A VISIT WITH ELENA: AN EXPERIENCE OF LIFE
“Hey! Elena”, I called her and she turned and looked at me. “hey, you are here? I am seeing you after such a long time. ” she hugged and gave a peck on my cheeks. I saw that she is so unchanged even after three years of our last meet in Shimla. And I was surprised to find her here in Rajasthan, in summer days, while because of sensitive skin, she used to be so bothered by the scorching temperature that she would stay only in Shimla and would never go anywhere else.
We went for coffee and talked for long hours about family, friends, education and ofcourse, Shimla. I had come from Shimla three years ago and was studying here in Rajasthan and was planning to go somewhere with my friends in this summer vacations. Elena also had same plan so we both planned to choose a common destination – Mumbai.
So next day we both boarded the flight to Mumbai. The weather was humid and I was expecting that the pretty lady will become irritated but to my surprise, nothing of that sort happened. Instead, we rushed towards an office of a welfare society and just after spending one hour there she advised me to follow her on this visit. She narrated me during the way of Mumbai that I should not expect a funny visit and should be prepared for a hard life experience. She had already told me that this will be my visit to life.
Oh! What is this?” I told her, as a first reaction, when I saw children playing with garbage. She smiled at me and asked me not to be shocked and asked me to take out my diary and write down my experiences. She suggested me to click photographs as well.
This was Dhaaravi, Asia’s biggest slum, that I had earlier seen only in Slumdog Millionaire. I could now see for real, hundreds of children dressed in dirty and tattered clothes playing with garbage, polythene bags etc. I got to know that very few of them go to schools. Elena gave them chocolates and books. They became very happy. Elena went inside a tent (she had also asked me to come along to see the house of Jaish, a boy who was studying in class 7th and whose parents were sick but were unable to get treatment). Elena introduced me to Jaish (Jaish and his parents already knew Elena) and then called someone on mobile. She then informed them that a doctor is coming to take you to the hospital and all the expenses will be paid by a generous group of people. She then moved towards other houses. She also went to a house, distributed them radio to listen music. I was shaken when I saw this huge gap between their lifestyle and mine.
On my way back to our guest house, I discussed all this with Elena. She listened to me patiently as I narrated my shock on realizing this hard truth. She, in turn, shared her experiences. We talked about the possible ways to help them. I realized that I had become very interested in these people. Elena had unknowingly changed my world. “Hello Doctor! you still look so fresh and beautiful”, a smartly dressed man opened the door of our car and greeted Elena. “Yes, dear Alen, Thanks for your advice. Lakme sun expert is really awesome and it makes me so carefree to roam here and there without any worry because of my sensitive skin.” She laughed and then introduced me to her fiancé. He was a medical practitioner in Mumbai and was associated with a welfare society. Elena , who was my coaching teacher for biology in Shimla three years ago while she was herself a student of MBBS there, had once came to Mumbai on a research on slums, and had fell in love with Alen, the doctor. Then she had got selected for her Post graduation (MD) in an institute in Rajasthan. But She was also helping Alen, to serve the society and thus had started taking care of slum people.
Elena was used to be one of my most favorite teacher. She was a true hearted woman. She was pretty and caring. She was very hard working. But she also had other passions. She was a fun-loving girl and loved travelling. She also loved listening to music. I had always thought how she managed it all. But now I am more fascinated by her as she is managing her studies, working with Alen, is in a relationship, lives her passions and still manages to look pretty and fresh.
Elena, sorry Doctor Elena, is my friend, my teacher and more than that my guiding force now. By this visit with Elena, while I am also waiting for my Xth class result, I aspire to become like Elena, a person who can work for these people, for abolition of this inequality and injustice and to help them in getting proper facilities for a dignified life.
Now, when I am writing this experience, I am also getting late because my teacher Elena is waiting for me for a walk on a beach. We have a plan to sit there till night, to see twinkling stars, listening music and to experience peaceful atmosphere.
Tomorrow, I and Elena will be again in Rajasthan. She promised me to visit me every month with books and chocolates. But I requested her to give me opportunity where I can get friends like Jaish. I told her that I would like to give some of my books to Jaish in my next visit.
Thanks Elena for making my vacations so fruitful, your company gave me a new thought and experience of life. Truly, it was like visit of Life. Elena promised me to take me on a tour to other places where we will get the real joy of helping others by understanding their needs, to give our contribution and to share love and joy with those people. I decided to spend all my summer vacations like this.
Thanks teacher
Written for Indiblogger link : http://www.facebook.com/ilovelakme
