The Unusual Visit

    Piyush was staring at the blue gate, contemplating whether he wanted to go in or not. He had planned this visit more than a month back but never could he muster the courage to do it until now. And what would he tell at home? Why did it take so long for him to get back? If he would tell the truth they would have been proud and even gone about telling it to the neighbours. But he did not want the world to know about this expedition of his. After a lot of planning and procrastinating, he was finally here - in front of a two storied bungalow painted in orange tinge, bordered by poster covered grey compound walls and the blue gate.

Finally, he made up his mind, cause he would be cheating himself if he turned back now. He began looking around for a bell or something to open the gate. On the compound wall adjacent to the gate, was a message painted in red - Pull rope for bell - with a crooked arrow pointing in at the small hole between the gate and the wall. He reached for the rope and began to tug it, but there was no sound. Unsure whether it had worked or not he began to swing it side ways and still no response. Hesitant as he was on this idea he began to leave when there was a clanging at the gate and the narrow side door opened. From inside peered an oldish man and questioned Piyush, "Yes? What work do you have?"

"Ugh.. I.. I came to.. Ughh.. wanted to visit. Is it open?"

"Oh! Yes yes", said the old man with a broad smile, which displayed the few gaps between his teeth. "Come in", he gestured him making way. "Here. Follow me", the gesture was such, as if the old man was expecting Piyush. When they reached the main entrance of the bungalow, the old man turned to say, "Wait here. I will just go in and call Madam." And he hurried to the side.

"Okay", replied Piyush with a confused look. The front of the bungalow had a space for a car to be parked, in front of which was a small garden with a play area. The slides and monkey bars seemed to be new, with the water droplets, glistening in the sun, but the swing was all rusty and old. Just as Piyush was looking around, the old man approached from the side with a nun walking behind him. The old man went past him and disappeared from the other side, while the nun stood in front of Piyush.

"I am Sister Matilda. How may I help you?"

"I.. I just came to visit. Ugh.. Is it the right time, Sister?"

"Oh yes, definitely. We do not have a lot of visitors. Just a second." She stepped in through the door and along the passage she called out loudly. "Sister Priya. Sister, can you come here?" Turning towards Piyush, she began, "Sister Priya, will help you meet the kids."

Just then a second nun appeared in front of the door. Sister Priya was rather young compared to Sister Matilda.

"Priya, this man here has come to visit our kids. Show him around, will you?", without waiting for a reply, she told Piyush, "I will be at my office - over there", she pointed down the passageway, "if you would have any queries". And she walked hurriedly towards it.

"Hello, What is your name?", asked Sister Priya

"Piyush"

"Come. This way, Piyush" and she led the way in the opposite direction of Sister Matilda's office, and through a door into a small room. There was a girl of about 5 years, smiling in expectation, waving her right hand but what caught Piyush's eye was her left hand. Her left hand, from the wrist to the finger tips, was curled and twisted into a ball. The excitement in the girl didn't seem to uplift Piyush's mood. Noticing this, Sister Priya began, "She has had this deformity from birth. She was left here at the gate when she was born. She manages to do her work with this though." And to the girl she said, "Beta, tell 'Hi' to this bhaiya. He has come to play with you "

"Hello bhaiya. Will you be playing with me today? Today I don't have anyone to share these toys with."

"Yes", Piyush replied. "First tell me your name."

"Akshmi"

"It's Lakshmi actually. She is just five. She finds it difficult to say Lakshmi properly", interjected the Sister.

"Are there no other kids with her?" asked Piyush in surprise.

"The elder kids are attending class upstairs, and two of her friends are taken out for vaccination, they will return by evening. The number of kids coming in have decreased"

Piyush did not know what to say about this situation, he was lost of words, when Lakshmi spoke to his relief. "Sister, can we play outside?"

"Only in the corridor. No going outside. It is raining. I'll take my leave"

"Bhaiya, lets go" she said, trying to push the door with her little good hand. Piyush looked at her and opened the door for her. And they stepped in the corridor. Lakshmi leading the way, going from door to door, narrating the different rooms.

In one such room were infants under ventilation with two ladies supervising. They knew Lakshmi by name and told her not to bang on the door, else Sister would be angry. Then the other room was lined with bunk beds with railings on four side. Lakshmi told that was her sleeping area. She tried pushing it but the door wouldn't budge. Just as Piyush was about to open it for her, Sister Priya exclaimed from the other side, "Ah! Lakshmi. It is not sleeping time, I'm changing the sheets here. She always tries to get in and sleep"

"Oh! Sorry Sister", Piyush replied.

"Don't be. Not your fault. Just keep her in the corridor."

"Okay." To Lakshmi he said, "Akshmi", in a voice of fascination. "Come here", he said stretching out his finger for her, "Lets go there"

Lakshmi grabbed his finger and they walked to the main door. From there they were looking out at the play area. Lakshmi was describing her play time, trying to persuade Piyush to let her go and play on the wet slide, talking about squirrels in the garden as they jumped from tree to tree, and then she was fascinated by the black umbrella that Piyush had carried with him. He had a difficult time hiding it from her, cause the umbrella meant her ticket to go in the rain.

Piyush spent a good one hour talking and playing around with Lakshmi. It was time for him to leave. Together they found Sister Priya, and then when Piyush said, "Bye, Akshmi"

Lakshmi broke into tears. "Bhaiya don't go. Play for some more time. I will not ask the umbrella. I will be a good girl." It seemed as if their 1 hour had cemented a bond of life time. Sister Priya, was trying to explain Lakshmi that he will come back tomorrow, to which she replied. "No. They all never come back. Bhaiya stay." Sister Priya, led Lakshmi to her room.

As they were leaving, Sister told Piyush, "These kids find it difficult to part. Thanks, she had a really good time. I will take care of her. She will be fine in sometime. You may meet Sister Matilda before leaving."

Piyush met Sister Matilda, exchanged a few pleasantries and left. As he stepped out through the blue gate, there was a satisfaction in his heart of spending time with the less privileged but also a guilt of leaving Akshmi crying. He left with a hope of seeing her soon.