Untold!

I saw them while I was in a local train. They seemed to be from some part of North India, had a lot of small and big boxes and two children. By their dress and slang I deduced that they were of the lower middle class stratum. Both looked thin and were tired as well. What made me look at them more, were their two children.

The older one was about five years of age, and was sleeping, her face resting on her father's shoulders. The younger one was just a baby, not more than 18 months, also sleeping, on her mom's lap. I was instantly drawn towards the baby. It looked chubby and had a beautiful face. I was wondering where I had seen a similarity and then turned to look at the elder one. I couldn't see her clearly. While I was watching the baby again, the elder one suddenly woke up and shreiked, which startled me.

Her parents were unaffected by this. What followed next, was so unpredictable that it got etched into my memory. The mom immediately placed the baby on the seat next to her, and almost snatched the elder one from the dad. I had a chance to watch that little girl clearly now. There was something odd in her. Meanwhile, the baby started crying and by a stern look, she made it aware to the father that he should take it, which he did. I was wondering why a mother would consider a grown up child [when compared to a baby] to be consoled first.

I looked at the older one closely. Then it hit me. Her head was too small for her body and it gave an inkling to her behaviour. Her mom was consoling her, yet she wailed for a long time and spoke something incoherent in between. Suddenly the world seemed to swirl for me.

I read volumes and volumes of an untold suffering.​

 

Thanks for your quick feedback Pallavi. Writing such post depresses me a lot too. But I thought of sharing the impact that I had with all of you here. There is one more shocking incident which I may be writing later. Besides, your feedback sort of warmed me a bit. Till this date, I consider "Insane" and "Mad" as the best that I could write. This comes close to that. Alas, this is real. -rgs

 

Very glad to receive a first from you Enlightened. Thanks a lot. -rgs

 

You are right Viswamitra.
Happy to receive a nice feedback from you. Thanks. -rgs

 

Thanks for your feedback Akila. You have nicely pointed out what I was trying to highlight. -rgs