THE TINKLE OF TWINKLING STARS

A hairless, unattractive baby monkey was jeered at by other animals during a Most Beautiful Baby Contest among animals, to which the annoyed mother monkey cuddles its baby more closely and whispers lovingly to its tiny ears, “you are the most beautiful baby on earth and I love you’. It is a story depicting the love of a mother for her child.

    At Kilkari, an orphanage in Neemuch, however, the little beauties aged three to five years have no one to make them feel loved and important. They exist as unwanted babies, fed with what is available and left to cry their hearts out. Very soon they realise that life has to be led as per the command of others, else they invite pain and trouble for themselves. They dare not have any wish of their own or seek its fulfillment.

    Watching the four and five year olds, cleaning up their rooms, sweeping and dusting the floors, a young handsome bachelor, Tribhuvan Meena of Neemuch branch of State Bank of Indore, wanted to add some sparkle to their lives.

    At twenty five, boys of his age have numerous ways of enjoying a glamorous life, but here he was, tending to the little ones on every Sunday and giving quality time to them. He feels when these children at such small age can do so much work, why can’t we do something for them when we have received so much from life.

    He along with his friends shells out about Rs.1500/- per head per month towards purchasing things and eatables, specifically those which are not available to them at the orphanage. He delights the kids by offering them with his own hands, noodles, cakes and other bakery products, fruits, toys, etc.

    It is not only children, but fishes also that have received his kind attention. He recalls with pride an instance, where he and his parents, had prepared five thousand tiny balls of flour to feed fishes on which his father had inscribed the word Ram on each ball, as it is believed that fishes get ‘moksha’ or liberated by consuming them.

    He chuckles as he adds that his parents feel he has grown up and has become wise when they see him giving his time and money to little orphans, with a sense of great belonging.

    As he approaches them in the orphanage, their look of recognition and joy gives him the satisfaction of a life being lived well. He is able to bring about rich laughter from the poor little orphans that keep tinkling in his heart long after it is heard in the gloomy orphanage, driving him to do much more for the twinkling stars, from time to time.

Contributed by Ms Harina, SBLC, Indore