The Second Chance

The journey from Ramnagar to Burhanpur was quite exhausting. It was a long route of 250 km. The road was like it was not maintained for the ages.

It was quite hard to travel from that route by bus which was having a filthy stinky smell as someone did vomiting. The bus was taking a stop at each bus stop.

There was heavy competition for acquiring seats. Many people were keeping handkerchiefs or whatever they were having to reserve their seats. After getting a seat they were having the feeling as if they have won a war. Some people were fighting for seats, some people were urging to adjust with others on their seats. I was feeling fortunate enough as I had already reserved my seat.

 

Finally, I reached Burhanpur and search for a rickshaw. Burhanpur was new to me. I was transferred from Ramnagar to Burhanpur. My father's friend was living in Burhanpur and he only searched a room for me. I told the address of the room to the Rikshawala and he dropped me at that particular area.

My room owner were the two retired husbands and wives who were teachers. They were about 70 to 75 years old. They welcomed me with a very sweet smile on their face as if they were only waiting for me. They were not having any children that's why they felt very happy as if they got a son in me. The room was good enough to live comfortably.

That night Aajji(room owner) asked me to have dinner with them. The next day I got ready to go to my new job. I am a banker. The working atmosphere of the bank was quite good and I was enjoying my work. But because of long working hours, I was not able to manage housework so I asked Aajji to find a maid for me.

The next day Aajji introduced Sushila to serve as a maid. She was a thin, dark-colored,13 years old girl. I agreed to keep her as a maid. she used to prepare food for me, brooming and all the household work. She was very sincere in her work. Every work she used to do was neat and clean. She used to call me dada. It was Sunday. While Sushila was brooming I was busy reading a book.

She asked, "Dada which book are you reading."

I asked her, "Do you have an interest in reading books?"

She said, "Yes dada, I love to read books."

I asked her, "Sushila don't you go to school?"

With sad expressions on her face, she said,

"Dada, I used to go to school but last year my Amma fell ill. She used to work as a maid. My father is a laborer. I have two younger sisters and a brother. My father's income is not enough to run the house and my Amma can't go to work so I need to do it. Hence I left the school."

My heart sank. At such a tender age, such a big responsibility the little girl was shouldering. I felt very bad for her but feeling only bad for her was not going to change her condition. I decided to do something for her.

I asked Sushila, "Sushila, do you want to go to school?"

She said, "Yes dada, I really want to go to school."

As the day school was not convenient for her, I searched for the night School in the town. I spoke to the principal about Susheela. He agreed to her admission. The night school timing was from 5 pm to 8 pm. In the daytime, she was working and at night she was going to school. Whatever difficult concepts she could not understand she used to ask me.

 I purchased a school bag, books, and required things for her. She was doing excellent in her studies. Meanwhile, her mother died which was a big shock for her. She was in 10th standard now. The financial condition of her home was not that good to afford the facility of tuition, neither she was having time for tuition, so she was just depending on school and on me.

Though she was on inboard, she had to work.

she was balancing all the things but I was worried about her study as the exam was near.

I asked her not to do work in my home. obviously, I could not ask her to leave the work of others home but I was regularly giving her the money.

 Her exam over and the result was declared after 2 months. Sushma passed with a distinction. She felt very happy her father also felt proud of her. I got immense satisfaction. Everyone can't get a second chance in life but Susheela got and she proved herself.