Kanglatongbi Orphanage's Excursion on 8th July, 2012
- Part 1 -

Louriyam Bebica *

Inmates of Kanglatongbi Children Home being taken out for a tour of historical places.
The tour was organised by columnist of Hueiyen Lanpao (E) Bebica Louriyam with the support of her friends on 8th July, 2012
Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

"Even the sweetest dreams would not be so much affective than what I had enjoyed today. I knew this love of mine would never die like the brightness of the stars in the sky. I am very thankful to all of you. Love and care is the only key to see imperfect things into perfection. We will love you all the time. May God bless you all in the days to come. Thank you very much for your love and care on us."
Shophie Haokip
Class - VIII,
Kanglatongbi Children Home Orphanage.

This was the message given to me by her. She wanted me to tell everyone who helped us in organizing the excursion. I was touched to read it when she gave me the chit while we were sitting inside the Khuman Lampak sport complex. On behalf of her and the rest of the children, I wanna thank each and every one who lend their hands in organizing the excursion successfully. Unexpectedly, we got such a large number of hands. It doesn't matter even though your contribution was small. We are more than happy and glad that you are willing to love them. Thanks to you all once again.

I was very tense the previous night of the excursion. Bcoz we were aware of the fact that its gonna be their first day out from their orphanage. Many things were torturing me. I as well as the rest of my friends are not trained teacher nor did we have any experience of conducting such type of things earlier. The kids are normally those you need to scream to control them some time. I know them well. It doesn't means they are not co-operative or attentive. Of course they are, but at the same time we can't ignore their mischief too. We were supposed to wake up early but my mobile kept beeping sms tone.

"Dude, I couldn't sleep. Hope, everything will be ok. What if they puke throughout the journey? What if they got sick bcoz of the exposure? What if some kids got missing?"

I read his message again and again. The same questions were killing my sleep. The same thought was going through my mind. I wanted to console him giving some assurances. But nothing was in my hand. I and my friends knew well that it was a risk. No doubt, our motive was good but we can't ignore the possible eventualities too. But I try to act strong, bold and replied.

"Every mother/father is not born as mother/father. They learned to be mother/father with time and experiences. So, why not we? In fear of getting nightmare we can't stop sleeping right? Cheer up"

I don't know if I was able to push up his confidence, he just replied.

"Humm..ok. lets hope for the best. LOL"

Honestly speaking, I was more nervous and tense thinking what will happen the next day. My stomach was feeling creepy the whole night. The next day, in the early morning at around 6:30 a.m. the hired bus stopped at my gate. My mom, aunt and kid bro, kept the stuffs of refreshment on the bus. Though mom said nothing, I know she was worried. When the bus began to start mom was screaming to be careful with the kids

"Nao, be careful, pray to god for every one's safety throughout the day. Make sure you guys keep an eye on every kid."

I wasn't sure if I heard her last words as the bus was going farther away from her. However, I easily caught the sentence since she had been saying it to me more than 20/30 times since the previous day.

When I reached the orphanage, the kids came out to receive me. LOL. All of them were looking really smart and clean. Their cook aunty came out to greet me a huge smile.

"Sister, they were already awoke by 2:00 a.m and did not allowed me to sleep".

"Oh! Is it ? "

"Yes, I started cooking since 3:00 a.m. They kept on telling me that they will be late".

Even, I was worried thinking they might not be ready. I'm surprised to see them up so early looking prim and proper.

"Hehe.. yes, yes, even Thethem didn't cry when we bath her though she normally cry while taking bath".

Can you believe me, all my tension, fear and creepiness swept off in that jiffy I set my feet on their ground and saw their excited faces. My prince was also in high spirit.

"Hey my prince, you are looking so handsome. Won't your pants fall today?" Lifting him up in my arms I asked him. He lifted his t-shirt to show me the pants and replied:

"It won't fall. Aunty has tied it up with shoe lace."

"Oh, it's so good."

I acted as if to pull off the shoe lace from his pants

"Che, no… I don't want it to get fall off while I walked. I got tired of holding and lifting it up whenever I walked."

"Ok, my little one, Che is sorry. Alright? Now give me a smile and stand in queue. Che needs to give you medicine so that you guys won't fall sick during excursion".

While I was giving them medicine I found Thethem wearing her shirt's button wrongly.

"Them, check the buttons of your shirt. It's wrong. Come here, let me put them."

She stood still giving me a smile.

"I know, Che."

"You know it?"

I knelt down and held her arms.

"Yes, there is only two buttons in my shirt so I made them fitted by placing like this", Them said showing her zig-zag way of buttoning.

"Clever girl."

After prayer, all of us boarded the bus. When we reached Khonghampat, Nangba came to me

"Che, let me show you a place in Khabam?"

"Alright. So, it's not the first time you are on excursion?"

"No, it's the first time. I want to show you a place where I worked earlier."

"Work? In a hotel?" This was the only possible question on my mind for a little boy like him.

"No, there is the place." He said pointing his finger at a Car work shop.

"What? There?"

"Yes, I was there for two years."

Hearing this I completely forgot to close my mouth.

"How old are you?"

"I am nine years old now."

Can you imagine a boy of 7/8 years old working in a Car work shop? We talk and campaign of child right, I really don't know if such talks and campaigns are translated into action even for 10%.

"How did you come to the orphanage?", I asked.

"My uncle and grandma brought me there. Che, my dad is no more."

"Oh! Sorry. What about your mom?"

"She is in Imphal."

"What is she doing there?"

"She is staying with someone for work."

"Some one? A lady?"

"No, a man."

"Oh."

To be continued.....