Page 160 - Kolaj Sharodiya Review Edition

Mrs Sharma left the room with Hanshita in her arms. Mr Sharma did not argue much as he knew that his wife had made a decision and in no ways she was going to change it.
Mr Sharma also understood a fact that day that a father’s love could never match with that of a mother. Probably only a mother can understand her child the best.

Hanshita was two and a half years old by now and she still could not speak anything more than just a word- ‘Maa’. Mr and Mrs Sharma visited a few other doctors too but they
all said the same thing, “Hanshita has no physical abnormalities.” Her mother was trying all she could to make their only child talk. On the other hand Mr Sharma never showed,
but always wanted to hear the word ‘Papa’ from his daughter. Mr Sharma considered his wife to be very lucky as she at least got to hear being called ‘Maa’ by their daughter.
Mr Sharma could never say this to anyone as he was the man of the house; for the society expects men to tame their emotions and not bow down before it. Mr Sharma too
wanted to cry, shout out loud and take it all out; but he could not. He could not do all these because he knew if he broke down, Mrs Sharma’s entire universe would turn upside
down. That's what made Mr Sharma to lock all his emotions away to act as the anchor in his beloved Sunita’s life. Mrs Sharma and Hanshita were the two most precious gems of
his life and at no cost he wanted to let the storms inside him to take them away.

One more winter passed and it was the time to get their child into a school. Hanshita by that time could write the basic alphabets quite clearly but nobody ever heard her to
pronounce one. Mrs Sharma was not at all willing to send her child to a school, for she was in a fear that nobody there could understand her child’s needs. Her arguments
could not stop Mr Sharma this time from taking the harsh decision. Even Mrs Sharma’s arguments got weak as she too realised that her child needed to be educated and in
India there is hardly any concept of home schooling. The time had finally come for them to send their daughter. They decided to choose a school nearby so that it was
convenient for them to check on their daughter once in a while during the school hours. They went for a meeting with the principal and told him about their daughter. Mr
Fernandez, the principal of St. Joseph’s, was very considerate of the fact. He assured that their daughter’s needs would be taken a special care of and that the teachers will
take a good care of her. After listening to everything even he admitted that it was the best decision they were making for their daughter.

“Hanshita will be here with the other children, she will get to interact more and that will help her get her speech”, said Mr Fernandez.

“With only this hope we are sending her to school”, said Mr Sharma.

“You could understand how difficult it is for a mother…” Mrs Sharma’s eyes were wet.

“Yes I know Mrs Sharma and I will ask you to keep faith upon me; I will not let your daughter have any problems in my school”, turning towards Hanshita he asked, “Hello my
dear, what is your name?”

Hanshita looked towards her mother, her eyes asking her mother to answer on her behalf. Mrs Sharma could feel her pain. She smiled and replied, “She is our little Hanshita.”

“Hanshita, such a nice name you have got my child.”