The first time I opened my eyes, I saw a palace, that had made place for a mammoth sized cradle , that I was lying in.I listened to the hum of traffic outside and smelt burnt charcoal. My mother,the queen of the palace was busy feeding my older sister while there was food cooking somewhere nearby. And there were people all around, busying themselves to cater to my needs. I believed, life had been generous to me.
The years went by and I grew up to be pretty. My sister and my mother would dote on me all the time. Everything else felt the same,apart from the house that tended to get less and less accommodating for the members of our family .My sister and me waited to go to school. But somehow the wait kept stretching to tumble on a new year everytime. I grew out of my clothes ,which would take a while to get replaced. Sometimes,I would even sleep empty stomach at night and I’d wondered how had everything changed for the worse over time .
My palace,as it happens, is the slum of Jogeswari ,where I stay with my sister and mother.My father had left us for some unknown reason, and to keep our livelihood, my mother sweeps roads and clears dustbins. I have given up the wait ,of going to a school. I am more concerned for our daily bread and butter and I don’t mind begging for it at times.My sister and me wear some old clothes,my mother gets from work and we are always jubilient whenever she does.
I look at the cars whooshing by and rich men and women in pretty clothes and jewellery.I have stopped pondering much over it.Life is different for different people,my mother says. We make a happy family in our own way.This is a tale of us,the two princesses of a world, a bit different than yours.
(This wonderful piece has been written by my friend Urmi. When I saw this photo, taken a while back, this certain thought of two princesses came to my mind spontaneously. She took it over from me and created this palace of thought with her vivid and thought provoking imagination. The result is just what you read.
Have a good day my friend and do not forget to thank all mighty for whatever you have today)
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