One day an astrologer friend of Ashi's dad visited their home. during their conversation mr. sharma asked him to see ashi's hand and predict sumthin. he started seeing her hand when her mom entered the room with Rup. seeing her the gentleman left her hand sprang towards them and took Rup in her lap and started bantering,"good heavens! what a beautiful child, you are so lucky to have her. she is an avtaar of goddess lakshmi. no need to see her hand, wherever she will go, she will bring luck." ashi waited patiently for the Uncle to see her hand but when this continued for a good 15 mins, her patience gave away. Mr.sharma said,"please see ashi's hand i want to know about her".
"ya sure come here child"
but ashi din't move. when dad asked her to go to him she refused to show her hand.
when the Uncle again asked her to come, she showed her tongue to him, made faces and left the room. mr. astrologer's face changed few colours and he said embarrassed, its ok, she is just a kid."
one year passed in this way. Ashi's dad was very fond of watching movies and he used to buy new video cassettes for his personal collection. he used to frequent a video library and sumtimes took ashi with him also and she really loved that place. she liked to see the covers of the videos very much. the owner of the shop became a good friend of her dad. one day ashi was ill so her dad took Rup with him. when dad came back he was too happy and told her mom,"u know today Rup accompanied me to the video library and wat happened? the owner was so pleased to see her that he treated us with sweets n cold drinks. he also gave me a free video and asked to bring her regularly. he was complaining why i din't take her there before. i was amazed at the way he greeted us."
poor ashi who came to see her dad and sister heard all this from the door stood there dumbfounded. she started thinking i have visited there a number of times but uncle never offered me sweets or cold drinks, why? wat wrong did i do? i never misbehaved with him, then? whenever we visit any relative's or friend's house, or if some one comes to our place, every one talks and praises her only. why not me? they dont look at me also and always behave strangely with me. they were the ones who loved me before now wats wrong with them? is mom right that i'm fat and ugly? even if i'm what wrong i've done with them? dad loves me, teachers love me, darwanji loves me then what is the problem of these people.
Friends neglection and hatred are such things which a small child can feel also. is it right to make small kid so conscious about her looks?
is it right to make such comparisons between kids at this ripe age?
does anyone thinks what impact will it have on her?
From that day ashi never went to that video library again which was her favourite place.