Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Anu huffed up the green hill, pulling along the little trunk behind her. She was scouting locations for a field trip for the children and had decided to take a quick weekend trip to this quaint guesthouse hidden within the coffee plantations. She couldn't recall exactly what had drawn her to choosing this particular one, it could be the cute garden she saw in the pictures or the sweet old couple who ran the place - or perhaps the little herd of dogs they maintained. Whatever it may be, she breathed in the fresh air and smiled. It had been a while since she felt this content and at peace. She had almost forgotten to smile, but lately she had started to rediscover her inner self and the transformation within her went by silently but not unnoticed by her.
Lately she had been spending more and more time with her thoughts by the beach and she started to stay longer at the beach and would reluctantly head back as the sky darkened. The silence and her own company was addicting, she absolutely loved and enjoyed spending time with herself and her thoughts. She would often lose track of time and wouldn't even realize how time passed as she gazed at the waves, watched the sunset in awe and admired the moon as it rose up. As she weaved her way back home, she'd stop by her favorite pani puri place and grab some chaat for dinner, casually making conversation with the chaat bhaiyya and cracking jokes as she teared up at the spicy water. Finally she'd head over to the lassi counter where her favorite bhabhi served mango lassi and they'd chatter about the latest vegetable prices and how things were becoming so expensive! Slowly, but surely, she was finding her place within this city of dreams and even her own dreams started becoming more beautiful. She started to dream for her young ashram children and how she could do small things to make them happy.
She'd started recently experimenting with the idea of organizing picnics for the children and realized it brought her great joy finding their little faces beaming up at her as she informed them about their next outing.
The bubbly 5 year old named Dhruv asked: "Kyaaa, hum trip par jaa rahe hain?!"
"Haan ji, koyi shak?", Anu responded as she whipped up some hot bournvita milk for him.
"Nai, bas aesi puch rahi thi. Waise hum kaha jaa raha hain iss baar? Wo corner valli park tho nahi na, kyuki agar aisa hain, tho main sone ja rahi hoon. Mujhe koyi interest nahi hai uss dho kode ki park ko janaka or usko ek field trip ka naam laganeka" chirped Dhruv as he tried to steal some warm cookies.
Anu slapped his fingers away and exclaimed "Arree baap re! Ithni badi badi baathe. Haila, mujhe nahi pata aapko itna chid hain uss park se!" And with a chuckle she took him in for a tight hug as he squeeled at being hugged, he hated being hugged which made him Anu's target every time. But, secretly he loved her hugs soo much and he made a fuss to ensure she would always bother him. Anu noticed that every hug would progressively become longer and tighter with him and she knew he was craving love and she was always eager to ensure her heart and soul was poured into each of her hugs' and kisses for the children.
