Through the misty eyes

It was almost 9:30 in the morning. I hurriedly got ready for my office. Took care to get well dressed, took my scooter out and was on my way to my destination. I usually reach my workplace at 10:00. Despite it being a Sunday, I had made up my mind to reach the office premises on the dot. While turning to the right from Baneshwor, I saw a girl sitting in the middle of the road. She was sitting with her knees bent and her face completely hidden by her uncombed hair. I stopped for a while, looked at her and then on the spur of the moment decided to park my scooter and talk to her for a while.

I went to her and looked at her face which had not been washed for many days, and asked her name. She was named “Jasmine”, the flower that gives the essence of purity and clarity. She was in a dirty frock. She was maybe 12 or 13 years old, and she seemed tired and hungry. I asked her if she wanted to have something. She gave a shy nod. I led her to a nearby sweet shop and asked for the morning breakfast. Her face glowed and she smiled. The girl revealed she had not eaten anything for the past two days.

A simple conversation followed. I asked her why she was there on the middle of the road and what was wrong with her. She was reluctant to tell me anything and moved her head towards the other direction, I ordered a glass of milk, I asked what had happened to her. Her eyes were wet and full of tears that slowly scrolled down down her cheeks. She started telling me something.

She was in the middle of the road from 3 in the morning. She came from a very poor family and had run away from her home. She was here in search of work and had heard that Kathmandu was full of opportunities. She wanted to do something for her family.

She almost began to cry. I was spellbound. I made up my mind to help her, and took her to our group

“Hridaya help from the heart”. Now, we have placed her in an orphanage where she is being taken care of by the Sisters and she is happy for what we have done. She still has the strong determination to do something to help somebody like her. This gives one much satisfaction and exhibits an inner feeling for the street child when a girl like Jasmine is saved from sexual abuse and exploitation of the harshest degree.