Time to start walking to the playschool!!
Okay, let me tell you something - now these little kids (i.e. Jothi's roommates/classmates) are so fascinated by me that when they see Jothi and Magishwari - aka - Magi, each one holding both my hands to walk to school; they feel they shouldn't be left out. And therefore, most of them try to hold each of my fingers on both the hands whichever they can find and walk alongwith me.
Jothi & Magi don't like this, as they feel it's only their birthright to hold my hand and nobody else's. So, they keep removing little holding palms from my fingers and take charge of my entire hand.
Well, I have never been wanted by anybody in my life to be loved so badly! I feel as if each of these kids wanted whatever little of me, they can get; as if I am their only source of LOVE! :-)
And yes, I wanted to love them as much as I could, so that they can feel happy about it.
I may not have the financial capability to sponsor each and every kid here, but then I do have the capability to sponsor each and every kid with my love! And I am sure, these little kids care the least about their financial aspect than about their emotional aspect! :-)
And now, let me get back to the geographical aspect, i.e. walking towards their school!
This was the first time I realized how big are the residential facilities at Udavum Karangal's Shanti Vanam. From the reception building, we walked through 5 residential buildings, a temple, a church, 2 parks, a construction site and a dairy farm; before we reached the building of the playschool. It was a slow walk for about 10 minutes with the speed of the tiny foot!
The kids were still struggling to get a bit of my finger to walk with and I allowed everybody to walk holding my hands.
Rosie Miss was walking behind the kids. Therefore, I did not get much of an opportunity to interact with her, during this walk. I wanted to know more about the facilities here as well as the kids; but Meenakshi had already promised that a co-ordinator will soon come and show me around the entire Udavum Karangal campus & its facilities.
We reached the building of playschool and their playrooms were located on the second floor of the building. All the kids started climbing up, as if racing to reach first.
Even Jothi and Magi left my hands and started racing upstairs.
One thing noticeable here was, while these kids climbed in a hurry, one or two of them missed a step or two, tripped and eventually fell on the step and would have got hurt.
Under normal circumstances, I am sure kids of this age would start crying, if they get hurt on their knees or palms. Even, if they don't get hurt, they would start crying because they fell.
But, surprisingly, none of these kids cried at all. When they fell or got hurt, they would just get up and start climbing again, as if nothing actually happened.
As if, they already know that they don't have any parents/loved ones to whom they can run to crying about their pain. How many kids could Rosie Miss handle on a daily basis, if kids kept crying like this?
As if, they have matured enough like us and know that crying or wailing in pain will not help and therefore it would be better if we get back on our tracks.
I remember when I was young, my parents and relatives called me a cry-baby because I would cry and cry and cry, at the smallest instance of pain or discomfort. Not that, it had changed much when I grew up.
But, atleast now, I can say that I have matured enough to not sit and cry over pain, but to get up and start moving ahead or else I'd be left behind in the race!
And I wonder that such a lesson which I learnt so late in my life - these little kids have learnt it at such a tender age of 4!
What should I say - Ohh, what a bad luck or Hats off to them!! I am confused!!
Rosie Miss unlocked the playrooms and all the kids rushed inside. I must say that the interiors of their playschool was just the same as other playschools, I have seen in Mumbai & Dubai.
Rosie Miss switched on the lights & fans, opened the windows and sat down at her usual place. I took my place on her left side, a little away from her.
All the kids sat down surrounding her and chirping around. One of the bold ones went and took out the stick & ruler from one of the cupboards and handed it to Rosie Miss, so that she can use that to discipline them! How smart, isn't it? :-)
Once everybody sat down, she announced to the kids that it was Jothi & Magi's birthday today and so we should all clap and sing for them. And so, started the good old birthday song which we sang for our friends in school - Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you.... Happy Birthday dear Jothi... Happy Birthday to you!
It reminded me of my good old school days! :-)
Then, Rosie Miss once again, used her stick to discipline and silence the kids. She announced that they have a visitor today - who apparently is Jothi's sponsor. Do you know her?
Everybody replied in chorus - No!
Therefore, she said we will ask her to introduce herself and then, one by one, each of them should introduce themselves to me!
So, here I go - Hi, My name is Kinjal!
"Kincha... no Kinjal... Kinjan...Kinjal... Kin-jal... Kinjal" ;-)
Then, one by one, they introduced me - "My name is V. Jothi", "My name is V. Saarthi", "My name is V. Anarkali"..... :-)
After everybody was done, Rosie Miss asked again - "What is her name?"
Somebody replied - "Ginger...!"
I have had people teasing me with "Brinjal", but this was the first time, I realized my name also rhymed with Ginger!! :-D
And now, the serious business - Studies!
Rosie Miss informed me that they have their exams on Monday and therefore, she will be taking revision lessons with them!
She first removed a few placards containing a picture on one side and its name/description on the other side. She displayed the picture side to the kids and asked them to identify the person or thing on that picture!
All of them answered correctly in chorus! She would then explain the importance of that person or translate their meaning in Tamil.
I was just loving it. Rosie Miss even asked me to identify and all the kids would answer, before I could. :-)
