Aasha/Hope

By: Aasaya

I went out to Gurgaon to meet my cousins. I had taken bread, water and masks along with me just in case I saw someone who might need it. As I was nearing their society, I saw these kids, no more than 12 years of age, begging for food, water and money. No matter how hard they tried , they always ended up being shooed away. I could not handle it. It was wrong and unfair. I put bread and water bottles and masks on the footpath and asked them to come one by one to take it. At first, they were all a little confused but when they saw the bread and water, they could not help but smile. I was smiling too. I told them about the coronavirus, and how it will affect them and what they should do. I told them that no matter how dire the situation looks, there will always be someone who cares about them. I taught them how to use the masks and told them to keep washing it with water, if not with soap. They listened, and they understood. That changed the way I looked at them. I now feel that because they've been through worse situations than any of us reading this on our phones or laptops or iPads, they have learned to appreciate the little things life gives them. The fact that these children went through such terrible days while we stayed oblivious to these happenings, it disgusts me. It's something I will never be able to forgive myself for. They don't deserve it, they deserve to live a life that gives them a roof over their heads, three square meals a day and water and clothes whenever they need it. We are all always ungrateful for what we have. We don't appreciate the little things in our lives, like the fact that we have parents who love us and would sacrifice anything for us or maybe the fact that even though we don't have the latest model of an iPhone or the latest branded clothes or sneakers, we at least have a place we can call home.

I was asked to click photos of anyone I distributed the masks to, as a part of our promotional campaign to raise awareness and show that we are making a difference in somebody’s life, but I couldn't get myself to do it. Not with these kids. Why, you ask? Because if you were there at that moment, you would have seen how inhumane it was to ask them to click a photo when they were jumping with such joy. I feel like a hypocrite writing about this too, but I need you all to go out once or even help us out and see the smiles on their faces, the hope shining through their eyes, at least once. You will understand how I feel every time I go out. They waved me goodbye and that was it, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I cried but I didn't let them see it. Before leaving I told them I will have to go but someone will always be there to help them and I told them not to lose hope because after all, isn't hope the strongest weapon in the world?

Help us help them, please, we beg of you.