Hand In Hand!

Raju was playing with his friends Meenu, Geethu, and Balu on the street in the evening as usual. Raju was seven and his friends too with merely the same age group. All of Raju’s friends were from the same street working under different masters like him. They were tired after playing and they sat down near the stairs of Raju’s place. They will be given two hours of break in a day and they have to go back to their work. They shared their day’s work and the punishment they got and sometimes giggling about their masters or the TV show they watched in their master's place hiding. These two hours in a day were all their happiness, All the four meetings, playing and gossiping for a while and then getting back to their work. They ate what their masters provide them, all the leftover food, and sometimes they shared what they got, or sometimes even without that they slept with their stomachs empty. They were all given a separate place to live near their respective master’s house and Raju’s place was the worst of all. It was just a five feet small gap under an old building’s balcony, which would seem like a small rack and Raju could not get into it even by kneeling down. He has to crawl into this space and sleep. One day while Raju and his friends were playing, Shalu ( who was called Choti by her family) came to the same street with her parents. Choti was six, from a well-to-do family. They were rich enough that whatever Choti needed will be given to her within minutes. But she never loved them. All she needed was love and affection from her parents which she never had, except for their elite life. Both her parents were busy all the time with their business and wealth and they never turned out to show any care for Choti than providing her needs instantly. Whenever she went to them longing to play or spend time with them, they did not mind her and scolded her for being a disturbance. She always wished to have someone to be kind and care for her, whereas all these wishes of Choti were replaced with money and materials. Last week she was brought a brand new bicycle as her birthday gift from her parents. But she showed no interest in it. On that day she saw Raju and his friends playing. On her sight, she understood that they were helpless children and more than that they were child laborers. She saw them playing without any worries for they were happy enough with friends. She saw Raju, a short boy merely her age, who wore a torn shirt and shabby trousers, his hair dry without oil in it. But in her first sight of Raju, she was ceased by the plain glitter in his eyes that had innocence and kindness with love together. She had an unknown likeness for him in her heart. Suddenly Raju saw Choti and smiled, but he had a fear in him if he would be punished for this. Because two weeks ago he saw a boy standing with his father and when he smiled at the boy, the boy gave him a hatred look and turned away. Choti did not do anything as such and he liked her attitude of treating everyone in common.

Choti’s parents were there to meet someone and it did not happen that day. They came the next day again and Choti thought of the previous day’s incident and thought that she could see the poor boy again and she accompanied them. This time again at the hours of their break Raju and his friends were playing and she saw them. She thought that their life was better than hers for they have each other care for them despite their hardships. She saw Raju again, not knowing his name, and this time she smiled at him and Raju smiled back. Choti was very happy that someone she wished to see that day smiled at her in response. This place from her home was nearby and she thought she could come to see him again if she had a chance. When they went home Choti noticed her new cycle standing in the yard. Then she decided to use this as a chance to meet the boy without the knowledge of her parents for they were very much concerned about their status and consciousness of choti’s classmates and their background. She knew that they would never allow her to meet or even talk with a boy like him. The next day Choti told her parents that every day she would go out for a ride on her new cycle and that she liked it very much. They did not care much about it and they gave her permission. She took her new cycle and went straight to that street. She saw them playing again. She left her cycle aside and went near them. She smiled at every one of them and except for Raju, the other friends were unaware of this new girl and they were afraid of what she would do. But Raju smiled back she saw the same glimpse in his eyes. She stretched her hand and Raju his and they shook hands with the exchange of greetings. At first, Raju was a bit confused about this pretty rich girl coming forward to speak but then he did not refuse it. Then Choti told that she wants to befriend Raju and others. Raju was shocked by these words from Choti. She told him her name, about her family, and about her loneliness. Then Raju and others told her not to worry and she can come to them during their break and spend time with them. Then Choti wished to know more about Raju. He told her that he was an orphan, did not know who his parents were but sure that they were not alive. He told Choti that he was working under a master's in his house, about the kinda food he ate, the place he stays, everything. Raju added that his only happiness is meeting his friends in the evening and playing and gossiping with them. Then Choti asked him to show the place he was staying. When she climbed the narrow stairs and reached the place, she became upset at what she saw of a very small place where one must crawl to get in and his old box that had two sets of old dresses in it. Her eyes filled with tears and her heart with pity. Then she went back home speechless. That night she could not sleep and she thought of Raju, a pity innocent boy, with struggles occupied his life at this age. She had deep feelings for him and she started visiting him every day taking her snacks with her and they all shared it. She enjoyed every moment with Raju, sharing all her experience in school, and Raju, about his day’s work and his master’s scoldings and stuff. As this continues, all the other friends ( Meenu, Geethu & Balu) were taken away to a different place by their masters.

Raju was very sad that his only happiness had gone away. Then Choti did not stop visiting Raju, meeting him, playing, eating snacks with him, etc. They became so close and we're very sure that it was a strong bond that is unbreakable and wished this to continue every day for Choti did not feel her loneliness and Raju had only Choti as his friend. One day Choti was caught while she was playing with Raju by her parents and a few relatives of her. They scolded them for what she did and thought that these innocent kids were in love. They started beating Raju badly and at one point Choti could not withstand what was happening to Raju and she shouted aloud to stop them from beating Raju. Then she moved forward near Raju and held his hand and she told that this poor little boy Raju was the only comforting soul in her life and that he might be an orphan but not the one fond of money. She told them that he never asked her anything though she could offer him whatever he asked. She also told them that he gave her the care, attention, kindness, love, and most importantly the feel, the support of a person being there for her. Choti added that for the only reason he gave her all the happiness she longed for, he is her best friend and he’ll be her best friend for her till her last moment of life. Choti also told that their friendship does not need any money or status but instead pure hearts to understand and care for each other. She also told them that even after this she would come to meet Raju and play with him and be a best friend throughout his life. Everyone felt ashamed of their silly act of suspecting a good friendship, and they left the place in silence, leaving the true friendship souls HAND IN HAND.