A Small Offering of the Book that is soon to be published......!!

Writer: Sandeep Annepu
Editor: Poonam Rodrigues



Tulsiram was a College lecturer in the city of Hyderabad. He taught Physics as well as Life sciences;But he also believed in imparting the knowledge of life skills to the students whom he taught and they were from all walks of life in a reputed college in Hyderabad. Every evening he would spend time with them or go about to look at a new place or some new function or event that was occuring in the city. This always used to refresh him and he was also a very religious man. He used to look forward to his days at the college and his evening visits also would greatly refresh and renew him to face the stress at the college.

Tulsiram came back to his home after a long day at work, he was tired and decided to rest a little and then go and see a Carnival happening in the Public Gardens in the city. He left for the carnival at about 6:30 from his place and then reached the place at 7:00 pm. The place was Jam packed and was teaming with people. He did not mind the crowds, but today was a bit tired as he had a busy and hectic day. He decided to look around for some time till the crowd thined out.

There at the carnival; he saw a small girl about 8-9 years old stealing a hand bag; but she ran away before anyone could see her and before he could catch her also. After some time he saw her again but only this time returning the bag to the owner saying that she got the bag some where else and got herself rewarded generously for her honesty. He saw every thing that she had done. She would steal and then again return the same item to the owner.

He went up to the girl and inquired of her. Why did you do this? She replied, "For….money?, what else” But what is the need of doing such a thing at all; said Tulsiram. She looked at him earnestly as if trying to see why he wanted to know the Truth; she then looked down and then took his hand and said with a smile, “I will tell you; come with me.” and took him near the giant-wheel. She asked him; “Why do people get onto this?” He replied; “For pleasure.” She then said; “But people are always shouting and seem very scared, Yes….but after they get down, they feel the pleasure of going in it.”

She smiled and then continued; “Right, so when I stole the bag from the people, they felt very sad and were also frightened and also thought that they would never be able to see their beloved things again. Afterwards when they again got back their item; they felt very happy and were overjoyed to see that their beloved items were not stolen at all and they were left untouched. I just charged them for providing that fear as well as their happiness which knows no bounds at all.” Tulsiram was shocked and stunned for a moment to see and also hear the deep underlying but simple philosophy that was inspired by the giant cartwheel and which was used by the girl to live her dailly life.

Then she took him to the back area of a shop. There was an old lady who was sleeping on the ground. She looked at him and then turned towards her and with small rounded pearl like tears forming in her eyes; said “I don’t know who I am; but this lady who now sleeps here fed me and took care of me like her own daughter. She gave me nothing more or less, she didn't send me to school like some of the other children who went to school but yet taught me the importanceof living and valuable lessons in life that are needed to become a good individual. When I was a child she used me for begging along with her at bus stops, traffic signals etc. Now that she has become too old to even beg or do anything at all, I have decided to take care of her as she is my responsibility now. She is like my mother and grand mother, and I know that I can do anything for her as my debt towards her. She said the last part with a proud and defiant look in her small eyes which were now ready to drop the two pearl shaped tears which had become bigger than the girl's eyes."

Tulsiram then took the girl 's hand in his and said " I will also help you in looking after your mother who is very old now but promise me to come away with me when she dies so that I can give you a good home and also a good education so that all the values that she has given you may truly flourish and not wither away as stories told by her to a small road side urchin girl, whom she believed would have a great future." The girl could not believe her ears and stared bewildered at him unable to say anything at all................ He smiled and nodded to her, and then asked her name; she mentioned it as Kamala and she also nodded and smiled back with fat tears of joy running down her face. When Tulsiram got up, she waved to him and after he went a few paces and again turned back to see her....than she rushed up to him and he sat down to hug her. After some time she asked him if he was really telling her the truth and Tulsiram said "Yes"...................... He said that he would never ever forget the promise that he made with her. He gave her his phone number and told her to phone him when ever she wanted to talk or when ever she would feel lonely ...........................................................................................................
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After a month, since they met they kept talking on the phone and their friendship continued.
One day, she called him up to tell that the old lady after eating her lunch was having high fever and she was not getting up even though she called out her name. Tulsiram felt that the old lady's time had come near and addmitted her in hospital, the doctors said that they would keep her under supervision and it would be useless to keep the young child at the hospital as she could do nothing and would only get frightened by all the medical equipments and procedures being carried out there. Tulsiram understood and told the same to the little child and she gladly said that she would go along with him and said that she would come to meet the old lady every day during the mornings to which he agreed and took her home.

Kamala would go and visit the old lady everyday at the hospital and Tulsiram would always join her there after his college and take some snacks and later on eat dinner together in the hospital itself. The doctors had almost given up on her but the old lady improved and she also started to believe that Tulsiram was the right person who could take care of her daughter after she left this world as she could now die in peace as she used to worry herself to death about the well being of this child left by a young couple who had deserted this young girl near a traffic signal as she had been born out of wedlock. The old lady then believed that this child was the Golden Oppurtunity that God was giving to her as a fresh lease on life as she had decided to end her life because of the tough situations she had faced earlier. She had prayed to God that he would have to show her a strong sign in order for him to intervene to save her. This was at a time when she had been thrown out of her own house by her relatives.

Tulsiram wanted very much that Kamala would join a school so that her future would improve but she would refuse to leave her mother' side who though had improved yet was very weak and frail. She knew that her end was near and she also sensed it and so told Kamala to join a school as Tulsiram wanted her to and also told her to do very well and make her proud though she would never live to see her through. Kamala understood what the old lady meant and started to cry but the old lady told her that she must not cry as everyone who is born on the Earthmust die one day at least and it is only natural that she should go to God. She also said that though Kamala might not be able to see her yet she must know that some where she would be watching her as a star.......and after death, they would all meet again another day in heaven. With these words, she guestured to Tulsiram to not delay anymore but to take her to the school and get her admission done right away. Tulsiram took Kamala immediately to a good Convent school and joined her there. She had to go there after a week but did not want to leave her Mother's side.

That night as she and Tulsiram bade her old mother farewell, she some how knew that she would not meet her again and so clung a little while longer than usual. Tulsiram also understood the girl's fright and went outside to wait.The old lady was wise as she also knew that perhaps this would be the last time that she would see her daughter and so she also hld her more closely and longer than usual.
Both of them were crying uncontrollably and as silently as they could as they clung to each other tenderly and as firmly as possible as if clinging to each other for dear life...............................................................................................................................................................................................
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Hours passed by as if there were just minutes and soon the visiting time was over.....!! The nurse said that it was finally time to leave.

Tulsiram came to take Kamala away and took her slowly but firmly. Kamala understood and came along with him.. but not before hugging her Mother and Grand mother who was now quite peaceful and advised her to be a good girl and above all a person of Truth, Morals and Good Values and never compromise on these aspects. She then looked at the kind man, who had decided to give shelter to Kamala after her and whom she now regarded as her son. She also held him close and Blessed him with all her heart and told Kamala to always listen to Tulsiram as he was the only one to look after Kamala very well after herself and never to leave his side just as she had been beside her.She bade both of them; She waved a happy and cheerful goodbye to both Kamala and Tulsiram. She knew that she was finally ready to go and now had no fear of death as she had found a person who would look after her daughter. She knew that she had dispensed the duty that God had given to her a few years ago. She similed as she fell asleep and prayed to God that she was ready to come into his arms in peace.
That Night, the old lady passed away in her sleep very peacefully. She was very old at the age of 95.

Kamala was a bright girl and she was sad at the old lady's demise but also happy that Tulsiram was a kind man who decided to look after her and he also had a beautiful wife who looked after her very well. She treated her as if she were her own child. She also started going to the convent school everyday in the city. She was the topper in the school in all classes and Tulsiram and his wife were always happy about it. They took care of her very well along with their own children as well. She was considered as the eldest of all the children and was treated very well. She was bright, intelligent, outspoken and a bit adamant at times when she would make up her mind on a few things then she would not listen to the others. She was quite popular but would not make any real friends as she felt that there was no one who would like her for herself. She would not forget her past as she felt that it was the main thing that seperated her from the rest of the school who had easy lives and did not know the real hardships that she had faced as a little girl. When ever she would try to tell anyone or even share them witha few people whom she called as her friends, then they would call her all wierd names and go away telling that she had become loony. She would then go in to a shell of her own and be serious and a little drawn away from the others and be a little reticent . During such times, her family would come to her rescue and would try to cheer her up and then she would go back to being her normal cheerful self.
The tender years of school were soon over. Tulsiram and his wife felt that it was only yesterday that he had found her in that carnival so many years earlier..... and felt that how Time had flown and it had now healed her and made her more better as a person for she had grown up to be a very beautiful girl with a high sense of morals and character. They wanted all their children to be like Kamala and so kept telling them to model after their elder sister. They were very proud of her.

Kamala joined her graduation.
With in few days of her graduation she was attracted by a young man, Raju doing graduation in the same collage. He was a student leader and very active participant in the student welfare activities. Her ideas and principles mach with his. Very soon they became friends and friendship turned into love. From then she also started participating the activities along with him.

After they were graduated they got married with Tulasiram’s permission. They started a school with the help of Tulasiram. One day an old friend of theirs came to them. He told them “you know the recent government policy which is against to the poor students. The present student leader of our collage is fighting against it. But an arrest warrant is issued against him and without him the moment would not continue. So, you have to hide him in your house for some time.” They accepted for that.

On the same night he bought the leader to their house. He was little older to be a student. But they never got doubt They treat him very good for 1 month. Then one day in the night they got a phone call saying that the police came to know about the leader. Then the leader stated packing his things to run away but by that time police has surrounded their house.

Raju was surprised to see that many police to catch an ordinary student leader. The leader ran away from the back door. Then Raju went to the police to inform them that he is not there. By the time he opened the mouth the police shot him thinking that he is the culprit.

After his death she couldn’t run the school alone. She joined a missionary school as a teacher. She became the headmistress within a short time. The school has got a very good name. there was a huge competition for the admission into the school as the fee was very less and the quality of education is very high.

Many rich people tried to bribe her but she never accepted them. One day two people visited her. They told her to give them 30 seats in the school and they were ready to pay for that. But she rejected. They threatened her. She told them she would not grant them even if they kill her. The next day a man about 50 years entered her office. She recognized him – he is the student leader whom her husband saved by giving his life.

Even he recognized her. He started “I was afraid thinking that it was some one else, now it is easy for me to get the seats.” “So it was you who sent the people for seats,” said shockingly. ‘yes, your school has become so popular that people are ready to pay thousands of rupees for a seat. I want them to sell to those people. But don’t worry you would get your commission.” Her face became red, tears started coming out of her eyes.

“I am not the student leader as you thought. I was issued arrest warrant that time because I used to smuggling. Your friend who asked you to keep me in your hose is my partner. But I your husband was really great, he died to save me.
Now I have become one of the richest in the country. Don’t worry I am ready to pay for your husband’s sacrifice also.

” Ah! Thank god, first I felt very bad thinking that a student leader for whom my husband sacrificed his life has become like this. But now I am happy you are not changed, you are a cheat then and also now. He was shocked listening this. He went away from there.

After a month a lawyer came to her and said that a rich man has donated all his money to the missionary and died. Later she came to know that the rich man was the man who came to her for the seats.