The Grandparents Little Dairy

By Shishira.B.Y

“Children are those beautiful stars who twinkle on Earth like the stars twinkle in the night sky” I read the last line of the stories written by my mother in her diary “The Grandparents Little Dairy”.

Life has its own way of teaching lesson to everyone and blessed are those who get to learn from grandparents and parents. But, not all have the luxury of having parents and grandparents and those children are called ‘Orphans’. I, Sanchi am a daughter of one such mother who was brought up in an orphanage and became a best person I have known.

Children rely on parents from very young age unfortunately few don’t have one due to many reasons. The orphan ages usually have children from new born to sixteen years old but our orphanage has children upto the age of 20 years. Why 20 years old?? Let me tell you anybody may not consider 17 to 20 year olds as children but we still consider them as children in our orphanage just like they would be children to their parents if they had one. If nobody adopts these children we educate them till the age of 20 – 21 yrs so they can live a happy independent life. Their betterment is the greatest blessing this orphanage can ever get.

Many years ago when my mother was a Warden more exactly ‘Orphanage Manager’ here in the orphanage, a grandmother would always visit them on various occasions like if it’s her children’s birthday or festivals or sometimes she would just drop by to spend some time with these beautiful children. Well, me being momma’s girl would come with her sometimes to the orphanage and play with children. I was very young back when the grandmother would visit this place. My mother would tell how a granny visited children and would read stories to them or would tell them the stories of her own and how the children loved it and loved spending their time with her.

Today when I am visiting this place after a very long time all the memories of that day flooded in. Those are the golden memories and thanks to my mother she has kept all those memories very safe in this book.

I was a six years old running around in the playground with other kids on a fine Sunday morning. My mother was in the office as usual working. The caregivers were also with us children playing with us when the bell rang which meant all the children and caregivers had to assemble. I did not know anything. I did not understand anything at that time except I did follow the children or did as the caregivers told. They never differentiated between those children and me just because I was Managers daughter which was very nice. 

Once we all assembled, we saw two grandparents with my mom and other caregivers. I recognized the grandmother she was exactly how my mother had described – clad in a cream color cotton sari, standing straight with very dignified look, big bindi on her forehead, grey hair and a beautiful smile on her face. Looking at her, I naturally had a smile on my face so did other children. Then I noticed the grandfather who had come with her. He was tall, strict yet friendly looking, grey hair with rectangular spectacles, a watch and wore simple formal brown pant and white shirt. Mom had never spoke about him so I did not know who he was. 

Mom said ‘Check check’ in the mic grabbing everybody’s attention. We all stood silently and she continued to speak. “Dear children I know you were all having fun playing but now are you ready to have more fun?” and all the children screamt ‘yes’. Laughing she continued to speak introducing the guests “You all know her – your favorite grandmother ‘Rukmini’ and this is her husband, you can call him ‘Grandfather’ and his name is ‘Purshottam’. Please greet them and they will be spending their time with you today. There are many activities to do and they have go you all presents. So, children enjoy your day, be careful and do not trouble them. Okay?” With a loud ‘yes’ from all the children the announcement was over. They call each child and gave them the presents. The presents were books, color pens, paints, toys etc. After that we all went to the hall and the grandparents greeted us and said today they will be telling us a story. All the children were exited. 

The grandparents sat on the floor surrounded by all the children and the younger ones even sitting on their lap. They spoke to each kid present over there and they knew almost all the children’s name. They were very friendly. I like the stuffed doll I got. Finally, it was story time. Grandmother started the story first. 

“Once upon a time there was a big city called “Agrasthana”. It was a beautiful place where people lived happily. They were very friendly and helped anyone who need help. Whenever any outsider or new people came there, they always felt warm and welcoming. There was a kid called Shayam who was very naughty , intelligent and friendly. 

One day Shayam went to a new park to play. He saw that all the people in the park looked very peaceful, happy. There were people who were laughing, children who were running, playing swing, slide and few were skating wearing skate shoes. There were parents just relaxing and looking at their children playing. There were group of people sitting and chatting.  When the wind blew he felt very different and lively. Shayam walked the complete park observing everything around, played a little bit and went home feeling very happy. Seeing him, his mother asked why he was so happy today. He narrated what he saw in the park today and how he felt. His mother was happy to see him so happy and wondered what’s going in his mind he was quite silent compared to usual days. 

Shayam remembered the park and drew a few in his drawing book and slept very peacefully that night. He started to the park regularly and made a few friends there. As he was a friendly child he also spoke to elders and befriended them. He regularly sat on the pedestal of a fairy’s statue. There were many such statues in the park. There were kids statue, birds and animals and many more. But Shayam like the fairy’s statue the most so he always sat there for a few minutes and observed people and his surroundings. He told the fairy about his day every single day.  He would constantly ask himself loudly “Why are all the people happy every day? Do they not feel sad even once?” So, finally he decided he should ask about it. As usual he told it loudly to fairy. Suddenly, someone called his name. He heard a sweet voice but he did not find anyone near him. All the people were away from him atleast by three meters. So he wondered who called him. 

The sweet voice came again “My dear little star, look up its me your ‘Fairy’ speaking”. Hearing the voice Shayam was shocked and looked up. He slowly stood up still shocked at who spoke and trying to figure out if it was really the fairy speaking. Then he saw a beautiful fairy beside the statue wearing a light blue and pink flowery gown which was shining like the twinkling star. The dress had beautiful flowers, butterflies, birds and pearls like rain drops on it. Shayam stood shocked in the same place. Looking at him the fairy smiled and said “little star Shayam, you always spoke to me and so I decided I will also talk to you”. Shayam opened his mouth wide in shock again. The fairy laughed and said “don’t be shocked, this is real my boy”. Shayam let out a breath and smiled at the Fairy. He was happy to see her. He greeted fairy joyfully “Hi Fairy, I am so happy to see you. I cannot believe I am actually seeing you.” Looking at him being so happy, the fairy felt happy and satisfied too. Fairy smiled at the little boy and said “Little star, you wanted to ask something. Come on let’s sit here and speak.” She pointed towards the pedestal. Shayam smiled and sat beside fairy. He loved being called “Little Star”. 

Shayam looked at people and then at Fairy and asked “Fairy, my name is Shayam. What is your name?” Then fairy answered “I know your name is Shayam my little star. And my name is ‘Fairy’ the name you kept.” Shayam looked at her and said “You are lying. Tell me your name.” Fairy loved teasing him and said “Okay I will tell you my name in the end. Till then try to guess.” Now Shayam was trying findout fairy’s name. Stopping him from thinking about it the fairy asked his to ask his other questions.

Shayam asked “Fairy, people are so happy when they enter this park, why? Are you also visible to other people in this park? Do you talk to them?” The fairy laughed at his questions and spoke “Little star, people are happy not because I am visible to them, they are happy because this place is filled with happiness, their heart is filled with peace and satisfaction.” Shayam looked confused and so fairy continued “People can see me and feel me. You know how?” Shayam nodded his head as “No”. Fairy patted his head and said “I am visible to people as a beautiful park filled with many plants, trees, flowers, insects, birds, animals and also as human beings”.

The kid was confused and stared at the fairy for few minutes and asked “How can they be happy when they cannot see her in her current appearance?” The fairy loved the innocence of the child. She was very happy with his question. So she explained, “Little Star, I am visible to them in every essence of life. They can feel me when the wind blows. They can feel me when the flower blooms every day. They can feel me when the pleasant smell spreads in the air. They can see me as a plant looking all fresh and majestic. They can see her as a butterfly, honeybee, a snail, a cat, a dog, a bird singing and flying high. They can feel me in all the walk of life.” 

The little kid was amazed by the answer and asked “Is not it the same way God is present with us always?” Fairy loved his question and said “Yes darling, you are right.” The little boy noticed how there were so many butterflies flying near them and the flowers and plants looked absolutely fresh and lively. He looked at fairy and then the plants and then the people in the park. Fairy spoke to him again and said “Plants and animals can hear and feel you too just like the way you can hear and feel the surroundings. When they are happy they look very fresh and when they are sad they look very dry just like when a person is happy their eyes will be twinkling and have a bright smile but when a person is sad even though they may smile but their eyes will not twinkle.” Then the fairy continued, “Little star, one should never do something that will hurt oneself and others. One should always spread happiness. Children are brightest beings and closest to the God. That’s why there are many places where they offer prayer to small kids. For example you must have heard of Navratri where they perform ‘Kanya puja’ where nine girls are offered prayed which symbolizes Navadurga. Well if you don’t know the story of ‘Navratri’, then lets meet tomorrow and I will tell you the story.”

Shayam was very happy to hear this from his Fairy. He happily said ‘yes’ and asked fairy to tell her name at least now. Fairy laughed at her ‘Little Star’ Shayam and told “My name is “Brucie – The Park Fairy” and for him she will always be “Fairy Mother”. Shayam happily called her “Fairy Mother” and ran around playing and singing, spreading happiness wherever he went. “

Grandmother Rukmini finished her story and saw all the children were immersed in the story and she felt very happy looking at them. Children asked the grandparents “Are children closest to the God?” This time grandfather Purshottam answered the children “Yes, you children are the closest to God. You are very innocent and inquisitive. If you want to achieve something you can achieve it. You are those birds which sing happily and dance. You all like the pleasant smell, which spreads happiness wherever they go.”

Both grandparents together told “Children are those beautiful stars who twinkle on Earth like the stars twinkle in the night sky”. 

Listening to them everyone clapped and gave a standing ovation. For many years both grandparents came to the orphanage regularly to tell new stories to the children and this also inculcated good nature in the children and in a way the God had bestowed them with two beautiful Grandparents and the grandparents were equally blessed with wonderful grandchildren.

Time passed and they spent their last days with children. The day before grandmother’s last breath she had a wonderful time with children and children had sung, danced and read story to her. She slept happily that night and never woke up. 

My mother who was a manager in the orphanage wrote down all the stories and activities in this dairy and said it needs to be passed down to the future generation. She read this all the children in the orphanage every day.

 My Mother Sunidhi said “This has to inspire people to live a happy life even when the life throws stones. One must see positivity and move forward. People should know the worth of life by reading all the stories by these grandparents. Hence, I call this book ‘The Grandparents Little Dairy’.” 

She said “Life is for you to live the way you want. So, take risks and fly high. Remember one thing always stay humble.”

Lastly the stories continue…….from one generation to another.

By Shishira.B.Y