Laxmi

I met Laxmi Yesterday. While speaking with her many times I felt she’s trying to hide her tears and I found myself doing the same.

Laxmi was always one of the smartest kids from the ‘Outreach program’, started by my previous office for school going kids from the slums.
My maid is Laxmi’s neighbour so never lost touch with her though the Outreach program closed.
One day I heard a while ago that she’s stopped going to school.
That was the thing I always feared of. She was so smart, if she continues studies, she may do well, be independent. I called her home advised her not to leave school…and she too was willing to join back…though it was more in her parents hands. But the next this I heard was that she is sent for work as domestic help. Her parents want her to earn.
In this job Laxmi had to take care of 2 kids [girls almost her age!] Before Laxmi’s elder sister was doing the job for about 2 years and now they needed Laxmi too.

I wonder why.

A week back the lady, the girl’s mom went on a holiday, along with her 2 daughters, and Laxmi’s elder sister. She asked Laxmi to stay back with her husband…!
The very next day little Laxmi came home crying…
She’s been crying all these days, my maid told me.

Laxmi is sure that her elder sister too has gone through this, but never told anyone…

She doesn’t want to go back there. But her drunkard father and selfish mother still want to send her there so they can get some money to fulfil some ‘navas’, a promise made to their god.
They even told her that if she doesn’t go there, she’ll have to make her own arrangements.

I want to teach a lesson to that beast who spoilt the childhood of don’t know how many kids.

I told Laxmi to be strong and straightaway tell the parents ‘NO’.
I promised her yesterday that I’m by her side, and that if she has nowhere to go she can take her bag and come to my house.
I don’t know I’ll solve the whole thing, how I’ll face her mean parents and donno what I’ll say when they simply will ask me to stay away from their family affairs.

All I know is that I want to save this child.

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