This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 47; the forty-seventh edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.
Partho wasn't enjoying the ride, even though he wasn't driving. His car was moving very slowly through the narrow alley that led to the shelter home. But he was a little excited today. He was going to meet the little girl he had been sponsoring for the past three years for the first time today. He had butterflies in his stomach, which he found strange, considering the fact that it was he who brought anxious moments to people who worked under him in his corporation. 'CEO's shouldn't feel nervous', he thought to himself, and tried to brush off the feeling, in vain.
Like most corporate entities that were trying to get involved in CSR activities, Partho's media company had formed an association with a well-known NGO, that was the benefactor for a girl's shelter home. In the past three years, he hadn't found the time or motivation to visit his 'adopted girl child'. This time, however, something that he couldn't put a finger on had somehow gotten him to try to reach out and meet the girl.
Sometime later, Partho's car stopped in front of a rusted metal gate. The walls flanking the gate hadn't been painted for years it seemed. He stepped out the car and entered the gate. A very old structure stood before him. Partho wondered whether this shelter home had ever received financial support from anyone at all - it really needed some major repair work. An old, even more dilapidated man - a caretaker he assumed - sat on a crokked chair right in front of the entrance to the structure.
"Hi", said Partho, expecting a grand welcome.
"Eh?" the old man replied nonchalantly, barely making eye contact.
"This is the girl's shelter home, right?"
"Hmm."
"I'm looking for a girl named Preeti. I'm her sponsor."
"Lot of Preetis here. Wait outside, I'll line em up."
The old man went in and came out with four young girls, all aged between 6 and 10 years old. One look at the collective sight of the girls, and Partho knew they weren't happy living there.
"Which one of you is nine years old?", asked Partho, eager to know his 'child'.
One girl took two steps ahead, without saying a word. She looked much younger, probably due to poor nutrition. Her clothes were very shabby and bore holes in many spots.
"You happy here, Preeti?"
The girl merely nodded her head in the affirmative. Deep inside Partho wasn't convinced. But now that his curiosity had been satiated, he wasn't as interested as he was just ten minutes ago.
"Here, I've bought you new clothes. Take this chocolate bar as well."
She held out her hand and took them from him. All she could muster up was a sheepish smile.
"Like them?"
She nodded in the affirmative again. Partho saw tears forming in her eyes - he couldn't make out whether they were tears of joy or of hope. Not that he cared much anymore anyway.
"Alright then", he said, taking a quick look at his watch, "Time for me to say goodbye. Bye Preeti". He patted the girl on her head and hastened towards the gate, and out into his car, not even caring to look behind at his 'child'.
He missed seeing the caretaker push the girls inside, and fondle his 'child' as he directed her back to his room.
SILENCE MUST BE HEARD, lest innocence fall prey to evil.
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sweet simple and wonderful :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it :) Thanks for the visit.
DeleteTouching indeed..One of the many tales of unheard silence. All the best for Batom
ReplyDeleteGlad it made an impact. ATB to you too :)
DeleteBitter truth ! :-/
ReplyDeletegosh the ending is dark,,, How coward of him for not asking more about their welfare. Just proving money isn;t enough. The story hit really hard. Well penned.
ReplyDeleteHe should've gone the extra mile and checked on the kids' welfare. Money sure ain't enough. But there's another sorry fact, life is too fast-paced and no one has the time for himself/herself, let alone for others.
Deletethat was chilling....but that's happening at so many so called child welfare centers.... very well written! all the best for BAT
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you too.
DeleteInnocence is falling prey to evil in many such places,sponsors must ensure how their money is used for that child.
ReplyDeleteSilent Must Be Heard
You said it. Thanks for the visit :)
DeleteVery tragic :(
ReplyDeleteIt's the bitter truth. People donate money but no one bothers to check how their money is used.
No one has the time. Hell, nowadays no one has enough money either.
DeleteYea....its the sad reality....we want to help but without pain...
ReplyDeleteVery true.
Delete:(
ReplyDeleteI wish Preeti lived a better life, and Partho saw the truth :(
All the best for BAT.
All the best to you too.
DeleteThis happens to so many children. Painful!
ReplyDeleteChildren are soft targets. They are least expected to shout out.
Deletesuch a poignant write up..
ReplyDeleteI have been going to the foster home in Verna for quite sometime... Even though they have people sponsoring them, they are being taken care of- they miss so much.. and the realization actually comes to those when they meet people from outside there bubble....
Sad truth... I wish they could have a better life..
It's a good thing that people come forward to help however they can (as the character in your write up)
:) :)
I guess something is always better than nothing, as long as no one is being subjected to torture or subjugation of any sort.
DeleteYeah, it's good that people come forward to help, even if only monetarily.
Its such a nicely written post !!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Arushi
DeleteThe last two paragraphs touched my heart! Beautiful scripted CRD!
ReplyDeleteSomeone is Special
Thanks S-i-S
DeleteSuch a touching post.... short and very well composed.... But, I feel, Partho should have taken her from there seeing her in a poor condition (shabby dress and on poor nutrition) , rather than letting her suffer :(
ReplyDeletethis is not only a case of Partho and preethi... There are many such homes for the destitute children, where children are sold or adultery happens or someone else plays with their innocence...
Silence must be spoken and voice must be raised
All of us have problems of their own. It's only human to let our own troubles take centre-stage rather than spend time sorting out other's troubles. It's the sad truth.
DeleteThanks for the visit :)
Good point made.
ReplyDeleteOften we take the convenient route and pat our back in self satisfaction...
Very true. It's called scratching an itchy spot for temporary relief and ignoring the rot taking place underneath.
DeleteMoney does not solve all problems, you need to get to the root cause of the problem and solve it. Great Story. :)
ReplyDeleteNo one has the time or patience to get to the root of a problem, especially if it's not their own.
DeleteThanks :)
When he had a doubt in his mind, he should have done something. These cases happens alot now a days
ReplyDeleteTrue. But not many people want to spend time for others. We're all time-starved machines.
DeleteReal story. Sponsored money goes to someone else's pocket & not to the intended recipient. Plus, innocence is taken advantage of... Sad.
ReplyDeleteNicely described.
True. After all, humans are involved.
DeleteThis post has been selected for the Spicy Saturday Picks this week. Thank You for an amazing post! Cheers! Keep Blogging :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Team Blogadda.
DeleteWhile reading this,I just felt how loud can silence be!
ReplyDeletenicely written!
Thanks Anirudh :)
DeleteI cam here through the BlogAdda's "Spicy Saturday Picks" platform and I loved your post. So true and so shockingly portrayed. We often feel that our responsibilities end with money but this should be a reminder for everyone who think that silence is not always golden.
ReplyDeleteGlad you took the effort. Happy you liked it :)
DeleteThe post was actually about the silent suffering of the girl, and how she conveyed her pain without words - through tears, through her body language, through her expressions, through her sheepish smile. But how all of these were ignored because no words were exchanged. Partho failed to Hear the girl's SILENCE.
But I like how you put it. Coz Patho himself remained silent through all this.
Thanks for the comment :)
the title adds poignancy to the piece...
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it
Deletedark and chilling.... another true aspect of life
ReplyDeleteLife is dark. Life is more Morbid than death itself, perhaps.
DeleteOuch.
ReplyDeleteI may have shed a silent tear.
:(
DeleteTouching and painful CRD.
ReplyDeleteYes Jyotsna. And it's a sad reality, not just in today's times. It's been happening since time immemorial.
DeleteMoney cant buy you everything- for instance not peace or good karmas in your bucket! He shud have gone an extra mile to see how his charity is being utilized! May be some more minutes from his busy life had ensured somebody's betterment! Thumbs up to you for coming out with this one!
ReplyDeleteMoney cant buy you everything- for instance not peace or good karmas in your bucket! He shud have gone an extra mile to see how his charity is being utilized! May be some more minutes from his busy life had ensured somebody's betterment! Thumbs up to you for coming out with this one!
ReplyDeleteMoney cant buy you everything- for instance not peace or good karmas in your bucket! He shud have gone an extra mile to see how his charity is being utilized! May be some more minutes from his busy life had ensured somebody's betterment! Thumbs up to you for coming out with this one!
ReplyDelete