Poverty Gains Death

"Oh !my Jesus"- cried Catherine and with heavy-hearted threw her dead baby girl outside the bus.

Catherine, George their twin baby girls Rose and Grace were travelling in a bus to a different town totally different from their imagination, for their living. One could tell from their appearance that they are suffering from extreme poverty. Catherine's eyes were swelled from crying, her skin had turned pale wheatish colour. George's dress was torn, had stains of mud, his hair uncombed stood like a porcupine. Their twin baby girls were weak and thin but were still cute with a baby essence. They looked very similar.

They were a poor family who earned their living by working in a municipality. Everything went good even when they were poor but when they had a job in their hand. But one day, George had an argument with the municipality head. The head, being more powerful with the ingrowing politics did not let Catherine and George work there. He expelled them out. With no job and no food, their daily life went with crying, begging and with full of grief. They, however, managed to survive but they knew that they would not be able to live their whole life like this. So, they left their village and decided to go to a nearby town so that they can work there in some houses who can afford giving monthly wages.

So, as per their decision, they were travelling to another town the very night. They were having nothing to eat but somehow they managed to feed their children. May be this is called parenthood. But Rose was too weak that she may die anytime. Her nerves were visible outside. She turned yellow. She was breathing with her mouth. She couldn't sleep.

It was almost midnight. All were quite asleep. Catherine tried hard not to sleep to take care of Rose but, her tiredness resisted. But the chillness in Rose body made her wake. She felt something strange in Rose body. Rose's eyes were partially closed. She was not breathing with her mouth now. But also not with the nose. She is not breathing now! She shook George gently that Grace in his arms won't wake. She tried to shout the situation to George but the voice did not escape her throat. But George was able to understand. He slowly slapped Rose's cheeks. She didn't seem to open her eyes. George closed his eyes and cried silently by realising the truth that Rose is no more with them. Catherine was also able to realise it but being not ready to accept the truth, she silently but actually shouting asked George what is happening. George slightly shook his head in disbelief and told his wife that their baby girl is no more. Catherine open her mouth and cried with no sound. Saliva made up a web in her opened mouth. she hit her head with her hands and cried and cried. Later, accepting that they can do nothing with the fate they decided not to carry the dead body with them and to throw her in the lake passing by their way.

A lake was visible then and they were actually not ready to throw away their baby girl into a lake. But they knew they have to. So Catherine heavy-hearted, kissed her daughter the last time and cried "Oh, my Jesus! " and threw her hands in the air outside the window and also her daughter into the lake. Her hands refused to pull in even after a minute of throwing. George pulled her hands in. They cried the whole night but was aware not to wake Grace.

Later then, it was morning. And it was the place they have got off. They were ready to face the new unknown town. They took all their luggage and stood up. But Catherine suddenly realised that Grace was still sleeping and she tried to wake her up. But she did not get up. She immediately hoping not to be there checked for a mole in the right ear which only Rose had.

She cried out loud this time finding a mole in the right ear. She cried "it is Rose with us". George who was about to get off turned back and ran towards Catherine. She showed him the mole.

Both could not digest that the baby who they threw was Grace and whom they are carrying is Rose, the dead one. They realized that being twin they couldn't recognize who is Rose and who is Grace. But for them, how Grace came to Catherine's hand is still a mystery. They kneeled down and shouted.

Their both the baby girls are not with them now.