The Foster Mother

The boy had big dreams. He often told me that one day when he will become rich, he would take me on an airplane. He would make a paper plane and hold it in his hand he would circle around me and make a nasal sound he would say,"Whoosh! Kaki, I am the Captain of Air India. Welcome Aboard! Ice-cream and biscuits will be served shortly, Whoosh!".

"Hari, will you stop making so much noise, boy. I can't sleep," I would say to him seeming annoyed. But, on the inside I loved him. I felt so happy when Hari was around. For a moment, I would forget about all my sorrows. I was the foster mother of Hari.

Hari was an eight-year-old boy. He was short for his age and had dark sunburnt skin. His clothes were ragged and his curly hair was disheveled. But, his eyes sparkled with mischief and there was always a grin on his face. I had found him about six years back abandoned on the temple steps. A small baby cuddled in a white blanket.

I heard the baby cry and took him in my arms. The baby became quiet when I held him. His small innocent eyes stared at me. And, then the baby smiled which made my heart melt. I looked around and checked with the temple priest. We searched for the parents of the baby for many days. But, we could not find them. So, I requested the Priest to allow me to keep the baby. The Priest thought for a while and seeing that there was no better option he handed over the baby to me. But, I guessed that he secretly wondered how a poor widow who owned a small tea stall could take care of the baby.

I earned enough only to earn two times meal for me every day. But, after Hari came to my life, I knew that this much money would not be enough to feed the both of us. So, I pawned my two gold bangles at the old jewelry shop near the temple and got enough money to feed the two of us for the next few months. I started taking household work like cleaning houses, washing utensils and gardening which also fetched me some extra money. I also did odd jobs at the temple which also got me some money.

After Hari became six years old, I decided to send him to a school. With my odd jobs, I was able to make just enough money needed to feed the two of us. I did not know how I would afford the school fees. I talked with the temple Priest and he talked with the temple Trust people. They gave me some money to take care of Hari's school fees. I felt a gratitude for them beyond any measure. My boy would finally go to school. He would learn and if everything went well he would be able to study till the tenth class and became an electrician or a plumber. If he was lucky, maybe someone would hire him as a Peon in a big company.

It was two years since Hari was attending school. He was now in the third class. He had already studied more than me. I had managed to study only till the second class when my parents had decided to pull me away from school. They did not find any reason why girls should be educated more. So, they made me do all sorts of household chores and when I turned sixteen years old, I was married off.

My husband was a forty-year-old man who had two children already. His wife had died while delivering their second child. For some time, my husband took good care of me. He took me to the cinema and shopping. But, after one year of our marriage, he started beating me and abusing me. He used to come home drunk every night and beat me.

Once, he beat me up very badly. I had bruised eyes and blue marks from his beatings. That night, I ran from the house. I went to the station and climbed the first train that came to the platform. I did not even know where the train was headed. In the morning, I got down at a village station. The name of the village was Suhana Gaon. 

I did not have any money when I came to the village. I only had two saris with me. I kept walking till my feet could not carry me anymore. I saw a temple nearby. I went and sat in the temple for some time. The Priest saw me and asked where I was from. I lied that I was a widow and my In-Laws had chased me out of the house after my husband's death. The Priest took pity on my condition and gave me shelter in the temple backyard. The temple became my house. I did odd jobs in and around the temple and also managed to open a small tea stall with my meager savings. It was around this time that Hari came into my hands. 

One day, early in the morning, I was selling tea when a big blue car stopped in front of the temple. A woman in a beautiful red and white colored sari stepped out of the car. She was accompanied by a tall and handsome man. From the way the man was holding her hand I sensed that they were husband and wife. The couple went inside the temple. I took no more notice of them and became busy with my work.

After about half an hour, the couple came outside. I saw that the Priest was accompanying them and the three people were walking directly towards me. I became slightly alarmed. I hoped that my Hari had not done any mischief. As the lady came near I saw that her eyes were moist. She had been crying. The Priest addressed me and asked,"Kaki, where is Hari?". From his tone, he looked concerned. I thought that definitely something was amiss and asked him,"Pujari ji, is everything alright? Has my Hari done any mischief again?" saying this I turned to the lady and folded my hands, "Madam, please forgive my son. I will teach him a good lesson today." However, the Priest addressed me and said, "Kaki, no Hari has not done anything this time. These people are looking for him. You see this lady is his real mother. They are here to take Hari to his actual home."

As I heard these words, I could feel the earth trembling beneath my feet. I felt like I was swirling and found it difficult to stand in my place. The vessel of milk spilled from my hand. "How is this possible? Hari was abandoned six years back on these temple steps. How do you know that this lady is his real mother?", I asked sobbing. This time the lady replied,"I was a single mother when I gave birth to this child. I was very afraid of the society. I was afraid that I or my child would not find acceptance in this society. So, due to my fears, I decided to abandon this child. I am very thankful that you took such good care of my child. I will be forever indebted to you. However, please return my child to me. I can't live without him anymore."

I became angry. "Where were you all these years? Did you even care if your child was dead or alive? Why have you come back after all these years? Go away from here, I will not give my child to you."

As I was saying this, I saw Hari returning from his school. When he saw that I was shouting at these people, he came running and jumped into my arms. "What's wrong Kaki, who are these people?" he asked me softly. The lady's husband who was quiet for all this time spoke now. He addressed Hari and said if he would like to go in the big car. He offered him chocolates and biscuits. But, my Hari refused them. He offered to buy him new clothes and toys, but still, my boy refused them. He said,"I will not leave my Kaki. So, just go away".

By this time a lot of people had gathered around us. The husband finally took away his wife and they drove away in their car. I hugged my child tightly. Next day, the Priest came to our house and said, "Kaki, can I have a word with you?". He then told me that the young lady and her husband had lost their only child in a car accident. And, now the lady could no longer bear any more children. He said that if she did not get back Hari then her husband might marry another woman.

When I heard this, I remembered my own plight after my marriage. I could not let another woman suffer the same fate. I thought that I had become selfish in my love for my child. I had not even spared one thought about my boy's future. No matter how hard I worked in life, my boy could never have the same life that these rich people could give him.

I put a stone on my heart and agreed to let go off Hari. The Priest understood my sentiments and remarked,"A mother who raises a child is greater than a mother who gives birth to the child. I bow down in front of you, mother please forgive me".

There were tears in everyone's eyes that day. Hari was shouting and kicking his legs as the couple came and took him away in their car. I waved him goodbye knowing that I had lost him forever. I had once again lost the purpose of my life.

The End