Ela Didi

The train halted with a thud. Shaken out of her thoughts Sheila looked out of the window at the busy platform of Old Delhi Railway station. It was a familiar sight. She had been to Delhi a million times before. Everytime she would excitedly get off the train to be greeted by Ela didi, her sister. This time it would be different, there would be no Ela di to embrace her when she needed it the most. The thought brought a tear in her eye. Conscious of the fellow passengers she hurriedly wiped it dry, collected her bags and got off the train.

There was no one to receive her. Probably Gupta ji must be late! A coolie asked, “mem saab samaan le jana hai?” “Nahi, mujhe lene koi a rha hai!” saying this she took her bags and searched for a place to sit. Even with a thousand people rushing past her at that moment she suddenly felt completely alone, her heart sank and she almost choked in another attempt to prevent herself from breaking down. She found an empty bench and sat down. Nostalgia overcame her.

She longed for Ela di’s motherly hug which she knew she could never get again. Ela di has passed away in a road accident just 10 days ago and here Sheila was to complete an important mission left for her by her elder sister.

Ela di had always been a fighter. Even after the strongest of protests from mom and dad she had chosen Siddharth jiju, an army officer as her life partner. They were quite happy to find an equally braveheart spouse and lived their time together to the fullest. Till one day, both the family’s worst fears came true; Siddharth died as a martyr in an encounter with the Pakistani army trying to intrude into Indian territory. The way Ela di had collected the pieces of her life after the shattering news was exemplary.

Instead of immersing herself into lifelong grief she moved onto a noble cause. She started teaching kids from the nearby slum. Everyday the kids would collect at her place to intently study from their favourite teacher. Occasionally she would treat them with home made cakes, halwa, sweets and whatever she had ever wished to give to her own children. She had appointed Gupta ji to keep track of stationary and other supplies for the students, to pick them up and drop them back. This was her mini school… this was her family.

Many times when Sheila visited her she had asked her to bring the special rabri ladoos Jodhpur was known for. And then she would lovingly gaze at her students relishing the treat. So many times Sheila would act as guest faculty and enjoy an arts and crafts session with the kids. Those were the most colourful moments for Ela. Sheila too looked forward to these moments, to see her sister smiling, at peace.

But right now she fretted even facing the students. How would she explain to the students that their favourite teacher was no more when even she hadn’t been able to come to terms with the fact. It sent a chill down her spine.

“Chai Chai Chai…” Again shaken out of her thoughts, she decided to buy herself tea and called our at a chai-walla, “bhaiya ek chai dena”

“Chai Chai Chai… ji madam do rupiya”

“Yeh lo bhaiya” she saw a male hand offering the money to the chai wala. It was Gupta ji. Then turning he briefly smiled and said, “Sorry Didi ji thoda late ho gaya! Subah subah itna traffic mil gaya… chaliye” continuing his talk he picked up the bags and started walking. Sheila followed, walking slower and sipping at her tea. It was a bit too sweet but thankfully soothing.

They had hired an auto. For almost half an hour both didn’t speak a word. Then Gupta ji decided to break the tormenting silence, “Ela didi ji hamari bhi badi behan thi… abhi umar hi kyat hi unki? Hamesha sabko khush dekhna chahti thi. Itna pyaar aur samman to kisi se nhi mila. Par mujhe poora vishwas hai ki aap bhi unhi ki tarah bade dil ki hain… bacche apko dekh kar bahut khush honge… unhe sach batana mushkil hoga par uparwala sab theek kar dega.” His eyes welled up saying this. Sheila didn’t know whether to reassure him with a smile, cry or stay silent. She decided to remain silent.

The auto rickshaw turned round the colony and Sheila spotted the board Asha School. Didi had named the school after her mom. As Gupta ji paid the auto wala, Sheila walked into the garden her didi had so fondly nurtured with the most beautiful flowers and plants. ‘Click’. Gupta ji had unlocked and opened the door. Sheila walked in and studied every article of the living room intently.

“Didi ji, Ab main chalunga… apka samaan Ela didi ji ke room mein rakh diya hai. Freeze mein pani, dudh, sabziyan sab hain… Laxmi bai thodi der mein ati hogi wo chai aur khana bana degi… safai kar degi… Aj mein bacchon ko nhi launga… ap aram kr lijiye!”

Normally Sheila used to giggle when Gupta ji called the refrigerator as “Freeze”. Today shecouldn’t bring her selfto even smile at him.

“Nahi Gupta ji aap bacchon ko le aiyeda… 3 baje hai na?? main baki sambhal lungi. Ap jaiye!”

“Didiji”

“Haanji?”

“Aap pareshan mat hona… hum mil kar bachon ko mana lenge… bacche apko bhi utna hi pyar karte hain jitna wo didi ji se karte the!”

“Thank you Gupta ji!” She really hoped what he said was true. Only if it could be as easy to tell the kids!

She locked the main door and walked into her didi’s room. Sitting down on the bed she saw the framed picture of jiju and didi together in their happy times and then a photo of didi and Sheila together. The other side of the bed which belonged to didi was empty today. This was the last straw… she let her exhausted body fall down on the bed. The flood of tears that had been controlled from Jodhpur to here broke out. She couldn’t face the children. She couldn’t face anybody. Why couldn’t didi be here! She wanted to hug her right now! She felt so helpless… so weak… so alone.

It was around one in the noon that Sheila woke up with the knock on the door. Had she slept so long? Coming back to senses to went to open the door. It was Lakshmi bai.

“Namaste jiji… kaisi hain ap… badi jiji ka sun ke bahut dukh hua. Ab kya kahun. Lagta hain ap kafi thaki hui thi maine apki jaldi to nahi utha diya?”

Sheila rubbed her eyes “Nahi Lakshmi… main theek hun! Pata hi nahi chala kab ankh lag gayi”

“Chaliye maine khana bana diya hai… ap naha ke a jayen to main paros dun”

“Haan theek hai”

Laxmi bai left the room. Sheila took out a simple white kurti and jeans from her bag and went off to have a bath. The lunch prepared by Laxmi was quite simple but fulfilling. Sheila ate almost three chappatis… double than what she ate regularly. She remembered the only thing she had taken was the cup of tea at the station. The food seemed to have satisfied her empty heart more than her empty stomach. She thanked Laxmi and went off to the outhouse… the premises for Asha School. She sat there in her didi’s seat pondering on how she would talk to the students. How would she tell them that they would never be able to see didi, their favorite teacher again. Would they accept her in place of didi? What if they refuse to come back to school? Would she ever be able to complete her didi’s mission to create educated and financially independent citizens out of these children?

Not finding an answer she started collecting materials for art and craft. Didi always kept them neatly arranged in the almirah. She brought the materials and students’ drawing books back to the table where she was sitting.

One by one she scanned the drawing books smiling at the drawings and the encouraging remarks didi had given with her signature.., an occasional smiley, an icecream, five stars, three stars, toffees etc. And the time just flew by.

“May I come in ma’am!”

Sheila was now to face her fear now which only increased as more and more students walked into the small classroom and occupied their seats. Once there they greeted her in unison… “Good Afternoon Madam”. Gupta ji had probably told the student that Sheila ma’am would be taking the class today. Overjoyed to meet their art teacher each student had brought a small gift for her. One by one the students gave her a flower, or a drawing, or a sweet their mother had made at home. They eagerly looked forward to the class. Touched by the warm welcome she wished she had brought something nice for the students. But right now all she had was the biter news that would break their hearts.

Before she could say something, Poonam, the sweetheart of the class asked, “Sheila ma’am, meri maa mujhe bata rahi thi ke Ela madamji Bhagwan ji ke paas chali gayi hain. Bhagwan ji ke ghar pe bahut sare bacche hain aur kyunki Ela ma’am yahan par sabse acchi teacher thi Bhagwan ji ne unhe un bacchon ko padhane bula liya. Wo bacchon ko padha kar wapis a jayengi na hamare paas”

How Sheila wished she could say yes.

“Poonam idhar ana!” She hugged the child. Then she said “ nahi Poonam Bhagwan ji ne Ela ma’am ko apne paas rakh liya hai. Par Ela ma’am apne bacchon se itna pyaar karti hain wo umhe aise akela chod sakti hai??”

The kids agreed in unison “ Nahin , Ela ma’am hame kabhi akela nahi chodti thi!”

“Isiliye unhone mujhe bola ke main tumhe ake padha dun. Batao tum mujh se padhoge na”

“Haan, ap bhi to itni achi ho! Bilkul Ela ma’am jaisi” the students joyously said

“Main aise thodi na manungi. Jo jo bacha mujhse padhna chahta hai wo idhar akar mujhe ek badi si jhappi dega!”

“jadoo ki jhappi!” said another kid and they all rushed to take Sheila into their embrace. For a moment she felt didi embracing. Each kid was filled with the love didi had showered over them. Didi’s love that she must have reserved for this very moment to reassure her of her elder sister’s presence near her in the students, in this classroom, in this abode of hers.

Ela didi had not gone anywhere… she was right there and will always be there with them to complete her mission. Maybe she had gifted each student with her determination and compassion to become a better citizen some day.

And so started the art class for the day! Each student made a drawing of Ela di and scrawled some words below asking Ela didi to “come back soon”. And Ela di… she was right there smiling away at her students seeing them put their love into the sheets and those colourful moments of togetherness had come alive again.