LOGINGaurav's phone vibrates as soon as he comes out of his meeting. He is feeling so excited because the feedback to his dream project is so positive. Only few modifications and more details are asked in the final presentation.
He checks his phone for messages and finds one from his mother.
“Why has Mom shared childhood picture of her friend’s daughter? Mom has amazing sense of humour. At least I have the name and flight details that should be sufficient.” Thought Gaurav.
Next when Gaurav raised his head from work, it was already 6 pm. “I need to rush to the airport” he thought.
It was 7 pm and Gaurav was standing on the arrival gate with Dream’s name paper in his hand waiting for a woman to recognise it and come to him. Little did he expect that same child from the photo shared by his mother will come to him followed by airport attendant pushing her luggage trolley.
Gaurav was completely dumbstruck. “ Are you Gaurav Chandra Sir? Can I see your photo identification?” asked the attendant.
It pulled Gaurav out of his awe and he quickly handed over his driving licence.
After getting satisfied with his credentials, attendant asked “ Where have you parked your vehicle Sir? Do you want me to take luggage to your vehicle?”
“No thanks. I will manage” said Gaurav and handed over tip money to the attendant.
“Come child. Let’s get going.” Said Gaurav to Dream.
“My name is Dream and I am not a child. I am 12 years old now.” Said Dream.
“ Ok Ms. Dream. I am sorry, should we move now” said Gaurav smiling.
“Ok but you need to speak my mother first. She would be really worried at the moment” said Dream.
“ Do you have her contact?”
“ Yes”. Sapna immediately called her mother from her mobile and handed it over to Gaurav.
“Did you reach safely Sweetheart?” came a voice from that side.
“Yes Dream has reached safely. This is Gaurav speaking. I have picked her up from the airport and we are starting for home now. Please don’t worry at all” said Gaurav.
“Thanks so much” said Kiran in a shaking voice.
Six months have passed and Dream is flying to Paris after two days. Maa and I have decided to go with her to settle her there. Maa has decided that she needs a break and hence, she is going to stay at our Paris flat with Dream for a few months.Kiran Aunty tried to convince Maa that this unnecessary. She even said that she will pay for our journey but Maa has told her firmly that Dream is her daughter and Kiran Aunty should not come between mother and daughter. I could see the relief in the eyes of Kiran Aunty. She was really worried about Dream.Dream is jumping all over in the house. I cannot believe this is same child who told me that she is not a child anymore with serious face. My brave little sister. She is not even worried about her packing.Maa and Kiran Aunty have turned the house upside down and deemed everything under the as necessary to pack. I have told them that we are not doing this and only Dream’s clothes and painting set will go. Re
“We have a plan and you will just need to follow it”I explained everything to Dream and like a naïve child she is, she agreed to everything without questioning or fear.Children are so pure in their trust. They just do not doubt one bit about their own safety if they trust you and I am determined to not break the trust of my precious child.Finally after all the preparation, convincing and taking principal, teacher and class representative into confidence and going through each step with everyone multiple times, we are as ready as we can be.Today we are going to teach Dream how to fight back and to that bully that it is not ok to bully others.“Hello, I have got some chips and coke for you. You must be feeling tired after bullying other people, right. Please have it so that you can do better job at bullying. And I have got chips and drinks for everyone in the class as well because you all must
I am finding it difficult to wrap my mind around the fact that we are asking Dream to go against a big man. She is so tiny. She hardly reaches above my waist.But Mom is right we need to enable her to tackle such people. She will be alone in Paris. PI pep talk to myself and steel my heart with determination that if that knucklehead touched even a hair of my Dream all bets are off. I am going to make him suffer for even thinking about bullying.Suddenly I become cautious, when did Dream become so important and when did I turn into protective big brother. It is a good feeling. I sometimes even think of her as my daughter.“Dream, we need to talk to child” said Mom“What happened Deepali Aunty?”asked Dream.“We know that you are being bullyed at college and this is the reason you don’t want to attend college anymore” said Mom“ How did you know? Did college principal comp
A plan is forming in my mind slowly. But I am still not sure if my little Dream will be able to have enough courage to execute it. But her future life depends on this event and handling of it. Whether she will always be a victim or fighter, this plan will decide and I know she is a fighter.I need to discuss it with Gaurav and Ram as well in the evening.“Hi Mom, are you still thinking about that bully? I am still convinced that we should speak to the principal and teachers. If Dream needs backup or help, they will be the first people present” Gaurav said.“ I agree with you son but just talking to them will not teach Dream about handling this situation. She also needs to learn.”“I agree Maa but I am not able to think of a way where a 12 year old can take on a 19-20 year old and still be safe and I will never agree to any plan which puts Dream in danger” said Gaurav.“I agree to this and I have a pla
Dream is looking more sad every passing day. I even saw her with puffed eyes that day. Could it be just that she is missing Kiran or there is something else happening which I don’t know.“Dream, get up child, you will be late for college.”“ I have headache. I don’t want to go to college today.” Said Dream“Dream, talk to me child, is there any issue at college?”“No Mausi, everything is fine” said Dream but I can see clearly that she is lying. What has happened.I need to speak to Ram and Gaurav.“Ram, have you seen anything not normal happening when you drop or pickup Dream from college?”“Mam, she was very happy for the first week and used to tell me non-stop about what happened and what she learnt. Though I used to not understand a thing but I could tell that the child is happy. But since last three weeks she is sad, doesn’t talk
I have taken admission and settled into routine now. Getting up at 8, getting ready, having breakfast, leaving for University with Ram Bhaiya, calling Deepali Mausi with time when last class will finish and coming back again with Ram Bhaiya.I think people don’t like me in the class. That day one big guy lifted me and moved me out of the way and then said “Ohh I forgot you are our classmate and not some kid playing college college” and then everyone started laughing.I told him that behaving this way is rude and he should not do it again. However, he just ignored me and kept laughing.I don’t want to go to college anymore. I want to go back to Manali. People are not nice here.Ram Bhaiya saw me crying and he wanted to know what happened. But I didn’t tell him. I don’t want him to tell everything to Deepali Mausi. Mamma said we should bother them as little as possible.I don’t know wh