughest when The God is with you. He tests you on each and every level of game and makes sure that you will cry out loud, and if you are tough enough to bear the heat of all the situations you will come out as pure shining gold. Same thing happened with Sangeeta. She was loved, praised, appreciated and respected everywhere, except her house, except her own people.
Sangeeta was elder child of her parents having younger brother. Though she was so good in everything, her father with narrow minded nature, never accepted the fact that she is brilliant. He always ignored her qualities. Somewhere in the corner of the heart Sangeeta was definitely expecting hand of appraisal on her back, words of appreciation from her father. But her dumb brother always used to receive it just because he was the boy. The discrimination between Sangeeta and her brother was the reason for everything. On the other hand her mother was also not less. As Sangeeta was growing, her mother started throwing all the responsibilities of house on her. But she never complained about it. I remember after coming back home from the school, she quickly used to keep her bag in corner and would help her mother in cooking. After having food without any rest she used to take the bucket of the clothes out in veranda for washing. And while washing the clothes in rhythm of brush strokes she would start humming poems taught in school. We children used to gather around her and would listen to poems. She was a very creative girl indeed. I always wondered when did she actually get time to study all the subject and she would reply, While making dough for Chapatis (flat bread) she would draw formulas of algebra on it. Once I asked her why don’t your mother do all the home work and let you just study, then she wondered and said, ‘’ Ohh my little friend, I am young now and my mother is getting old, well and I can manage my all the other things nicely.’’ And then I smiled back to her as if I am satisfied by her answer but inside my mind I knew that she was not at all happy with all the things happening in her family.
She was a girl with wider wings. She wanted to fly high in sky. I could see dream in her eyes. I could see hope in her eyes. But as I was growing up I saw her developing pale face because of unhappy things happening at her home. Just because she was a girl child she was left unappreciated by her father but that never affected her studies. Because that was the only hope she had, that would change her life.
One fine morning as usual we all gathered in the chawls entrance to go to school. We all were waiting to see if everyone is there but I could not see Sangeeta. Her brother came and told us that she won’t be coming today. When I enquired about Sangeeta, what happened to her, is she well ? He said,’yea yea…. She is well’ and he walked away. There was something wrong. That whole evening she did not came out of her house. When asked, her mother said she is not well, she is having some temperature. Next day I saw her standing at the entrance waiting for all her friends. She was hiding her face from everyone. She avoided talking with me too. I saw faint scar on her face. And when we all asked again and again about it, she broke down. She cried her heart out and said I was beaten by my father. When we further enquire she did not open her mouth. Few days gone, I realized that she was not the same Sangeeta which I used to see earlier. There was no smile on her face. Her smile was lost somewhere in her unrestful schedule. Later one day I asked her brother again about her. He said first time ever she requested her father that It’s a last year in the school, so all her school friends decided to go out for picnic before a month for final exams. So she wanted to join them and asked for some money too. And father refused and said you will not get single penny for this and you will not even step out of home either. But when she said this is the only thing I have ever asked and you are saying no just because I am a girl. Father could not bear it at all and he slapped her.
Poor girl, first time in her life she asked for some moments of joy but knowing that is only her fate she built hard fencing around her. That was a terrible change. She thought to herself at least my schooling is still on and I don’t wanna lose it in any condition. It was the only hope left for her. With such ups and downs she entered her last year of Secondary School board exams (10th grade). It was the year 1993, the first girl ever from our chawl was going to appear for her board exams and that too without any coaching outside. It was definitely not affordable for her but we all had faith she would do good. We all smallies were very excited. We all her well wishers prayed for her exams. She appeared for it and passed it out with 93%. She was the topper in her school. I saw her smile, her success made her smile. I still remember whole chawl celibrated her success. Everyone congratulated her giving her mithaai (sweets). First time ever I saw her father smiling little bit as if he would have to pay for it. That night Sangeeta smiled back to God. She slept with little hopes of wider world of amusements.
Well that was just first step in her long journey. Real picture was still in the strokes of almighty. Till now not everything was clear. Sangeeta’s collage life started with all new happening things. But she could not manage to stay away from her father’s anger, because every now and then expenses on stationery and education fees were eating his head. Her Father was not taking it as investment in her studies but for him it was just waste of his hard earn money. Even though in India primary education for girls is free, people like Sangeeta’s father were less interested in spending money on the further studies of the girl child. That was the time when mainly boys were always given first preference in everything.
Few days gone and there came the first year exam of her junior college. Now the things were not the same. Difficulty levels raised their bar on next level. Within wink of time First year exams came. And first time ever in her life her score in academics came down from 90s to average 60%. She hardly got first class. No one could believe that a distinction class holder girl came down in average student’s class. Her father burst out, he was just looking for one reason to stop her studies and he found one. He did not allow her to take admission for next year which is said to be the important year in every students life in India. But this time she was not alone. All the people in chawl made him understand that don’t let her waste her talent this way. She is girl with lots of potentials, please give one chance to prove herself. Learning collage subjects without any coaching is too difficult. Finally he agreed but he was not so convinced. Her father said ''What difference your studies will make in my family. You will get married and will go out one day. Let me spend amount of my bread and butter on my Son's education though he is not that bright in studies ! Listen Sangeeta, your marks of Higher Secondary School Exam (12th Grade) will decide whether I should give you permission for further studies or not". Sangeeta that day joined her hands and thanked all of them who tried to convince her father.
She knew that it was her last chance. With the hiccups of fear and equal stress of exams she firmly engaged herself in her routine. She had faith in almighty that all will go well. She was very well focused unless and until her father started talking about marriage stuff. Before turning eighteen only he started looking and asking for her marriage. This is still a pain in veins of so many young girls in India. Pressure of studies and unwanted expectations of her father really started giving jitters to her. But that was not the proper time to react on it. She started planning each and every second and engrossed herself totally in her studies. Very firmly she was moving towards her aim. Her aim was to win scholarship for higher studies, she was all set for exams.
And, the big day arrived. The day which was gonna decide her fate, the day which was gonna give her wings of hope. A girl with bright photographic memory all prepared for exam‚ got the exam center far from her place. She managed to reach there by train and then bus. From all the heat, dust and press of the people in train and bus she would reach exam venue. 1st day gone... 2nd.... 3rd..... ....4th day....little scared‚ gaining n losing confidence‚ hoping to finish all the exams properly‚ all unwanted mood swings of father, this everything Sangeeta was living throughout the year but all her well wishers knew that she's going to top again.
Last day of the exam came. Sangeeta got off the train in a hurry and started walking towards bus stop with lots of thoughts in her confused mind. And as a routine she boarded the bus. A Bus Conductor came and asked her for the ticket far. She checked the pocket, she realized that she had 2 rupees less for the ticket. She checked it again and again but could not see anything. Knowing that the conductor stopped the bus and told her to get off the bus.
Now that was the time and situation burst her mind. It was one bad unimaginable situation one could ever live. It was the day which was gonna bring a great change in her life. Disturbed Sangeeta out of frustration‚ got off the bus and started crying out of anger. Shivering n crying out loud with all the heat within and fear inside, looked up the sky and started thinking about what went wrong??? What was my mistake?? Looking at the sky she yelled out loud saying , you ? …. You never wanted this?.. Did you ? For the moment she lost everything. Dark dreams started dancing around her. She was total blank. But she knew that she can not afford to miss her exam. It was a question of her freedom, life and choice. She decided to calm down and pray and walked few minutes and went to nearby temple where she used to peeped out of the bus window and took blessings of Lord Shiv.
Helpless Sangeeta went in and chose to sit in the corner of the temple where no one could see her cry. She joined her hands to almighty with tears in her eyes and said, ‘Ohh dear God, please help me, You know everything, You know how I am suffering and she bowed down. All the devotees in temple were busy in chanting mantras, hymns, offerings. The beautiful fragrance of flowers, the peaceful sound of bells released her emotions and made her calm. She was quiet and felt peace inside. All the incidents she lived till now started flashing in front of her eyes like a film. For the moment she was not tensed, she was not worried, she was not thinking at all. She was free. She was just a free bird. With the tears rolling down on her wet face she opened her watery eyes. And she saw 2 rupees coin laying near her knees.
Amazed with Gods grace she kept her palm quickly on the coin and started looking here and there. Feeling of receiving ultimate treasure she jumped up high and laughed out loud with tears of happiness this time. Giggling and dancing she ran to bus stop thanking lord with broader smile on her face. That was the token of appreciation given to her by the great God. Knowing that the God is with me now. She went to exam center and appeared for her last exam of the year.
She did it. She passed out the exams with amazing marks. She achieved her aim.
Dear friends for us it’s a coincidence but for Sangeeta it was a ticket for her brighter future. If the efforts are honest and true in the time of obstacles God comes and whiisperrss in your ear.
'I am with you'.
Its a great coincidence and story happened to a friend of mine. Her name is Sangeeta. She was my neighbour. We used to live in Chawl system in Mumbai. A chawl system is narrow lane colonies of single room houses. It consists of ‘kholi’ which literally means a room. One multipurpose room that functions as a living room, guest room, study place, sleeping space, and a kitchen that also serves as a dining room. Sometimes a kitchen also served as a bedroom for a newly married couple, to give them some degree of privacy. I always felt the Chawl system was a great example of Barter economy where everything was exchanged between people who lived there, right from the bowl of sugar and salt to the books, clothes, foods, drinks, thoughts, gossips and sometimes guests too. I have also witnessed culture of sharing of traditions, sometimes little caring along with fighting and arguing too. Whenever any new tenant arrived, It always became the hot topic of the chawl and it lasted up till someone new arrived.
I used to play with Sangeeta as a small joker. We were around about 35 children from all the rooms of chawl used to play together in the narrow area between rooms. We used to call it ground. We never knew that games are broadly divided into two types, indoor games and outdoor games. For all the children in chawl it was one and the same. Because some of us used to play cricket and football and some managed to play chess, carom and marbles in the same place. That was still a wonder for me. Sangeeta as she was elder didi (elder sister), she was the leader of the group. Whenever children fought then as a leader she used to solve their problems. She was a peacemaker. We all knew she would judge things properly and so always thought why don’t she go and solve all the problems of adults in the chawl.
I always envied her bright memory, her dedication towards her studies and family. She was the role model of all the children living in a chawl who belonged to economically lower middle class families in India. Below each and every roof of the chawl there was only one truth said and repeated again and again by the parents that study well, learn good habits, otherwise you would die living in this one small cave like us and know one could ever recognize you, you came on earth you did nothing and you died.
We children always admired Sangeeta and wanted to be like her literally wanted to score high marks like her. After watching her taking so much efforts we all decided we will also study hard and will score high marks in the exams but at the end of the day we all never could study like her. According to our parents a television set boom in chawls was main reason for the distraction in studies. But Sangeeta was very firm minded girl, I remember there was not a single thing that could distract her. She was not like other girls who could spend hours and hours in front of mirror looking and admiring themselves. Sangeeta being a scholar had a chance to come out of our little pond like standard of living to the big ocean of success. She was a very innocent, caring, loving, affectionate girl. And her one quality that moved everyone was her sharp memory. She was blessed with photographic memory and for the same reasons she was a very popular student in her school and always received respect from all the teachers.
But what is the point if all things are good or perfect. Some of us say life may be little tough when God is not with you, but the truth is, Life becomes toughest when The God is with you. He tests you on each and every level of game and makes sure that you will cry out loud, and if you are tough enough to bear the heat of all the situations you will come out as pure shining gold. Same thing happened with Sangeeta. She was loved, praised, appreciated and respected everywhere, except her house, except her own people.
Sangeeta was elder child of her parents having younger brother. Though she was so good in everything, her father with narrow minded nature, never accepted the fact that she is brilliant. He always ignored her qualities. Somewhere in the corner of the heart Sangeeta was definitely expecting hand of appraisal on her back, words of appreciation from her father. But her dumb brother always used to receive it just because he was the boy. The discrimination between Sangeeta and her brother was the reason for everything. On the other hand her mother was also not less. As Sangeeta was growing, her mother started throwing all the responsibilities of house on her. But she never complained about it. I remember after coming back home from the school, she quickly used to keep her bag in corner and would help her mother in cooking. After having food without any rest she used to take the bucket of the clothes out in veranda for washing. And while washing the clothes in rhythm of brush strokes she would start humming poems taught in school. We children used to gather around her and would listen to poems. She was a very creative girl indeed. I always wondered when did she actually get time to study all the subject and she would reply, While making dough for Chapatis (flat bread) she would draw formulas of algebra on it. Once I asked her why don’t your mother do all the home work and let you just study, then she wondered and said, ‘’ Ohh my little friend, I am young now and my mother is getting old, well and I can manage my all the other things nicely.’’ And then I smiled back to her as if I am satisfied by her answer but inside my mind I knew that she was not at all happy with all the things happening in her family.
She was a girl with wider wings. She wanted to fly high in sky. I could see dream in her eyes. I could see hope in her eyes. But as I was growing up I saw her developing pale face because of unhappy things happening at her home. Just because she was a girl child she was left unappreciated by her father but that never affected her studies. Because that was the only hope she had, that would change her life.
One fine morning as usual we all gathered in the chawls entrance to go to school. We all were waiting to see if everyone is there but I could not see Sangeeta. Her brother came and told us that she won’t be coming today. When I enquired about Sangeeta, what happened to her, is she well ? He said,’yea yea…. She is well’ and he walked away. There was something wrong. That whole evening she did not came out of her house. When asked, her mother said she is not well, she is having some temperature. Next day I saw her standing at the entrance waiting for all her friends. She was hiding her face from everyone. She avoided talking with me too. I saw faint scar on her face. And when we all asked again and again about it, she broke down. She cried her heart out and said I was beaten by my father. When we further enquire she did not open her mouth. Few days gone, I realized that she was not the same Sangeeta which I used to see earlier. There was no smile on her face. Her smile was lost somewhere in her unrestful schedule. Later one day I asked her brother again about her. He said first time ever she requested her father that It’s a last year in the school, so all her school friends decided to go out for picnic before a month for final exams. So she wanted to join them and asked for some money too. And father refused and said you will not get single penny for this and you will not even step out of home either. But when she said this is the only thing I have ever asked and you are saying no just because I am a girl. Father could not bear it at all and he slapped her.
Poor girl, first time in her life she asked for some moments of joy but knowing that is only her fate she built hard fencing around her. That was a terrible change. She thought to herself at least my schooling is still on and I don’t wanna lose it in any condition. It was the only hope left for her. With such ups and downs she entered her last year of Secondary School board exams (10th grade). It was the year 1993, the first girl ever from our chawl was going to appear for her board exams and that too without any coaching outside. It was definitely not affordable for her but we all had faith she would do good. We all smallies were very excited. We all her well wishers prayed for her exams. She appeared for it and passed it out with 93%. She was the topper in her school. I saw her smile, her success made her smile. I still remember whole chawl celibrated her success. Everyone congratulated her giving her mithaai (sweets). First time ever I saw her father smiling little bit as if he would have to pay for it. That night Sangeeta smiled back to God. She slept with little hopes of wider world of amusements.
Well that was just first step in her long journey. Real picture was still in the strokes of almighty. Till now not everything was clear. Sangeeta’s collage life started with all new happening things. But she could not manage to stay away from her father’s anger, because every now and then expenses on stationery and education fees were eating his head. Her Father was not taking it as investment in her studies but for him it was just waste of his hard earn money. Even though in India primary education for girls is free, people like Sangeeta’s father were less interested in spending money on the further studies of the girl child. That was the time when mainly boys were always given first preference in everything.
Few days gone and there came the first year exam of her junior college. Now the things were not the same. Difficulty levels raised their bar on next level. Within wink of time First year exams came. And first time ever in her life her score in academics came down from 90s to average 60%. She hardly got first class. No one could believe that a distinction class holder girl came down in average student’s class. Her father burst out, he was just looking for one reason to stop her studies and he found one. He did not allow her to take admission for next year which is said to be the important year in every students life in India. But this time she was not alone. All the people in chawl made him understand that don’t let her waste her talent this way. She is girl with lots of potentials, please give one chance to prove herself. Learning collage subjects without any coaching is too difficult. Finally he agreed but he was not so convinced. Her father said ''What difference your studies will make in my family. You will get married and will go out one day. Let me spend amount of my bread and butter on my Son's education though he is not that bright in studies ! Listen Sangeeta, your marks of Higher Secondary School Exam (12th Grade) will decide whether I should give you permission for further studies or not". Sangeeta that day joined her hands and thanked all of them who tried to convince her father.
She knew that it was her last chance. With the hiccups of fear and equal stress of exams she firmly engaged herself in her routine. She had faith in almighty that all will go well. She was very well focused unless and until her father started talking about marriage stuff. Before turning eighteen only he started looking and asking for her marriage. This is still a pain in veins of so many young girls in India. Pressure of studies and unwanted expectations of her father really started giving jitters to her. But that was not the proper time to react on it. She started planning each and every second and engrossed herself totally in her studies. Very firmly she was moving towards her aim. Her aim was to win scholarship for higher studies, she was all set for exams.
And, the big day arrived. The day which was gonna decide her fate, the day which was gonna give her wings of hope. A girl with bright photographic memory all prepared for exam‚ got the exam center far from her place. She managed to reach there by train and then bus. From all the heat, dust and press of the people in train and bus she would reach exam venue. 1st day gone... 2nd.... 3rd..... ....4th day....little scared‚ gaining n losing confidence‚ hoping to finish all the exams properly‚ all unwanted mood swings of father, this everything Sangeeta was living throughout the year but all her well wishers knew that she's going to top again.
Last day of the exam came. Sangeeta got off the train in a hurry and started walking towards bus stop with lots of thoughts in her confused mind. And as a routine she boarded the bus. A Bus Conductor came and asked her for the ticket far. She checked the pocket, she realized that she had 2 rupees less for the ticket. She checked it again and again but could not see anything. Knowing that the conductor stopped the bus and told her to get off the bus.
Now that was the time and situation burst her mind. It was one bad unimaginable situation one could ever live. It was the day which was gonna bring a great change in her life. Disturbed Sangeeta out of frustration‚ got off the bus and started crying out of anger. Shivering n crying out loud with all the heat within and fear inside, looked up the sky and started thinking about what went wrong??? What was my mistake?? Looking at the sky she yelled out loud saying , you ? …. You never wanted this?.. Did you ? For the moment she lost everything. Dark dreams started dancing around her. She was total blank. But she knew that she can not afford to miss her exam. It was a question of her freedom, life and choice. She decided to calm down and pray and walked few minutes and went to nearby temple where she used to peeped out of the bus window and took blessings of Lord Shiv.
Helpless Sangeeta went in and chose to sit in the corner of the temple where no one could see her cry. She joined her hands to almighty with tears in her eyes and said, ‘Ohh dear God, please help me, You know everything, You know how I am suffering and she bowed down. All the devotees in temple were busy in chanting mantras, hymns, offerings. The beautiful fragrance of flowers, the peaceful sound of bells released her emotions and made her calm. She was quiet and felt peace inside. All the incidents she lived till now started flashing in front of her eyes like a film. For the moment she was not tensed, she was not worried, she was not thinking at all. She was free. She was just a free bird. With the tears rolling down on her wet face she opened her watery eyes. And she saw 2 rupees coin laying near her knees.
Amazed with Gods grace she kept her palm quickly on the coin and started looking here and there. Feeling of receiving ultimate treasure she jumped up high and laughed out loud with tears of happiness this time. Giggling and dancing she ran to bus stop thanking lord with broader smile on her face. That was the token of appreciation given to her by the great God. Knowing that the God is with me now. She went to exam center and appeared for her last exam of the year.
She did it. She passed out the exams with amazing marks. She achieved her aim.
Dear friends for us it’s a coincidence but for Sangeeta it was a ticket for her brighter future. If the efforts are honest and true in the time of obstacles God comes and whiisperrss in your ear.
'I am with you'.
Nice story sachya....
ReplyDeleteThank you so much bro
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