The Little One

The Little One

1

Because it was well known

that I had no children,

I was always embarrassed

-although I love her,

to call her my daughter.

Because for one thing-

she was not, and for another-

though discarded and in disuse,

she had a father,

whose name she carried.

Until, one day,

a friend speaking to another,

smoothly introduced her

as my daughter

and I,

was surprised,

when the other

did not object

or think it irregular!

2

When my wife,

I and she,

had all given him

our names-

to fill a form,

the clerk in the college office,

looked embarrassed-

but did not ask,

how we could make a family?

To comfort him,

I said briefly,

“We are a modern Indian family.”

3

“Don’t leave him any money”,

said the jealous relative

to my mother.

“He will pass it on that girl,

She is not even our caste!”

And my mother,

though old, clear headed,

said,

“Mind your own business”.

Later, in a pensive mood,

my mother,

when we were alone said,

“Do what you will,

with my money.

But educate her first,

till she can study no more.

She is after all-

a girl child and

will bring you much credit”.

4

“How can he be your uncle?”,

Asked her nosy teacher,

“Your name is different from his’.”

She, then only eight years old,

stood in silence

and did not reply.

Years later,

when asked the same question,

with a twinkling eye,

she replied,

“Many years ago,

when I came here from Kolkata,

I found him in my neighbourhood

-lonely, sad

(and also probably hungry).

So I adopted him

as my Uncle.