The Brave Ride

Neeti was a dear child. Soft spoken, kind and sincere. Also, a little timid. Not that she got bullied easily but she avoided the bossy types. She was never comfortable around new people, in new places and situations. Her parents prepared her time and again on how to face them but they never pressed it. "She's just a seven year old kid. Time will groom her gradually. Besides, some learnings happen on their own." They used to say this to any unasked comments that came from neighbours and relatives.

"Neeti seems to be a little under confident. She looks intimidated by strangers."

"Oh dear, my kids are never this shy. They mingle with anyone instantly."

"Your daughter tops her class as I hear. But she needs to be street smart too."

They knew all of this was true. A little boldness could help Neeti a long way. But they let her take her time.

It was the last school day of the week. Mummy had told Mansukh, the cycle rickshawala who took her daughters, Neeti and Drishti to school and back, that Neeti had a half day. He should pick her up at twelve noon. Primary children were given those wonderful half days with just four periods when high school counterparts had their exam. Pre primary kids were given holidays. On normal days, the two girls were accompanied by two other of their older schoolmates in the rickshaw.

Drishti teased Neeti, "I will play to my heart's content today while you are in school!"

Neeti did not always mind little sister pulling her leg. But at times she did not let her have the last laugh. "You carry on. I will sit alone comfortably in Mansukh Uncle's rickshaw while returning. Priti Didi and Shweta Didi have their exam. I am so going to enjoy the ride back home today."

The cycle rickshaws in the city were safe but did not have enough room for four kids to sit without a little discomfort. So the return trip was definitely something that Neeti was looking forward to that day.

School was over soon. Mansukh Uncle waited outside the school across the main road everyday. Kishen Bhaiya, the peon, used to help all the children whose cycle and auto rickshaws waited there to cross it. Neeti happily went with him thinking of the extra hour of cartoons she would get to watch today. But she could not find Mansukh Uncle or his rickshaw at the usual spot under a tamarind tree.

"He must be on his way. He always comes." She kept repeating to herself while watching the sparse crowd of her schoolmates head for home. But he didn't.

It had been almost an hour of waiting. "Did he forget that only Priti Didi and Shweta Didi's school will be over at 3 today? Mummy had already asked him to pick me early. Why didn't he? Pa is going to give him a nice scolding. Perhaps even not pay him Diwali bonus this year" Neeti grumbled alone and didn't know that her face showed a deep frown. Worse still, Kishen Bhaiya was nowhere to be seen. He was busy supervising the renovation work in school.

Mummy always kept a few coins and some change in her bag. In case she ever needed to call Pa's office for emergencies from the general store adjoining her school. The telephone connection for their house was still on a waiting list. She reached for the small purse in her school bag. Alas! She had forgot to keep it back last evening after playing 'ghar ghar' with Drishti. She had never been to the general store before, unlike her other schoolmates. 

The shop housed many flavours of Pepsi. Not the drink, the coloured and flavoured ice sticks in plastic pouches. Girls used to rush there after school hours to buy these goodies. Neeti did not like them much so never had the need to visit the store. She was unsure if the shopkeeper would let her make a free call. In reality, the little girl was too proud to ask for credit! Finally, unable to control her anger at Mansukh Uncle and fear about how was she going to get home, Neeti broke into tears.

Mummy had instructed her last week that if there is ever a situation when Mansukh Uncle does not come and even Pa is out of station on his tour then she should take a rickshaw herself. "Tell him your address confidently and be alert while showing him the way. It's a straight way anyhow so don't be scared."

Neeti really didn't want to do it. She was not ready. She had never done it before. Approaching a stranger rickshawala and riding all alone! Then there was also negotiating to be done on how much would he charge for the ride. It seemed like mountain of a task. She felt sick. There was an option to go back to school premises so that the staff could help her. She took a step towards the school entrance but then something made her change mind.

Back home, Mummy had already taken fifteen rounds to the balcony to see if Neeti's rickshaw was coming. By now she was sure that something was wrong. She asked Drishti to put away her doll and accompany her to school to bring Neeti home.

"Let's get Didi. My poor child must be sobbing by now."

Just as Mummy was locking the door, she heard Drishti exclaiming,"Didi, we were coming to pick you up."

Neeti came running to Mummy and hugged her tight. Mummy could sense from the way her daughter held her that she was not at all in a frightened state. Instead, she could sense a feeling of achievement in her.

"What happened beta? Why are you so late?" Mummy was now more curious rather than worried.

Neeti was already very eager to narrate. She started right away, ready to complete her detailing in a single breath. "Mummy, Mansukh Uncle did not come. And I left the money you gave me at home. I was so nervous about getting back home. Then I saw a rickshawala coming. I think he was already coming towards me. I was so afraid to get on an unknown rickshaw on my own. But I mustered up courage and shouted to call him like you do, 'Rickshaw!'"

Mummy was horrified. Her little girl all alone with a stranger! How badly she wanted to thrash Mansukh then and there! A hundred terrible things could have happened to her darling. Things she did not dare even think about. But then she recalled the instructions that she gave to Neeti herself. Mummy calmed herself down and kept listening to Neeti. "I told him our complete address and asked how much would he charge. He seemed to be a nice fellow Mummy. He asked me to pay whatever I felt like. I was scared all the way. But I did not cry at all. I also directed him correctly into the turning towards our lane. Since I was not carrying any money, I asked him to wait downstairs so I could get the twenty rupees from home".

Mummy was all ears with a growing smile on her face by now. She felt a sense of pride. Neeti continued, "I know that you always pay that much for a ride from school. But Mummy can we pay him five rupees more? That rickshawala was really nice to me." All this while, Drishṭi was listening to her sister in awe. It felt like Neeti Didi's achievement to her. Mummy never let Drishṭi walk alone to her friends place in the next building. So her sister coming home from school all alone with an unknown rickshawala was something she was going to boast about to her friends. Neeti Didi's brave ride!

Mummy giggled. It came from her relief and also her child's kind hearted innocence. "Sure beta. Lets go down and pay him." She also wanted to thank him for bringing her little girl safely home.

While walking down, Neeti said in a tone that she intentionally made sound mature. "From now on, you don't have to bother Pa when Mansukh Uncle does not show up. I can go alone and take Drishṭi with me too!" There was a rush of confidence on her face. She felt as if she had grown up suddenly. Mummy felt the same. She was elated that her daughter came out of her shell today. She and her husband were not going to be around forever, even if they wanted to, for their princesses. She was at least assured that Neeti had treaded towards self dependence that day, although with a very tiny step.

As she saw the rickshawala waiting at the gate, she prayed, "God, whenever my girls find themselves in estranged situations, please send your angels to guide them. Just like the one standing here right now....".

Post cover photo courtesy : Marwan Ahmed on Unsplash