a dainty yearning by adithi manasa

8/9/2019 A Dainty Yearning by Adithi Manasa

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Meet Kushi - the ever smiling lass of Gorkhapur. She had two siblings.

Tenzing and Moa. Moa being the youngest brother loved and cared so muchfor her. Tenzing did adore her but was unhappy about being her

BODYGUARD all the time. He hated the idea of missing out the cricket

matches after school as he had to take care of Kushi.


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Why did he have to take care of Kushi?

Kushi was polio affected and thus confined to the wheelchair! Moa wasnt

strong enough to help her move around so a sturdy Tenzing had to be at

her beck and call. He never complained but Kushi knew all the while that

she was forcibly being a burden and hampering her brothers wants.


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Kushis best friends were the Cybeles bounty. The happily chirping

magpies drove away her blues, the fragrant orchids swayed and

nodded their heads in agreement whenever she poured her heart out

to them. The only wish Kushi had was to pervade mirth all around

and so she smiled always; come rain or shine.


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Her parents had never been to school and hence illiterate. They were ignorant of

the perils brought by polio so they did not get her vaccinated when she was five yearsold only to repent later.

Now she was well fed, nurtured, cuddled, taken good care of and pampered

amidst the cozy warmth of togetherness in her home sweet home but was there

anything missing? Yes her heart longed for something else


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The small school up the hill! Where she wished to

go to like all other children of Gorkhapur. She was very

keen to read, write and learn. All these cravings hidden

deep inside the fourth chamber of her heart she just

hoped against hope that one fine day her dream wouldcome true!


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Bahadur- her father sold his

sewing machine as he no longer

could run the tailoring shop. Thatwas the end of his noble

profession! He began pondering

on how to make ends meet.

When carrying her piggy back

once, it struck to him Why dont I

sell Kushis wheelchair? Shewouldnt be needing it to move

inside the house as long as he

could carry her. Then, there were

her two brothers- young,

energetic and growing! They

would help her wouldnt they?


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Having lost his work, Bahadur

returned to grazing sheep like

he used to during his

childhood. Kushi watched himthrough the mirador, helplessly.

Wish there was something she

could do about!


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Oh! Not her wheelchair Why dont you sell the golden baton instead? What joy has

it ever bestowed on us till now? Kushis mothers plea fell on deaf ears. Bahadur moved

the wheelchair to the barn when Kushi was fast asleep. His heart pounded louder and

louder. He felt guilty of snatching away her only mode of motion within the vicinity. That

precious child never grumbled. How can I take away her things of little joy?... Should I?

or shouldnt I? Come daybreak and he moved it back to her room.


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Moa never wanted to see the smile on Kushis

visage fade away. He couldnt stop his father

from selling her wheelchair but he could try to

divert her heed and keep her cheerful for a

while. He placed her kitten on her lap after

giving it a good brushing and combing! Shegently stroked its velvety coat and it purred

back in gratitude. It kept her entertained! She

broke into a peel of giggles when it began

displaying its crazy antics.

Her mother silently shed tears of joy looking at

the three bonding well and sharing such purelove.


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Kushi watched the donkeys graze. Suddenly

there was a rumbling noise approaching.

HONK HONK HONK went the garishlypainted van. Oh! Theres going to be a

shopping fair set up here for a few days she

thought. Little did she know that these were the

very same people to whom Bahadur intended

to sell off her wheelchair!


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On the pretext of choosing her a birthday gift he took her to the sale.

Bahadur had to bring to her notice sooner or later the fact about thewheelchair. He tried to bribe her with noisy toys in exchange with her

wheelchair. He was trying to amuse her when Tenzing just returned from

school. He was more than happy to finally see her wheelchair being sold

soon.


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I dont want those baba,

Id rather have a set of

school uniform, books and a

bag! she uttered excitedly.Bahadur was dumbstruck!

Why would you want to go

to school? What will you do

there? he asked amazed.


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Kushi could no longer hold it. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. She blurted out how

she used to stealthily peer into Moas books every night after he slept. When he

came to know of her passion and curiosity for numbers he was happy to help. He

taught her how to count, add, subtract Gradually he also made her perform basic

arithmetic operations and now she could say out loud- multiplication tables up to 20by-heart!

Hearing this the guilt in Tenzing pricked! He felt ashamed of himself. He took

Bahadur aside and convinced him into not selling the wheelchair away. but even

if she had it how can she go to school? There are no stairs either; its not even a

road what you students take to school! How can anyone move her wheelchair up

the hill? questioned Bahadur.


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Tenzing had to act fast. He ran back to school and caught up with Tamang

Sir who was on his way home. He told Tamang Sir- the mathematics

teacher everything about Kushi. Like always Tamang Sir had a solution for

every problem! He told Tenzing to gather as many volunteers as possible,collect reasonable funds from each and every house of Gorkhapur and get

to work the very next day!


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Tenzing got busy hunting volunteers.

Tamang Sir had a trick up his sleeve!

Bahadur set off to the nearby town to specially get Kushis golden biscuits baked

for her birthday which was four days from then.

Her mother began collecting selected herbs from the foot of the mountain to cook

on Kushis birthday her favourite yak milk cream soup.

Moa began wrapping a small box of crayons in glittering paper just for his Kushi.

The news of Tamang Sirs idea spread like wild fire throughout Gorkhapur!

Funds were collected in no time.

And the school children too enthusiastically joined Tenzing in his venture.

Meanwhile Kushi forgot all that happened at the fair, smiled away her worries; as

usual and indulged herself in conversation with her friends- the magpies, orchids

and the kitten totally uninformed of what was happening behind her back!


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There turned out to be more number

of volunteers than expected. In fact

almost the whole of Gorkhapur

turned up!

Tamang Sir gave them instructions

on how to execute his plan. All ears,

everybody agreed in unison!

Tamang Sir prayed for the success

of the mission and all set to work

immediately!


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The school children of

Gorkhapur were all excited!

It was a hush-hush matter.There was a big pleasant

surprise in store for the gay ,

most adored and ever

smiling lass of Gorkhapur-

Kushi.


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Bahadur decided not to sell her wheelchair after all!

Up the hill all volunteers enthusiastically beganmoving big stones, pieces of rocks and boulders

lying on the way to school.

Here, inside her house was Kushi; unaware of what

was going on outside!


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The zeal and zest just kept on building. A road on which the

wheelchair could be easily pushed was under construction!

Within a mere couple of days the road was ready! It was awaiting the

dawn of a fresh new beginning of hope


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The new day has come!

Bahadurs eyes were brimming with tears of gratitude. He was

speechless. Smilingly he placed the plate piled with a heap of

Kushis golden biscuits and a flask of her favourite hot soup in

front of her. The school children gathered outside her house. She

invited them in and requested them to help themselves in to somebiscuits. He told her what the people of Gorkhapur were up to.

She was awestruck! She couldnt believe her ears!


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Tenzing was more than

willing to help Kushi

spread her wings now! He

has proved to be a more

matured, responsible,

lovable, caring and worthy

brother


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Kushis parents

heaved a deep sigh

of relief.

Their darling could flynow! She could go to

school like all the

other children!

They seldom had to

deprive Kushi of herwheelchair

.. The golden

baton- their family

heirloom had indeed

brought them an

ecstasy which knewno bounds!

A happy ending

or say a happy

beginning?

a dainty yearning by adithi manasa

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