Deprived yet Determined

One hot Saturday afternoon I was relaxing with the magazine of the

week in my hand, every Saturday being a holiday I make my me- time

happen. That’s when I would grab the weekly magazine and rest back in

my wooden armchair, with lemonade by my side, it makes my every

Saturday- perfect. Flipping through the matte-finish pages of the

magazine, filled with news from all around the city and best photographs

of the week getting featured, I found it a good pass-time. Took a sip of

my lemonade and flipped the pages, that was exactly when a particular

photograph caught my attention. It was a photograph of two little

children- probably of age eight/nine, carrying books which seemed

double their own size. They were wearing torn, worn-out clothes and

their hair seemed like they haven’t bathed in days. I could not decide

what it was because the kids were smiling so well and seemed quite

excited about something I didn’t understand, and under the picture,

there was a line that said, “they smile because of their dreams and not

the reality”. Somehow, I became very eager to know more about them

and wanted to know what was the dream that made them look so

cheerful, so I planned to somehow reach to them and know it for myself.

With the plan set in my mind, I contacted the photographer of the

the picture which made me grow curious, I found the contact details of the

photographer on the downside of the beautifully captured picture.

I got to know that the children belonged to the streets of KR Town, so I

decided to go and find them out the next day. I still believe it is because

of my curiosity and excitement that it was Sunday so soon. I drove

down, bought a few packs of chocolates, toys, and some food so that I

can distribute them to those people who actually knew the value of food. On

my reach at the streets of KR Town, to my surprise, the first thing I found

was a group of kids playing in round circles and with my keen eyes, I

spotted one of those kids I found in the photograph, the day before. I

called out to the kids and with all their speed, they came running, with

a hello and few little talks I realized how happy they felt when someone

came in search of and for them, very soon I took out and distributed the

pack of chocolates, their eyes glittered because of their happiness. Then I

slowly reached out to the one boy I found in the photograph, my

curiosity made me jump directly to the question’ “what is your biggest

dream” and the boy gave a quick reply, and from the expression of

curiosity, my expression changed to startlement. The boy in the torn

dress told me that he dreams to be a writer. The fact that he was

probably 8 years or so and still dreams big did not make me go startled

but I really wondered if he was attending school or if he knew the

alphabet. Even to my amazement, I automatically asked him what he

does all day, and his reply came in a jiffy. His words made me to respect

him, but it took me a few minutes to realize that he spoke in English this

time. I was surprised and his words were, “I do everything, I do the

work of kabuliwalah (and I assumed he didn’t know the English

translation which is rag-picker), I sell newspapers, I even go with

tourists, to lead their way; and I also stick movie posters and learn new

words from it”. His reply made me ask him more on how he learned to

speak, and he told me that he did all the work not just to earn some

shillings, but to seek and learn. I asked him with all the excitement,

“who teaches you?” and he replied that there lives a retired professor

who lives in the colony near the town, he adds that she gives him food

and gets him short story books; I smiled and he continued and added

that the money he earns by doing all of the jobs, he would go and give

half of it to the professor and the other half he gives to his parents as a

contribution of his to run the family, he also said that indirectly the

professor spends the money he gives, on him itself, so as to not make

him have an urge to spend it unnecessarily or to lose the money he

earned and he says the only thing the old teacher (as he calls her)

demanded was that he should dream big and follow his dreams. I was

way too happy and touched to know the whole story and then he said

he loved his dreams and wants wishes that it becomes the reality. With much respect for

the boy and his teacher, I smiled and said, “your dreams will come

true dear, keep chasing it”. And my heart, so full of emotions and

surprise and respect, I decided to leave the place because it was already

dark and as I bid bye to the kids and walked towards my car, in unison I

heard the words- “thank you for spending time with us, we love you”.

I was awestruck, I turned back and rush to them and looked at the

children and asked them, “how ?” and I gave a smile and a girl pointed

out to the boy who was learning from the teacher and the other children

told me, “he shares and teaches us every other thing he learns from her,

even if it be of slightest importance or the most significant one, he learns

one new word and its meaning, everyday and also teaches us the same.”

I adore and respect every single character, the boy, the other children

and the teacher and felt grateful to the photographer who helped me

connect and know of these beautiful people. I realized that its

The determination that takes any dream/aim, a step ahead. These

children are deprived of comforts and luxury, but not deprived of

Determination and the will to become special and successful in life.

Determination, confidence, persistence, hard work, and motivation will

help dreams become reality, and its important to remember as to not give up at any point.