Iyer Part -4

When I came to know that my mother was leaving me at the orphanage, I must have been around 6 years old. I cried loudly, pleading with her not to leave me alone, as I couldn't imagine living without her. In response, she gave me a little idol of Maa Jagadamba and assured me that she is the Mother of the whole world, and she would protect me from all difficulties.

Despite feeling sad and distraught, I held onto the Maa Jagadamba idol tightly for almost 9 days, constantly speaking to it as if it were my mother, father, and sister – everyone who had abandoned me. My only source of hope was in that Maa Jagadamba, and I begged it not to abandon me.

Gradually, I started to adapt to my new environment at the orphanage.

The orphanage became the most cherished part of my life. I would watch the other children play, yearning to join them despite my illness. In this way, four years passed while I stayed at the orphanage, observing the other kids play and have fun. Though I was just a child, I was aware of my critical condition, and I knew that my time was limited due to my illness.

One day, a doctor named Ganesh, who conducted weekly checkups at the orphanage, noticed my longing gaze towards the playing kids.

Doctor Ganesh: "Indrajeet, what are you doing, son?" 

Indrajeet: "I'm watching the kids play." 

Doctor: "Why are you only watching? Just go and play with them." Indrajeet: "But I am sick, I cannot join them." Doctor: "Who told you that you are sick? You are perfectly fine."

The doctor called one of the boys named Rahul, who was playing nearby. He requested Rahul to include me in their playtime. Just as Rahul arrived, the warden of the orphanage intervened, questioning his actions.

Warden: "Sir, what are you doing?" 

Doctor: "Let him play. Let him experience his childhood. We don't know how many days he has left in this world."

Rahul understood that I was weak and ill, yet he insisted that I participate. The children were playing football, and Rahul asked me to be the goalkeeper for his team. As time passed, the score became tied at 1-1, leading to a penalty shootout.

Rahul approached me and said, "Indra, it's our orphanage team against the boys from the nearby slum. We have been losing constantly for three weeks. This time, we need to win. You have to stop them." I nodded in agreement.

During the shootout, there were four penalty shots, and the score remained tied at 4-4. In the last penalty shot, our team managed to score, making it 5-4 in our favor. It all came down to the opposing team's final penalty, and I knew I was no match for the opposing team's goalkeeper in terms of skill or agility. I felt defeated, assuming we would lose once again. In desperation, I prayed to Maa Jagadamba, begging for help. I knew that I needed to try my best to stop this goal at any cost.