📖 Promo – Jaipur, 2018

The night was heavy at Jaipur bus stand. Amidst the chaos of buses coming and going, a seventeen-year-old girl sat quietly on the cold cement bench. In her trembling arms lay a fifteen-day-old baby, wrapped in a thin cloth. Beside her, a small bag rested — the only belonging she had.

Suddenly, a thief rushed forward, snatched her bag, and ran.

"Ruko! Wo mera bag hai!"

(Stop! That’s my bag!)

She tried to chase after him, but the baby in her arms began crying uncontrollably. She froze, torn between her child and her stolen life. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Sab kuch tha us bag mein… meri documents, mere paise, mere kapde… ab main admission kaise loongi?"

(Everything was in that bag… my documents, my money, my clothes… how will I get admission now?)

She cried until exhaustion overtook her. With the baby clutched tightly to her chest, she eventually drifted into a restless sleep.

When dawn broke, she opened her eyes to the baby’s cries. Confused and helpless, she tried to comfort the child but failed. Just then, a middle-aged woman walked by, glanced at her, and sighed.

"Pata nahi kahan se aa jaate ho… yeh lo paise. Doodh pila do isko."

(God knows where you people come from… here, take some money. Buy milk for the child.)

The girl stared, speechless, as the woman left. She walked to a small shop, bought a bottle and some milk, and fed the crying baby. Watching the child calm down, she whispered to herself:

"Mujhe kuch karna hoga…"

(I have to do something…)

By evening, she knocked at doors, asking for work. Most people scolded her, others pushed her away. Finally, one man opened his door.

"Sir, mujhe kaam chahiye… main ghar ka sara kaam kar sakti hoon. Please mujhe rakh lijiye."

(Sir, I need work… I can do all the household chores. Please hire me.)

The man smirked.

"Andar aao."

(Come inside.)

She hesitated but stepped in.

"Bacche ko wahan rakho… aur chalo mere saath."

(Put the child down there… and come with me.)

Before she could react, the man grabbed her hand, pulling at her scarf. Panic shot through her veins. She snatched her baby, kicked his leg, and ran barefoot into the dark streets.

The man chased after her, shouting abuses, but she kept running, clutching the baby, until fear forced her into hiding behind a broken wall. Tears streamed down her face as the baby cried in her arms.