LIFE ROLLS ON IN EVERY SHADE

Fancy dress competition in school had been the best part of her childhood memories. She had seen children dressed up as a doctor for the competition. She never wished to be a doctor but admired those who dressed up so. She had this image that these people are involved in saving lives. They heal and you get the cure to your injuries when you visit them. They have the power to heal your wounds. She fancied being dressed up as a doctor though she was never really interested to pursue it as a profession.

As she grew up life's direction changed and she ended up being a researcher working in the field of education. She was much happy about it. It's been a year she was home due to the pandemic. Her classes were continuing through online mode and finally, when situations became normal she got this calling to return to her research work. That demanded going for testing. She was afraid at first but then she thought well she would get some time to visit her school, it being on the opposite side of the hospital. 

Rani was in her best outfit today. Her mother would be taking her out for a trip to town. She felt happy. It's been a long time they had any plans. For Rani, her mama was the best. She took care of all of her needs. They started early morning at about 10 a.m. She had to go for her RAT testing as her institute wanted that to ensure that she was free of any symptoms of COVID -19. There was a rush on the hospital premises. She saw a lot of women waiting to be tested. Her mom got irritated at one point in time, as Rani was like giving way to every other patient to be admitted before she could have her test. For Rani, their needs appeared to be more important than others. As she was standing in the queue she saw a girl much younger than her age waiting for her COVID-19 test. Wearing a mekhala sadar as the attire of the Assamese women, Rani understood that the girl was there for her pregnancy. She had her test and then accompanied by her mother went to the maternity yard. Rani kept on looking until she was out of sight behind the curtains of the maternity ward. Coming back Rani said to her mother, "Mama, don't you think she is too young to have a baby on her

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lap, she should be in college instead".

Her mama smiled and said, "not everyone is enough privileged. Being a student of education Rani knew well how education could be a process of emancipation yet she felt we as a society indeed we have a long way to go when it comes to the education of the weaker sections of the society particularly the women. The smile in her face was gone .Her mama took her to the school she studied located near the hospital to cheer her up. It was afternoon time. The students were in their classes. The assembly ground was empty. Her childhood memories flashed back to her mind. She remembered the days when mama would go to collect mangoes for her tiffin box and would wait behind her to make her pony tail. They spend sometime with each other, clicked photos, and then returned. Her mama took her to a south Indian hotel to have her favorite dosa. They shared some moments together. It was evening when they returned home. Rani thought about how beautiful society could be as a social institution if we learn to respect each other and show some care and concern to people around us in distress. She had many beautiful moments with her mother yet it was this incident that made a dent in her heart that it would take so much time to heal, she knew not when. She realized how grateful we should be in life for every thing that we have. The image of the girl flashed back in her mind. Often we fail to count on our blessings, yet when we see people less privileged than us we understand how essential it is to be always grateful for whatever we have.

Life is a journey. It is a fleeting moment like the life of a butterfly. Living every moment to the best is what we can do as human beings by caring for the people around us wherein the essence of life and its vividity lies. She knew not when she felt asleep. When she woke up in the wee hours she saw the full moon glowing bright waiting to give way to another morn. She thought the girl might have by then delivered the baby, the love of her life in the hospital. A smile beeped through her face as she sat down for her morning prayers to thank the universe for everything she had.