Jaswinder Singh
AThe month of October had begun. Now the weather started changing slowly. The body was feeling a bit sluggish. The rays of the sun were filtering through the mesh door and falling on my face, but I did not want to open my eyes.
Meanwhile, I heard a voice in my ears, “Sardar uncle!” Kuch Khane Ko Do.â€
With this sound I remembered my wife who for many years used to give us almonds soaked in water overnight and some other nuts before morning tea.
… On the other hand, these little children of six-seven years used to pass by our house early in the morning making such noises.
I used to see them every day from my second floor… If they met my eyes, they would ask for something, otherwise they would burn the pieces of cigarettes lying on the ground with matches; Maybe trying to quench the 12-14 hour hunger with a cigarette smoke after dinner!… Thinking, what kind of life is that!…
On enquiry, it was found that the parents of some of them used to leave for work early in the morning. One’s parents, both were beggars. Someone’s father had died and the mother used to go to work. These little children who were left behind used to fill their stomachs with smoke by burning cigarettes lying in the soil… They did not have shoes on their feet; No oil comb, no toothbrush…
My heart was very sad to see all this… Our children are seen in school uniform at this time, holding the fingers of their parents and running to get on the school bus!
“Sardar uncle, kuch khane ko do.” My train of thought was once again interrupted by the loud voices of those children.
I quickly left the bed and put the food and drink for them in a plastic basket and gave it to the children. In a very soft voice, our housekeeper said, “Bhaiya in bachon ki abata ban jaegi… Mat do.”
… and I started thinking about improving the children’s habits… then who is responsible for these children? Their parents or governments or all of us?
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