Bag full of dreams

Kamala wiped her brow with the pallu of her saree. She had finally finished her work in all the five houses where she worked as a maid. She began trudging along the road to her basti. Though she was tired she was very happy.

Shilpa Didi in whose house she worked was a kind soul. She always gave Kamala tea with biscuits and asked about her daughter Rani's well being. Today Kamala had told her about how she had enrolled Rani to first standard in the Government School nearby. Kamala's dream was to educate her daughter so that she wouldn't end up becoming a maid like her. Kamala worked hard to make ends meet. Shankar her husband who worked as a mason was totally irresponsible. He was drunk most of the time and gave her money only when he was in a good mood.

Shilpa Didi was happy to hear about Rani going to school. She gave Kamala a pink school bag which had some cartoon character on it. In the bag there was a plastic tiffin box and a water bottle. Kamala knew Rani would be very happy to see it.

Kamala reached home and gave the bag to Rani. Rani's eyes gleamed in excitement. She opened the bag and explored its contents squealing in delight.

The next day she was starting school. Kamala woke her up early, gave her a bath and neatly combed her hair into two plaits with red ribbons at the end. Rani proudly wore the pink school bag and strutted like a peacock. Kamala smiled and sent her to school with the older kids in the basti.

The children had to cross a railway track to reach their school. Rani who was much younger than the other kids couldn't keep up with them. The older kids ran across the tracks quickly. Rani who was left behind was desperately trying hard to catch up with them. She didn't see the train approaching and a few seconds later her little body was flung into the nearby bushes and the pink bag and its contents lay scattered.

Kamala who came running on hearing the news began wailing and beating her chest. The shock of seeing little Rani 's body was too much for her.

Even today you will see a woman in a torn saree and matted hair sitting near the tracks clutching a pink school bag wailing "Rani, Rani".

That's Kamala clutching her bag full of dreams 💔

#fiction