It was a day that will be remembered for ever.
About two days before, I made a call to an orphange and an old age
home, to enquire about their needs and wants. A list of items was given and the
next day went off in shopping for those items. 
With bags of Diapers, Lactogen tins, biscuits, calcium syrup's, we,
a set of four friends, reached our first destination, an orphanage. We
were told that the kids taken care of, over there, were aged between just born
to 6 year old. Upon reaching, we were greeted with a friendly security who guided us in filling up our details in the entry register and a gate pass was issued. A huge, building with stone compound wall and huge gates, and tiny square windows with iron grills, at a first glance looked highly secured.
As we stepped in we were greeted by the friendly staff and one
person inspected all the items we brought for the kids. He gave us a receipt
for all those items and accepted them with utmost humbleness. It was sleeping
time for kids hence we were asked not to disturb them. The gentleman took us
around the building and we were awestruck at the cleanliness with which it was
maintained. All the caretakers were females and were having a dress code. The
rooms were secured with mosquito net doors and windows. A tiny window was
opened for us to peep in and see number of just born babies sleeping innocently
in their cradles while the care takers were busy organizing the babies clothes
neatly.
The next room was for slightly elder kids who were also sleeping
peacefully. And then the kitchen, the dining room, the TV room and the play
area were shown around.
And then the conversation started. He shared the stories, which
moved our hearts. A drunken father killed the mom in a fit of rage and was
jailed and the only child with no one to take care was shifted here. A girl who
was born retarted and bed ridden, was left in the hands of these care takers as
the parents couldn’t afford her. Kids born out of illegitimate relations,
parents who were so poor that they cannot afford the upbringing….the list is
just endless.
But these good Samaritans came together and with the guidelines
from government have opened this center and help with basic needs and education
for them. Not just this, the team also undertakes the upbringing of kids from the
local slum areas in the city. Cases where in the girls as young as 6-8 years
who pick up a fallen butt of the beedi and whale away their time to those
innocent souls who for the sake of a small sweet, just go with any stranger to
where ever they take them to, are handled by this team. They achieved 100%
school admission to all such kids and now are tackling the challenge of
minimizing the absenteeism from school.
What can you do for them:
1.
Call
up the orphanage and find out the list of items required on a given day and
take those items for them. (I’m giving the phone numbers at the end of this
post)
2.
Contribute
money (3k -4k for packaged lunch/breakfast cooked in house. They do not allow
any outside food)
3.
Give
your time by teaching them basic subjects.
4.
Spend
time with slum kids in motivating them to have a better lifestyle and take
counseling session for them to become ambitious in life.
5.
Take
personality development, career-counseling sessions.
6.
Talk
to them about adolescence, health care, feminine hygiene, nutrition etc
7.
Teach
them vocational studies like music, instruments etc.
8.
Give
your time. They are lonely and alone out there.
The next visit was to an old age home. Here, the visit was with
friends & my kids. We were requested to get some teacups and biscuits for
the aged. We carried samosa and sweets also and a carom board. While were
parking our cars down and looking out for the old age home, we saw an old lady
on the fourth floor, looking out of the window from her room. He eyes spoke so
many unsaid words. There was a look of loneliness on her face. With a couple of
call to caretakers, we were asked to come to backside of the building form
where the staircase begins and as escort will be there. On reaching, we found
the lift was out of order. So we climbed the four floors and asked our escort
as to how the aged people climbed these stairs? “These people don’t need to go
out at all” was the reply. It was very disturbing to learn that the rooms in
which they live is their entire world.
We were greeted with smiling faces and namaste’s from each and
every person in the home. They were more than happy to receive the food. Their
hands were shaking and shivering as they held the plates. “ the food is very
tasty. We love it. but you don’t have to spend so much for us. Just come often
and spend time with us. We love to be loved”. These were the words from almost
every individual in the home. A warm hug, a smile and a conversation is all
that they wanted. 
There was a lady who
was so good at drawing. She showed us all her drawings and was pleased to know
we liked her drawings. “ TV 9, filmed a movie on us. Please see that on tube,”
she said. As I was about to say bye to her, she nudged on my hand. I bent down
and she whispered into my ear “I can do even more good drawings if only I had a
drawing table. I manage to draw by keeping the sheets on my lap. It is very
difficult” I could’nt stop the tears rolling down my eyes. I assured her a
drawing table in my next visit. “ Forget about the table, but please come back
again. All I want is to talk to people. Im lonely here with no family. Spend
time with us” said she quickly. 
With a heavy heart, I moved to the next room. “ Come beta come.
This is my private room. I pay 15k a month to have this room. All my kids are
settled in USA. There is no one here. So I shifted here as I was alone. The
samosa was very tasty. I loved eating.” She managed to tell all in one flow.
She held my hand tight while talking and I could sense hands shivering. 
The next room had ladies who were bed ridden. They couldn’t move
around nor talk. Their eyes spoke everything. They greeted us with smiles.
Just
as we were stepping out, we saw a young lady of about 20+ years. We asked her
if she is a care taker. “ No. I stay here with my mom. We are alone in the
world. Have no one to take care. I can’t afford a home and I cant leave my
mother. So I stay with her here and take care of her and others too.” Said she.
With no more words to say and teary eyed, we moved to the third
floor. Hello hello welcome to our home greeted an old man. He gave us a high
five. And said “that was super food you got for us thank you.”
“Do you have biscuits? Asked another man. As we handed each one
of them packet of biscuits, he held out one more hand seeking another. He was
quick to tuck them away under his pillow and felt content with two packets of biscuits.
A man lying down on bed, who could hardly move, peeped out from his blanket and
said to my friend “ you look like Farook Sheik” every one started smiling and
started saying Farook Sheik, Farook Sheik, Farook Sheik!
And when we put the carom board on the bed, their joy knew no
bounds. They were clapping their hands with joy and murmured best gift ever, best
gift ever. A game of caroms started and the entire gang was busy clapping,
encouraging a strike and giving their tips. Time just slipped away.
We bid audio to them with a promise to come back soon.
What you can do?
1.
Spend
time with them
2.
Take
home cooked food for them and have a lunch or dinner with them
3.
Entertain
them
Note:
1.
All
pictures sown here are for representation purpose only. These images are from
google search and we thank the artists who drew them and I humbly seek their
permission for using their pictures here.
2.
The
places I described are in Nerul, Navi Mumbai area. I’m sure such homes are
there in every area, a google search will give list of such homes in your locality.
3.
The
phone numbers and address of these will be provided on a personal request. Please
message the author with a request.
