Akka...Akka ...Akka, Shiva came running and gave me a big hug. This was only the second time I was meeting him. Although he is 14 years of age, doesn't look more than 8. There in the corner was sitting Krishikesh who did not give me a glance but attracted my attention for he was reading a newspaper, or i guess trying to. He was so engrossed that he did not respond to me at all. There was this smart little boy Varun , the most handsome and goodlooking of all, gave me a broad smile unlike the other day when I just went there for introduction and saw him crying inconsolably . I also met Vibhin who is most friendliest of all...Divya who doesn't talk but I could feel the warmth as she sat next to me playing with my duppatta . Srinivasan, Srini as I call him loves to play jumble tumble wherein he matches both the cards having the same picture and would be the first one to give me the pair.
As I repeated my childhood classes when my children started going to school and still teach rhymes to my younger child...it was just a revision for me reciting the rhymes with these children. They are so expressive that I hardly felt there was any problem with any of them.
Then we also had a learning session with the children when they started writing in their books, Srini writing A in his notebook, vibhin very reluctantly at B...he hates to write....and Shiva as usual to his pleasing self completing the copy writing with the last page at Z. Although he has a vision problem and takes his head as close to the table as if he is asleep...he still manages to write. Shiva finishes his writing fast and starts playing blocks where in he makes a train....vibhin just follows shiva in the act leaving his writing behind...it was such fun watching both of them....
It was so nice to get a choclate for teacher's day from Reshmi who comes there with her dad and she is into the batch who are into vocational training. She is such a adorable kid that I love to be with her although today I did not spend much time with them as I had to attend a meeting of the staff there and had spent the other time with these adorable smaller children.
Before I stepped out for meeting , It was lunch time and as the teacher had allready gone for the meeting ahead of me..the class was looked after by this very enthusiastic lady who stays very near to the centre(thanks to my bad memory or say enthusiasm with the kids that I dont remember her name today...but will definetly apologise and ask her name again tomm)....who has amazing patience and energy to be with these kids made them go and wash their hands one by one...me going with them and she manning the door.... Finally the kids sang their prayer before their meals and sat down to eat..Each one showed me what they had in their boxes.
While I left the place after the meeting, all the children were outside and waved bye to me and ensured that i tell them that i would be back the next day....
That's what I call an extended family...
