A memorable experience indeed….

It is said “God cannot attend to everybody, but he does send an angel to attend to the people who call out to him….”. On reading this quote my thoughts drifted to the first time I had been to Sweekar… Sweekar is an NGO at Kothrud (Please don’t ask me the address!!!! I can take you there but cant write down the entire address). As I had a very pathetic sense of direction (not that I have a good one now) I lost my way and called the NGOs caretaker. She asked me to stand besides Ganesh Kripa hall (err..thats what seems to be the name of the hall) and said she would send someone shortly to receive me. A very skinny lady clad in white saree came to receive me and helped me find my way to the NGO.

When I first saw her I felt she was some lady who works at the NGO, but the moment we entered the NGO all the kids there flocked around her and tried their best to gain her attention by telling her different things that happened during the entire day. Seeing me getting startled she said namaskar mi XYZ. This NGO belongs to me, as I had been out the entire day these kids are excited to share their piece of story with me. I was surprised to know that she is the care taker.

She started her conversation by telling me that all these kids are AIDS affected and have been orphaned once their parents or relatives got to know about their diseased state. Since this is the only family they have all the kids addressed her as Aai (which is the Marathi word used to address Mother). She took me through a brief history as to how the NGO was established and how she manages to run the NGO despite the fact that it is not aided by any government organization. Though I was paying attention to the things mentioned by her, all this while I just kept thinking what a strong willed women she is.

After a while when I realized I have been gazing her for a very long time, I asked her about the funding for the NGO, to which she said that money is very important. We have 18 Kids and all of them are AIDS affected. We need good amount of money to run the NGO. Moreover due to their diseased state their digestion is very quick and they need to be fed at periodic intervals. Besides they even have to be given medicines regularly to reduce the intensity of this disease. She said “I approach several people on a regular basis, and also request anybody who comes here to donate towards the fund for the NGO.” This is not it she also stands at the bus stop and requests people to fund for her NGO. She says with dignity We accept donations starting from 1 Rupee. I asked her as to how she feels when somebody mocks or laughs at her or even ignores her when she askes them for money, to which she says if I ever become egoistic who will take care of my kids. I am their mother they are my responsibility, I cannot see them going around and asking people for help. I want them to study, eat healthy and live happily. Listening to which my eyes welled up with tears.

I had taken some chocolates with me for the little ones there and I could see the excitement on their face seeing the chocolates I had to offer them. Aai introduced me to all the kids there. Some of them excelled in singing, while the others in dancing and there were a few of them who were class toppers for 2 consecutive years.

Till date I never had any problem striking a conversation with anybody irrespective of the age of the person. While I was getting acquainted with the kids one girl amongst them was not ready to open up at all. Aai told me she’s a bit moody, she talks to only if she likes someone. I could sense a kind of question in her eyes which kept asking me, Why are we different??? I played some games with the kids, troubled them a bit and tried my bit to mingle with them. After almost an hour or so she actually smiled at a joke that I happened to share with them and came and took the chocolate from me. Trust me this was the most touching moment for me. When I was just about to leave the NGO and make a move to my place Aai told me….Next time when you come can you please bring eggs or rice for the kids instead of chocolates??? I was just taken aback by the comment. I realized how these kids were not a part of her life but they were her life. If there is anybody who taught me what love is it is her.

When I walked out of the NGO that day I realized,

1. How lucky I am to be blessed with such caring people in the form of my parents, friends and relatives

2. If a person is determined to achieve something, he/she will do anything to make it work

3. Not everybody is blessed with everything, why not give what we can to the others around us

4. Should we always expect something in return from people if we give them something

It is said ‘Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once.’ She has found a way to spend it, and has given me a direction as well.