In My Line of Sight

I peeked out into the wonderful world outside
From within my parents shell around me
And waited eagerly for the fine day
I would be granded wings on my own.

With a heart spilling with emotions
I stepped out of the broken shell.
Crushing its pieces under by feet,
I walked out into the brightness.

In the light that has been shielded by my shell,
I saw the world as it really was.
No longer under a filter, my heart slowly learned
The stinking truth of the real world.

Where lies roamed free without a reason,
A hidden sneer always tailed a plastic smile,
Where some fasted for a better posture,
While other to hide their hunger.

Where people killed like dogs in the streets,
While others learned to blind themselves
And to stare at their own paths
Where the only mantra was “I, Me and Mine”.

I tried to shield myself and ignore it
But the blanket around me slowly faded away.
I found myself stink with the world around me.
I had finally become a part of the chaos.

Around me I heard sound of cracking shells
Eager faces glancing out of their breaking shells
To stare into the unknown world,
And to face the brightness of truth.

Aleena moved away from the window side seat and took out a book from deep inside her bag, as the train started moving from the station. She has had the book with her for a while now, her tough schedule kept her away from it for most of the time. After making a mental note to finish it before getting home, she sank into the book.
She barely noticed the middle aged man limping past her and throwing himself onto the single window side seat in very next compartment – facing her. It was a while after she glanced up and saw this man. He had a large forehead blemished by the scar across his left eye brow, and his shirt though appeared clean was all wet from sweat. He appeared uneasy and was looking out into the nearly fields through his deep sunken eyes.

She glanced around, there werent many passengers around, and her attention again feel on this man who was looking directly at her now. His cold stare made a chill run down her spine. She was never comfortable with strangers, but this was far worse. She instinctively turned away.

She tried to concentrate on the book, but she couldnt take her mind away from those staring eyes.

She had heard about strange things happening in trains, trains with less passengers, trains like this.. drug addicts, child molesters, gangmen… Her mind found new and new possibilities and each made her heart sunk even lower.

The train came to a halt in a small station, and the man glanced out of the window as though searching for someone. Minutes passed by and he was still leaning out of his seat and looking, sweating even more and looking worried.
Just then a small girl probably 10 years, boarded the train. Without even saying anything to whoever who had brought her, she turned and looked around. The little girl saw the man sitting on the window side seat waving at her. With an innocent smile on her face she moved towards him.
Aleena didnt know why, but caught the little girl by her hand and turned her around.
” What are you doing here? and where are your parents?”
With the smile still on her lips, she turned to the man and said “… there.” and ran to him.

You all might have heard of the inhuman act of a primary school teacher that lead to the tragic death of a small girl. I was literally shocked by the news – i mean a small child treated in such a cruel way that too by a teacher. Its totally unacceptable.
I personally know some incidences of such cruel acts to young children. The first thing that come to my mind is about a friend of mine in kinder garten. I don’t remember his name but he was a really active kid. But he did something really bad – we were not told what it was, and the teacher called him and asked him to put his palm on her desk. She held his hand and took something sharp; i think it was a blade, and threatened to cut off his fingers if he ever repeat what ever he had done..He was terrified at this.. who wont be? He was in a terrible state for a few days after that. But slowly he returned to normal, but never to the active child he originally was.
May be he had understood his mistake and had changed for good, but that was a horrible piece of teaching to a 4-5 year old.
Another such incident is during my school days while i was in 4th or 5th grade. There was a boy who was not a “bright one” according to the school standards and got into trouble quite a lot of times. So naturally the teachers and especially the principal was not very fond of him.
We had to wear shoes as part of our uniform. But one day, this boy came to class wearing chapels. Our principal who has this irritating habit of peeking into class rooms and checking on the students during his rounds caught him and scolded him. He was asked to return home ( his house was near the school) and come back with a letter from his parents.
He came back after the interval, ie after 2 periods, but he still wore the same chapels. But there were spots of blood on this shirt with fresh scars of beating on his arms – his dad’s anger to the principal. I dont really know what made this evil man beat his own child for no fault of his. But this boy, he took it rather well, was telling us this with a smile on his face. He was transferred from our school the next year and i don’t know what came off him.
He was a really nice kid – the best athlete in our batch and was also exceptionally good in one subject alone – Maths. This alone tells us where he would have reached if given the chance.
These are the incidences of cruelty to children i know of. But ive heard in news that the child star from the famous movie Slumdog Millionaire were beaten by their parents in front of the media. Dont they know that these kids too have feelings?
And ive seen a lot of children in the streets who are beaten up by their parents to beg. Once incident remains as a painful scar in me. Some time ago, while i was going to the Trivandrum Railway station, there was a woman with her child who was barely a year old i guess by the footpath. When i walked passed them she pushed the kid toward me asking her to beg to me. She pushed her so hard that the poor child feel face first on the concrete pavement. I was soo hurt and angry, i just couldnt do anything. I was so angry that i felt like kicking that bitch’s face with my shoes.
The sad thing is i dont find any notable difference between this begger in Tvm and the educated asshole with B Ed degree in New Delhi.
If this is the case what is the purpose of education?

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