Children were to be seen everywhere as she looked out the window of her little home. They played on the rough ground and vacant plots, in the open spaces where garbage was strewn. The parked rickshaws and vending carts all served as play props in the streets. Small children could be seen outdoors walking around barefoot, climbing on debris and petting goats and cows that freely roamed around. Girls carrying infants and toddlers on their hip and moving around freely in the narrow lanes.
Muskan watches with a heart full of longing but with a mind firmly grounded. She longs to be a child, to play on those same streets, to run around, laugh and enjoy some time with friends. But she has rules to follow and one of them is that she can go out to play only once her mother returns home. That is usually by 6.00 pm. By then all the other children have gone back to their homes.
Recreation isn’t something that she has the freedom to enjoy. It’s all work and no play for this 7th standard girl from YuvaLok School. Time has calmed that longing in her heart and now she shows no disappointment. She wants to live up to her mother’s dreams and become a successful professional.
Muskan is no stranger to tragedy. When she was just 6 years old, she lost her father. Her mother had the burden of raising her 3 children on her own. No family to help. She tried hard to earn a living by taking up different jobs and varying times but the ones who suffered were her children and she couldn’t bear to see that.
Then one day Muskan’s grandmother from Andhra Pradesh who was a widow came forward to support her daughter by promising to take care of the grandchildren. She moved to Bangalore as soon as she could and this gave Muskan’s mother the opportunity t get a job at a garment factory. She was earning a small salary and found it very difficult to make ends meet. The grandmother too decided to work making Muskan to take care of the siblings. She got a housekeeping job at YuvaLok School and at that time approached the school authorities to give admission to her 3 grandchildren.
Muskan remembers her first day at school, “I was scared and really not sure what to expect. For me the fear was that the other students will make fun of me. But at the same time I was really happy and excited, looking forward to going to school. They even gave me a school bag with my new text books and notes books along with my new uniform. And it was free!”
Looking back these past 5 years Muskan says, “If not for YuvaLok School and the love the teachers show me, I would have been working somewhere or been on the streets. This is my second home and I love my teachers and friends. They support me and encourage me both in class and on the playing field.”
She enjoys her afternoon lunch sitting along with her friends and having a hot nutritious meal. She is not too happy with the morning porridge but says she has it only because it is nutritious and it keeps her stomach full till lunch time.
Interestingly, Muskan’s mother has decided not to remarry because she has committed her life for the cause of her children. She wants to see them well educated and successful in life. Even though they live in a very small house and have the bare essentials to get them through each day, the family is content.
“God will bless us and life will get better for my family,” says Muskan as she expresses her gratitude to her mother for her sacrifice in life to see the 3 siblings educated and successful. “My inspiration is my mother and she has taught me patience, honesty and loyalty, this I know along with my hard work will take me to great heights.”