Dr. Manju sat down near Reema. She looked at her tiny little feet wrapped in white. She fondly remembered the first day her eyes met Reema's. She was the most beautiful child she'd ever seen.' Seven years into marriage and no child' the society would ridicule her. Reema completed Manju's life and its emptiness.
Reema was petite and very delicate for her age. She'd bruise herself all the time and the tiny droplets of tears would break Manju's heart.
'Why is Reema so careless?' asked Dr. Arjun.
'She'll grow' Manju would reply with tenderness. 'My Reema will grow.'
Reema would build mud castles and run into the house to top it with her flag but on her return she would see her master piece being stamped upon by her friends. She had no true friends. They'd call her names and make her cry. Reema would run away and hug her fig tree. She'd fondly brush her cheeks over the fruits and smile. She'd run her little fingers on the tree's trunk and say, 'one day they'll want to be my friends.'
'Mamma, do you love me?' Reema asked Manju.
Yes of course. You know you are my angel. Why do you ask me this Reema?'
'I just wanted to ask you. I like it when you say yes.'
Reema dozed off on Manju's lap. Manju looked at her, eyes welling with tears, 'I love you Reema. You brought love into my life. I cannot thank you enough.'
Manju knew Reema did not have many friends at school. She was hardly invited to birthday parties, she did not have playmates, her lunch box would come back half eaten, never shared... Manju never understood why... yet Reema never complained. She'd smile and ask her mother if she loved her and she'd always hear 'yes.' That made the child happy enough.
'Reema do you want to go out with mama on a picnic?.'
'Yes of course mama, wherever you take me.'
Sunday morning and instead of making her usual visit to the temple, Manju was busy packing Reema's favorite snack, bread rolls, some cup cakes and a bottle of apple juice. Her picnic basket was ready. Reema was busy packing her stuff into her bag that included Lila, her little bunny and Butter, her little whale.
Manju knew Reema loved the sea so she decided to take her to the nearest beach village for the picnic. She told her friends about this and they all decided to make it a family picnic sans the husband.
The bus arrived and Manju called out to Reema.
'Come quick Reema' she said.
'Let me say bye bye to my tree.'
Reema looked at her fig tree and said, 'You are my best friend. I'll miss you.'
'Can I sit here with Akhil?' Reema asked Manju.
'Of course Reema.' Manju replied.
Manju watched Reema laughing aloud. Akhil was saying funny things to her and every time she found the story too funny she's turn to look at Manju. Manju would smile and feel light. The beach village was about an hour away from the city and they were to reach there before noon. Manju was planning what games she'd execute. Now that Reema had found company she could relax in peace.
Reema was singing poems to Akhil, and she's occasionally wave 'hello' to her fellow bus mates. In the midst of her singing Reema looked at Manju and waved excitedly at her, 'bye mama. Bye bye mama.'
Before Manju could react she saw Reema's smile disappear... she lost her smile forever.
The bus had taken a sharp turn and that changed Manju's life forever. Reema's head hit against a lonely tree on the highway and that was the last Manju saw of her beautiful innocent face.
Reema's classmates cried for her... her enemies cried... her teachers, her bullies... everybody cried...they probably regretted not having treated Reema well... not having called her to their b'day parties... not having laughed with her... not having loved her... but now they wanted to be her friend...Reema had friends now...
Dr. Manju sat down near Reema. She looked at her tiny little feet wrapped in white. One last time before the fires ate her...
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