Stories to Change

Story #7: The Girl Who Looked like a Bear, Part One

The night was very young. The wind was hissing like a snoring grandmother. The sky was filled with countless stars and a beautiful moon. Everything was at solace. It was peaceful.

Well, if you ignored the small sobs of a girl.

She was crying heavily as she sat on the roof top of her house. She was cursing her fate and questioning her existence. She would have given up on her life if there was not a fear of religion, norms and culture.

She cried and cried heavily, mentally rewinding the turn of events which had brought her to the dump over and over again.

Suddenly a warm little hand touched her face. She looked up.

It was his cousin brother standing right next to her.

She immediately got up and took off her shawl. She wrapped it around him.

"What are you doing here? It's cold you should be sleeping right now kiddo," He was silently wiping the remaining tears off her face.

"Isn't it cold for you?"

"Yes it is."

"Why do you cry so much?"

"Because my heart is broken."

"Who broke your heart?" and then there was an awkward silence. It was hard for her to explain to him who had broken her heart. It was hard for her to find the culprit; her parents, her teachers, her friends, the doomed educational system or herself.

She had been a star at the school. She was a good learner and a hard working student. She had an ambition, a dream and a purpose in her life. She wanted to become a doctor but she failed.

Now she was just a white crayon. One the educational system had failed to inoculate with any colours. She was a living example of the failure of the educational system.

The hand touched her face again but now his hand was cold.

"You should not be sitting up here kiddo. Let's go down stairs and get some sleep."

"No stop."

"What's the matter?"

"I have something for you."

"Well give it to me then leave."

"Promise me that you won't laugh at it."

"Ok, promise."

"Don't tell anyone."

"Ok."

He opened up his palm in front of her. It was a small pink ball. It was filled with stars and a white colored teddy bear was gazing at her with naughty eyes. He handed her the ball and told her to keep it. When she asked for the reason, he said, "It's my lucky charm. I always keep it with me because this bear looks just like you. You have always been my role model. Beautiful, happy, smart and obedient. My father told me in order to become a good child I have to follow you."

She was surprised. He had always been a naughty, careless and mischievous just like a boy should be. She felt bad, because she knew that comparisons and contrasts by parents always put the children under stress. It was because of this that a nine year old child adored her and wanted to become like her.

It is the dilemma of our society that parents do not pay attention towards the talents their children are born with. They are more inclined towards turning them in a more successful person like someone else. This practically ruins the life of a child. All our lives, we are busy running after an illusion and deceiving ourselves.

For the first time in her life, she felt devoid. Devoid of the basic purpose and practically lost. She wanted to become a doctor because she was taught from the very beginning that doctors earned more money and respect.