Am I OK? Part - 1 (REPOST BY AARADHYA GUPTA'S STORY)

"Amma, I'm going out!" said Raman as he hung the empty sack on his shoulder and waved to his mother for his regular work. He was a ragpicker. Raman's mother, Jayeshvari, was a sweeper and sold fish which his step-father brought home. Raman's father died when he was just 5 years old. He obsessively missed those long and squealing days filled with morning walks near the canal, eating food together, and playing games on weekends. Once he died, Raman's mother re-married a man named Shambhu. He was a very peculiar man. He went out to work and after coming home he bet Raman severely and then went to sleep. But Jayeshvari never dared to open her mouth in front of her husband. She simply saw Raman getting bet as tears rolled down her dark brown eyes.

He was doing his random work like he usually did. But then a very anomalous girl appeared out of nowhere and charged towards Raman, straight-forward.

"Searching for kachda?" asked the girl. Raman silently and hesitantly nodded his head in agreement and then looked away. "Fine. Follow me!" said the girl as she ran between the coolies and was about to disappear into the public when Raman decided to follow her. He quickly tried to run alongside the girl, but it seemed that she was WAY faster than Raman. Her tall and sturdy legs ran fast as her curly brown hair swiftly shuffled dancing in the silent breezes. Her cute little pink frock also danced along with the hair as her hands swayed back and forth, attempting to speed up.

At last, the girl stopped inside a huge building, panting and Raman quickly stood with her. He looked forward to some conversation, but nothing was meant to be said at that moment. At last, the girl spoke, "This is the city hall. Over here, all the public parties and functions are conducted. Right now, we have a normal party for no actual reason, but usually, we do. Now walk silently, if they caught us stalking, they'll call their chowkidars to kick us out of the building, and then don't expect to get anything!" The girl tiptoed with Raman deeper into the public. Raman saw such a huge crowd! He was visibly astonished but managed to keep up with the speed of the girl. Then, he stopped when his jaw felt like it might drop off. There were tons of leftovers in a big room!!

"Where do they get this from?" said Raman, astonished. "Don't think about that! Just fill your sack with this and complete your work." said the girl as she waited outside the room, and Raman quickly filled up his sack with the kachda. "Let's leave!" he said as the girl and Raman left with the huge sack on their tiny shoulders, trying to balance.

"Eh! I didn't even know your name even though we were helping each other!" the girl said. "I'm Rachna."

"I'm Raman. So, run away from home?"

"Not exactly, my parents died 4 years back. My mom handed me over to her neighbors during her last moments. But, they always tortured me! Later, they kicked me out of their house and I was left wandering the streets when I met a few other people like me. Few ran away from their house and few were kicked out like me, but we had the same reasons. What about you? You look like a happy, young gentleman with nice parents and happy yet poor life." explained Rachna.

"No. I'm not having that fairy tale life either. My dad hits me after he comes back from fishing, and my mother just looks at me and never dares to speak in front of my father. Later, she comes to me while I'm sobbing and then, she applies ointment to my wounds. You're lucky! You have your friends, and together you can create your life to better. But I don't!" sighed Raman. "Who said you have no one? We can be friends, I can take you to our adda. And don't freak out! We're just 3 people. Me, a girl named Somi, and a boy named Rithik, and now, you've been added!" smiled Rachna as she pulled out a folded note of Rupee 10 and gave it to an auto-rickshaw driver who took them to her place.

It was a huge bus with color spray sprinkled on it. In huge letters, 'Hum honge kamyaab! (We will get success)' was written on it.

"SOMI!! RITHIK!! See whom I've got to our squad." yelled Rachna as 2 kids, the same height and age as Raman came out of their refuge and gave a bear hug to Raman. "Welcome to our squad," said Somi, a short dark-skinned girl with long black hair and sparkling eyes. "What's your name?" asked Rithik, a long boy with super curly hair, fair yet pimpled skin, and dark black eyes! Raman introduced himself, he eventually felt happy with them. He talked, chilled, and spent an hour with them.

"We must leave now! Ramu Kaka has strictly said that he won't leave after 6. Either before six or tomorrow." said Somi. "True. Let us leave immediately," said Rithik. "Where are we going?" asked Raman, startled. "Aiy! We're going to Nadiad," said Rachna as she picked up her small little leather spoiled bag and Raman stood right there, unable to decide what to do next. "WAIT WAIT!" yelled Raman. "Why are we leaving?"

"What do you mean by that?! In this city, we won't get anything. We'll give our sacrifices but nothing will we get back! In Nadiad, I have a close friend. She'll tell us what to do next." said Rachna as she got up on the bullock cart with Somi and Rithik. "Come!" said Rithik with his hand asking Raman to hold it and climb up.

Raman had no time to decide, but he didn't want to leave his mother alone with that nasty man. I will go, for now, he thought, until I get a good place to stay and good work to do. He got up on the bullock cart and together they went to Nadiad, where Raman believed his fortune will brighten up his life!

"Shukriya Kaka!" thanked Rachna as the four friends got down.

"Now, where are we going to go?" asked Raman as the three friends turned back with a psychotic smile and said, "To the place where destiny takes us!" Now, who knows? Where did they come from, who are they and what will destiny do to them?

~ Aaradhya Gupta