A Teacher

"Shaadab" was the name of that boy.

I met him on a sunday morning at 'Govt. Children home' . We as a group of some youngsters used to visit GCH weekly on sundays, on one of this kind of visit I met him. At first sight only I found that he is different from his inmates. Energetic, enthusiastic, qute smile and always ready to help others and yes most importantly very clean. Generally children dont keep themselves clean at these kind of govt. homes bcoz of lack of guidance but he was an exception.

He was there from quite some time, I dont remember why he was kept there. Children who commit small crimes or fled of their homes are generally kept at Children Home.

Whenever we reach at GCH al the children used to got excited and run towards us to shake hands or share regards. One day he was one of them. He came straightforwardly to me and hold my hand with a very qute smile and ask abt me. I was little surprised but as it was a routine so it din't bother me much. After the initial introduction we were busy in our routine activities like yoga classes, drawing competition, distribution of milk etc.. But at somewhere at the bottom of my heart I was inclined to Shaadab, he had something which was attracting me, his magical smile.

I was thinking how he can be so happy at a place like this where other children used to cry and complain but he was so calm and happy. Due to this quriosity on my next visit I met him again, as usual he was in the same spirits. Then I sit with a group of some children and he was one of them, they started sharing their problems and concerns almost everybody was complaining except him, on the contrary he was trying to console other boys.

After this discussion was over all the boys were dispersed and I was left there with Shaadab then I asked him about himself. He complained only about one thing that he wanted to go to school. I asked him where he is from, he told me he was from somewhere near Amravati.

Family reunion was also one of the activities in our agenda so we used to ask boys regarding their homes so that we could trace therie families so was I asking him regarding his native. When I asked him that whether his parents knew that you are here and the reply really shocked me.

His both parent were DEAD!!!

I was in shock for a moment. Shadab was becoming more complex for me to understand. If a child is far from his parent then there is hope of reunion but here there was no such hope. After gaining control on my senses I resumed talks with him.

I asked him din't you miss your parents he said sometimes (Jab b mai udas hota hu ya akele hota hu mai Kuran ki Kalame gata hu or mai vapis khush ho jata hu) but whenever I felt so I used to read Kalmas from the "Holy Kuran".

A merely 7 to 8 years boy was making me spellbound. I dint left with any words. He was teaching me how to live life. He was becoming my teacher. I was thinking who had taught him all these things in such an early age on top of that while telling all he was quite normal.

I really got a great Teaching from him. Its you who decides how you live your life not your destiny. Even after losing his parents and living in a CHildren's home where his future is not certain, he doesn't have any regrets/sorrows. "Nobody Can stop this child", I thought in my mind and waved bye for the day to him.

On my way back home I kept on thinking about him and comparing my life with his. I have everything a job, loving parents, friends, an inmate but still complaining, on the other side he was blank but much happier than me. I deided that day I'll try to be happy doesn't matter what the conditions are.

After 2 more visits I could not visit children's home for some time and in the meantime, he was shifted to some other place. I even could not meet him for the last time, could not say good bye to him.

Whenever I go to children's home my eyes search for him. I always miss him. He was there for a very brief period in my life but have a great impact on me.

No matter what the conditions are whether in favour or against always be happy and make others happy thats the way of living lavished life.

Hats off to Shaadab!!!

Love,

Mayank