No words to describe the day - 22nd April 2009. Yes, It was my father-in-law's birthday. This year, we all were thinking of what to gift him. Every year, every one, its usual...just buy a cake and cut it into pieces and munch them well. No its not going to be that way , thats what i decided. I thought and thought and thought...and voila there came a nice idea. An idea of celebrating his birthday with a bunch of children at an orphonage. My hubby and me chose a place near our home at velachery. The orphonage name is Jerome School of Orphonage near madipakkam in chennai. They have 30 children, 2 elders and about 8 staff working for them. So We all set our journey towards there to provide dinner to those children.
True success comes only through united effort. Our team includes my hubby, me, my two brother-in-law's and my dear anni. We all sat and discussed the plan , decided the menu, bought some gifts for the kids there, booked a cab in the evening to set the journey through. In the evening at about 7.30 , my mil, fil, grandma, two bils, kavitha anni, saagar, varshi, nethraa, my hubby n me.....all reached the desitination happily. Already were waiting for us was Swarna chitti, her husband and Anusha who volunatarily chose to come with us for the occasion to celebrate with the kids. Once I got there, I was kind of bit shocked to see the place. I never ever expected it to be this worse.
Just imagine there were only two rooms. And about forty people were occupying the same. No ceiling fans, no washbasin just nothing. They just had one table fan. All the things dumped in the corners. There were about four kids, who were 2 to 2 and half years old uptil kids who go to school, stuyding in grade eleven. I could not digest things for sometime. I went ahead to speak to those people and incharge there told me few instances of how these kids were found in railway station and other public places at about just being four days old. My God, what a pity.
We decided to give away the gifts first. So we all sat in one room. They all sang...."Happy Birthday Thatha" Then as any kid would do it.... everyone on receiving their gifts very delighted to unwrap those. Few asked for our help to do so. Few already busy tearing papers..tarr tarr... million dollars dont match to see the smile on their face that time :-)
Next, what..we decided to serve food ....All set in their plates, two parotas, channa masala, vegetable fried rice, two rasogallas, some red sause...and still no one touched their plates. I was wondering why. Which when I saw the incharge commenced her prayer and right followed all the kids... kneeling down, and praying to God thanking for the food they got that day. Almost tears came down my eyes when I saw that even the youngest one was sincere enough to do that. how we have to learn from them
Thus our journey ended by thanking them for their wishes and we set back towards home in both happy and sad mood. Happy cause we could do something for some one, made somebody smile especially. Sad cause of their situation there how they live without parents. This definetely reminds us of being thankfull to God for all the things he has given us, giving us... and to give us.
Also one more lesson to learn... NEVER EVER COMPLAIN... BE HAPPY WITH WHATEVER WE HAVE. (ofcourse we human brains can never do it...but atleast i decided i will try being that way)
LEts seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
