Invisible lives

USHA JESUDASAN

Shoba stood outside the classroom and peered in. Miss D'Silva was writing on the black board. In spite of the sun she shivered. Miss D'Silva turned and saw her at the door. "Late again Shoba? What excuse have you got this time?" said the teacher. Shoba looked at the floor. "And why is your hair in such a mess? Look at your hands so dirty. Can't you wash them before you come to school? Come on, I 'm waiting for an answer."

Shoba did not reply. Miss D'Silva threw up her hands in despair and said, "All right then, stand outside." She continued with her lesson. Shoba walked away. None of the children in the class saw the tears streaming down her face.

As she stood outside, she remembered a time when she and children like her, had lived together in a large house. The nuns who looked after them called them "abandoned children". The nuns loved them and took care of them. Each child hoped that some day a nice lady would come and take them and they too would be a part of a family. And then one day the nuns dressed Shoba in a pretty yellow dress, tied matching ribbons in her hair and Sister Cecilia told her that she would have a home of her own now, with people who would love her and send her to school.

Mr. and Mrs. D'Souza had no children and had been coming to this orphanage for many months. They wanted a girl, not a baby, but a big girl. A girl who would fit into their home well. Mrs.

D' Souza held out her hand to Shoba, and Shoba took it with a big smile. Sister Cecilia was very happy. She had found a caring home for Shoba, the little girl whom she loved so dearly. "Please send her to a good school, she is a very clever girl and with the right opportunities will blossom," said sister.

How happy Shoba had been that day. The D'Souzas were kind to her and showed her around their beautiful home. For a few weeks she lived in a new world of comfortable beds, hot water to bathe in and good food. Then when she was a little used to her new life, the D'Souzas took her to school.

After a while, she noticed small changes. When she was doing her home work, Mrs. D'Souza would call her and ask her to cut the vegetables and cook the rice. Then after a while she also had to sweep the house and wash the vessels before going to school. This would often make her late for class. Her marks dropped and she was made to feel stupid and useless. The D'Souza's would scold her and make her do all the house work. By the end of the day her little body would ache. She became thin.

One day Mr. Venkat, the headmaster saw Shoba standing outside the class. To his surprise he found her there almost everyday the next week as well. Shoba's teacher said that she came late every day, sometimes even after break.

Mr. Venkat took Shoba to his office. "Tell me Shoba what is wrong. Why are you late everyday? And why are you so untidy?" Shoba would not look at him and kept her eyes on the floor. After much coaxing Shoba told him all that had happened to her since she left Sister Cecilia's orphanage. Mr. Venkat was shocked. "You need not stand outside the class anymore Shoba," he said. "When you come late, just join the class."

A few months later, athough Shoba still came late to class, he found that she was neat and clean and that her marks had improved. Mr. Venkat was delighted and as an encouragement he gave her a set of new books. "Take care of them Shoba," he said. Towards the end of the week Mr. Venkat realised that he had not seen Shoba for a while. When he asked the teacher, she said, "She has not come for some days now. I don't know why."

Mr. Venkat waited a few more days thinking that perhaps Shoba was sick. But when he went to her house he found her locked inside."Thank you for coming sir," she said looking out of the window. "But do not come here again. Madam was angry that you gave me the books. She beat me because I told you everything and stopped me from coming to school. Now all I do is the house work. I can't go back to the orphanage because I am kept locked up."

Later that evening Mr. Venkat visited the D'Souzas. They were not at all happy to see him and were very rude to him too. Mrs. D'Souza said, "We brought her here to help us around the house, to take care of us as we get older. In return we said we would provide for her."

Mr. Venkat glanced at Shoba and saw those sad silent tears on her face again. The look on her face said, "Please go away. There is nothing anyone can do for me." Turning to leave Mr. Venkat said, "If ever you need my help, remember that I am here for you."

Shoba is one of the many invisible girl children in our country. Faceless. Abandoned. Abused. Exploited. There are thousands of Shobas all over our land. Every now and then someone like Mr. Venkat turns up in their lives, and for a while they blossom under love and care and understanding. But then, they hit their heads against the wall of prejudice, greed and hard-heartedness. After a while they give up, and the poor girl child is left alone again. Abandoned. Abused. Exploited, and faceless once more.

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