TWENTY SEVEN
Sonam Gautam was sitting by the window with her mother Kaushalya. She was enjoying the lavishing beauty of nature around. They were returning to Sonam's birth place, her childhood love... Solan, which was waiting for the winter snow to decorate the surrounding green mountain ranges leaning against the sky.
On one side of the road, there were huge trees whose beauty had been enhanced by the creepers that had grown up to reach the summit. There were deep valleys on the other. The smooth- black road lay ahead like a slept serpentine.
As the bus reached its destination, the mother daughter duo took the familiar path to reach the courtyard of St. Peter's Church.
The threshold of the church was crowded.
Kaushalya remembered it was a Sunday, the service day.
Would it be possible for them to meet Mother Sebastian? She would be busy too.
Kaushalya was sad seeing the poor condition of the once beautiful, snow white church building. The large open field in front was full of weeds and bushes... signs of carelessness everywhere.
Some young children were seen playing there.
They climbed the steps to reach the huge main gate and looked at the empty basket.
It was a similar basket where a newborn was left behind by her own mother and granny nearly twenty four years back. They were not in a state to look back.
A child came forward and looked at the strangers with curious eyes.
"Mother Sebastian!" Kaushalya whispered.
He pointed at the door and ran away.
… Such a long time… Urmil must have grown into a beautiful lady… was she known as Urmil or by some other name?
The door opened and Margaret came out, old age creeped into her too.
The two women bowed down to greet her.
"What's the matter, who are you looking for?"
"Mother Sebastian…?"
She crossed her chest and raised her hand up.
"Mother Patricia is there, but she is very sick."
"We are here to inquire about someone, we will not take much of her time."
Margaret led them to Mother's room.
"I wish you good health, Mother. We are looking for a girl… long ago we left her here at the door of this orphanage. We were not in a position to shelter her then. Her name was written on a piece of paper… Urmil!”
Mother Patricia looked unmindful.
"Yes, Veronica Urmil grew up with us. The Lord's child was very beautiful, very bright.
It's been a while, we haven't heard from her."
"Where is she, mother?" It was Sonam, the mother of Urmil who was interested.
"Urmil went to Delhi with a job. She contacted us through letters and phone regularly. We didn't get any calls from her for a long time. Wait, let me try."
She dialed Urmil's number on her mobile phone.
… the number you are calling is switched off…
Mother looked puzzled. She didn’t have any other means of communication.
"Mother! Please shelter us here. We want to spend the rest of our lives in the service of the people."
Kaushalya and Sonam stayed back at the orphanage with the hope to meet that unwanted and abandoned girl someday... whom they loved dearly.
The END
