The Girl in the Gym

I would like some poundcake!!!!

Swallowing her pride and anger, she answered, "I'm a hungry uncle. I haven't eaten properly since yesterday afternoon."

"Why are you all alone out here? Did your parents send you out to steal for them?"

"No," she whispered. Then more strongly, she added "No, they're dead. I have no family, or anyone else to look after me."

"Where do you stay?"

"Nearby. Next to the big building with trees," she said, gesturing towards the city, away from the beach. She didn't know why she lied, but she didn't want to tell the man everything all at once. It didn't matter, because he just snorted and gave her a disbelieving smile. "Whatever you say, now go to that tap and wash your hands and face. Then come back to me."

Inaya did as she was told, running to the tap and splashing herself noisily. She only realised how dirty she had become when she saw mud streaked water running down her hands. She washed herself a second time, more deliberately. Her hands, face and feet were completely clean now. She felt bad at having been caught, but the old man seemed kindly. And she was in no position to refuse a meal. Still, her suspicions weren't completely allayed. For one, although the man looked poor, he had the air of a rich person about him. The way he held himself and the way he sat on the ground gave him away. But Inaya was not about to antagonise her only meal ticket at the time, so she wiped away the suspicious from her face and walked back to him.

"Sit and eat," he said, without turning back.

How does he do that? she wondered.

She sat down cross-legged across him and tore into the sandwiches he handed to her. She finished them in no time at all. He took out an apple from his satchel. She stared at it. There was a black rose embroidered on it. It jogged something in her memory but couldn't remember, she looked up to find him looking at her with a frown.

"What happened child?" he asked.

"Nothing, uncle. I was wondering if I could have some water as well."

Saying nothing, he handed her the apple and water. Once she had finished he got up and said, "Come with me. You can't sleep on the beach. Not everyone will be kind enough to help you."

"Where are you taking me?"

"I know of a place for children like you. You'll have a place to sleep at least. But you'll have to work."

"Why are you helping me after I tried to steal from you?"

"Because I see your future, and it's not on the streets here. You will rise above it."

Not sure how to respond to that, Inaya got up to follow him. They walked for about a kilometre before he turned into one of the by-lanes, which forked into narrower lanes. Inside one of these, was a rundown old house. There were a few chairs outside, and tattered curtains on the windows.

"Go inside and tell them Shantanu sent you here."

"You're not coming?"

"No, but you will be working for me. I am a newspaper supplier. You will sell my newspapers in the areas that I tell you to. You will give me a portion of your share, and the rest you can use for food and clothing." He said all that and left.

"Wait..." she started saying. But his back was already turned, and within seconds he turned a corner and vanished out of sight.

Squaring her shoulders, she went in. There was a kitchen to the left where a woman in a saree was shelling peas. Inaya walked in and told her that Shantanu had sent her and that her parents were no more.

"I am to sell newspapers," she finally added.

Still saying nothing, the woman got up and motioned to Inaya to follow her. She led her to a room at the far end of the house. There were five mattresses on the ground and a small, steel cupboard in the corner. "The bathroom is there. Have a bath, wash your clothes and come out. I'll give you something to eat, but only for today. Here, you can wear these while your clothes dry."

Inaya mutely accepted the bundle and went off to wash up. She found a piece of string and carefully tied the pendant around her neck. She instinctively sought to protect it from prying eyes. The woman whose name was Meera gave her some two Rotis and milk to wash it down with. "From tomorrow you buy your own food. I you give me money, I will make it for you."

Inaya nodded. There would be no bedtime stories from this one or anyone from now on. She was still bereft without her parents and the loss of everything familiar to her. Nonetheless, the next morning she woke up at dawn got ready and dressed and went outside to meet the man from yesterday, Shantanu. But he wasn't there. Instead, Meera gave her a stack of newspapers with instructions about where to sell them. Looking at the little girl from head to toe, she said "You might want to look a little less neat and tidy. Nobody will take pity on you and buy the papers otherwise."

Inaya laughed, but Meera didn't. She was actually serious. Swallowing her laughter, Inaya went out. But immediately sobered up because she felt guilty for laughing. Her young mind equated the laughter to forgetting her parents. I'll never let that happen, she vowed. Never!

That first day, she barely sold any newspapers. But in her pride, she refused to make herself look downtrodden just to garner sympathy. Instead, she went to the scrap dealer which was furthest from where she stayed and sold all of them. Inaya counted the money, and to her dismay, it was barely enough to buy her any food. She bought herself some bananas and a packet of biscuits. That's all she ate all day. When Meera saw her glum face in the evening, she said, "You'll get used to living with far less, my girl. Don't let life bring you down? Be the one to raise yourself up." It was cryptic advice at best, but Inaya took it to heart and remembered it. She remembered it when she was homeless and hungry. She used it when she was being browbeaten by the vicious guy at the gym. Even when things seemed crumbling down, she remembered Meera and forced herself to stand up and hit back at life lessons.