West End Hospital is situated in Bandra (West) in Mumbai, known for its rich and upper middle class residents. Though it has visiting specialists in several medical specialities, it is essentially a maternity nursing home. Therefore, most of the patients who come to the hospital are women who are expecting babies. The owner, Dr. Kirti Suman, is not only a Gynaecologist and Obstetrician but also a shrewd businessman who knows how to bend laws for his benefit. At the door of his nursing home, there is a small signboard that reads:
Sex Determination Test Not Done Here
The signboard however, was just an eyewash, something required by law. In fact, Dr. Suman was known for not only performing sex determination tests for a hefty fee but for also performing abortions, at times when the pregnant woman has crossed the safe and legal stage for undergoing the procedure.
Dr. Suman, through his unscrupulous methods, had managed to amass huge wealth in a short span of time but was greedy for more.
The doctor's male assistant Govind, being a spiritually inclined and God-fearing person, was not in favour of the way his employer snuffed out the lives of unborn children ruthlessly. However, being only an employee and also a poor man dependent on his job for the survival of his family, he had to keep his mouth shut and put up with the mercenary attitude of his boss.
Therefore, though he never approved of what Dr. Suman did, in order to retain his job, he has been remaining silent all along. After all, what could a poor man do? Still, he was uneasy in his mind and carried on reluctantly, since there was no alternative.
One day, Govind could not take it any longer. He felt he had to do something instead of being a silent spectator to the crimes that were being done in Dr. Suman's hospital.
At an opportune moment, he quietly slipped out, went to the public telephone booth close-by and without disclosing his identity, informed the police about the misdeeds at Dr. Suman's hospital. Replacing the receiver, he quickly made his way back to the hospital and slipped in unnoticed.
Within 15 minutes, a posse of policemen entered the hospital. They were led by a stern-looking inspector who asked the receptionist in a rough voice ¬
"Where is Dr. Suman?"
As this happened in front of patients who were waiting in the reception area, there was an atmosphere of alarm. The patients were mostly women, many of them in various stages of pregnancy. Some of them were accompanied by their husbands. Some had their mothers-in-law by their side.
Everyone's eyes widened in fear. They did not know what was happening and were afraid they would be involved in some way. They paid keen attention to what was happening.
"Sir, he is in the OT,"
The receptionist said in a meek voice, almost as if it was she who was guilty of some crime. The inspector's presence was terrorising her and others around.
"In the OT or the Ultrasound Room?" the inspector asked harshly.
"In the OT, Sir," said the receptionist. She was shivering and almost in tears.
"Where is your Ultrasound Room? What goes on there? Show me the room."
The receptionist stared at him in embarrassment and anger, almost as if it was she who was undergoing the ultrasound examination and the inspector had rudely intruded while the procedure was going on.
She was neither a nurse nor an ultrasound technician but knew that patients were made to drink lots of water and keep their bladder full -it was part of her job to ensure that the patients drank water and did not go to the bathroom for some time, so that their bladders would be full, facilitating better ultrasound images.
She also knew that a contact gel was smeared on the abdomen of patients and the doctor moved an ultrasound probe over the area, while watching the images generated on the monitor screen, freezing some images and moving his probe to generate other images.
She also knew that a nurse or a female attendant was always there in the ultrasound room as some patients required. she was too shy to even think about it.
She had seen once the doctor inserting the trans-vaginal probe into the patient and watching the images on the screen. It made her squirm in embarrassment -after all, she was a young girl with the unsullied innocence of being a simple girl who came from an honest but poor family.
She was saved from further interrogation by the timely arrival of a senior nurse of the hospital who briskly asked the inspector to come with her and took him to a vacant room.
Making him seated, she told him that she would answer all his questions in the absence of the doctor, who would be taking some more time in the Operation Theatre. Telling him to be comfortable and that she would be back in a minute, she left the room.
Returning after five minutes, the nurse offered a thick brown envelope to him.
"Sir, this is for you."
"What?" shouted the inspector, though he kept his voice low. He did not want those outside the door to hear him.
"Are you offering me a bribe?"
He smiled and continued: "You are trying to bribe an honest police officer?"
He pinched the cheek of the nurse and asked: "Do you think you can get away with all your illegal activities by bribing me?"
He winked at her and said: "Do you know I can arrest you this moment?"
Accepting the proffered packet, he quietly asked her "How much is there?"
There was a whispered exchange of conversation between the inspector and the nurse. The inspector put the envelope in his pocket, gave the nurse a quick hug and told her, "There are people waiting outside. But I'll pick you up one evening and we shall have fun." He kissed her and left the room.
Govind and most of the older staff of the hospital knew why the doctor had appointed the nurse. As a nurse, she knew next to nothing. However, she knew how to please people. Though she was not really beautiful, she had an attractiveness that she knew how to use.
She was also free in using her charms - not only with Dr. Suman and other visiting doctors but even with the husbands of some of the pregnant women who were admitted. This was her real value -she was the undesignated "public relations officer" of West End hospital. She did her job well, and had the confidence of Dr. Suman. ●

Chapter Two MARRIAGE, MOTHER-IN-LAW & MONEY

A nurse came out of the Ultrasound Room (where all the sex-determination tests were performed illegally) and called for Mrs. Jaya Basu, who was seated in the lobby with other patients. It was obvious that she was pregnant.
A charming and beautiful young woman of 28, Jaya had been born and brought up in Mumbai in a family that had a modern and cosmopolitan outlook. She had married Amol, an engineer working in a company in Mumbai. Theirs had been a love marriage.
Amol's mother had been against the marriage. She had wanted Amol to marry a girl from their village -a girl who had barely managed to pass her matriculation and was nothing but an unsophisticated village belle. Amol however, was deeply in love with Jaya, who was then doing her M.Sc. in Mithibai College, Juhu. After much argument and persuasion, Amol managed to get his mother to reluctantly agree to the marriage.
Though she consented in the end, Amol's mother was not really keen that Jaya should be her daughter-in-law. She would have preferred the rustic, less educated village girl who would have brought a fat dowry.
Even today, especially in villages, marriages are decided - not by the brides and grooms -but by their parents, and dowry is a significant component of the marriage, the amount changing according the greed of the groom's parents, the paying capacity of the bride's father and the educational qualifications or job of the groom.
Amol's mother was no exception. She had counted on a hefty dowry for her engineer son. Having lived most of her life in the village with her husband, she was steeped in the traditions and orthodox notions, typical in villages. She would have preferred the Std. X passed village girl, simply because she would have brought a sizeable dowry.
Amol had been fortunate in leaving the village early in his life, to pursue his education. He had imbibed the cosmopolitan culture of the big city. His parents however, were old-fashioned, superstitious and steeped in their old ways and attitudes.
After passing her M.Sc., Jaya had wanted to pursue her Ph.D. but then got married to Amol. It was a court marriage and Jaya moved in with Amol immediately after her marriage. Since she has already done her teacher's training, she found a job as a lecturer in one of the renowned government colleges in Mumbai. Her desire to do her doctorate however, remained unfulfilled.
Amol had been in his village till his 12th standard. He had been a good student and when he decided to pursue engineering, he came to Mumbai to do his B.E. and promptly became a hostelite. He soon metamorphosed into a typical Mumbaikar with a broader outlook and a modern way of life. Gone was the old village boy. There was a new Amol in his place that most of his village cronies would have either not recognised or found difficult to accept.
After Amol's parents shifted from the village to come and stay with them, Jaya's life took a turn. It became miserable. The first thing they did was make her resign her job. Jaya was not at all keen on quitting her lucrative and mentally satisfying job (she loved teaching) but one look at her husband's face made her reluctantly succumb to the wishes of Amol's parents.
Poor Amol was torn between his parents and Jaya. Someone had to give in. In the end, it was Jaya who had to sacrifice her job to become a full-time homemaker.
She remembered the words of her mother¬in-law "In our khandaan, the daughter-in¬law does not step out of the house. Her job is to give birth to a male heir, look after the children, cook delicious food for the family and to keep her husband happy."
She knew that her husband did not agree at heart with his mother. He had to keep quiet out of a sense of duty and respect. She gave in for him, knowing that he too loved her from his heart.
She was not in favour of the sex determination test either. She was very happy to be given the chance of becoming a mother - whether she would be mother to a boy or to a girl was immaterial. However, her mother-in-law insisted that she should undergo a test to determine the sex of the foetus and she reluctantly consented, not wanting to witness or be part of quarrels in the family every day.
She knew that though Amol was with her, he would not disobey his parents. His sense of duty and respect forbade him from doing so.
Jaya returned to the present with an involuntary jerk when she heard the nurse call her name again - louder this time. She got up.
"Mrs. Basu, is your bladder full? Do you want to drink more water?" the nurse asked. Why did they have to be so insensitive and ask these questions in front of others - especially when there were men around? She forced her mind away from such thoughts and nodding her head, followed the nurse into the Ultrasound Room.
She suffered the ignominy of having her clothes pushed up and a strange man -though he was a doctor -moves the probe along her abdomen. The contact jelly he had smeared on her belly felt cold and clammy. These added to her original discomfort of having the sex determination test done in the first place. She suffered in silence.

After a while, she asked, "I have seen the board outside. It says .Sex Determination Test Not Done Here.' Yet you are doing it. Do you think you are doing a service to society?" Jaya was getting angrier by the moment - the whole thing was wrong - her mother-in-law, her gutless husband, the doctor -they were all after the wrong thing in life -money.
Dr. Suman turned his head away from the monitor to look at his patient. "I don't think I need to answer to such impertinent questions," he said. "But you seem to be an intelligent person. You may therefore understand what I say."
"Do you know how much money I spent in becoming a doctor? Do you know how much money my father invested in this building, the equipment and the other facilities? Do you know how many years I slogged to become a doctor and even after becoming a doctor, how my teachers and seniors humiliated me during my days as a post¬graduate student?
Have you any idea of what I have gone through and the amount of money it has taken for me to come to this level? When my father has invested so much money in this hospital and me, is he not entitled to a return? Am I not entitled to be compensated for all the money I have spent and all the trouble I have gone through?
"Talking of society, isn't it the society which is demanding a male child? Are there not people who come to me for finding out the
Lalu
sex of their unborn children? Am I inviting them here? If I refuse to do the test, will they not go to someone else who does these tests? Why should I unnecessarily lose my patients and my revenue? Am I doing some crime by being a doctor and a businessman?
Do I not have to run the hospital, pay my staff, pay the electricity bill and taxes? Where do you think I can get the money for all these things? Do you have any idea of what you are talking? Idealism and romanticism is all well and good, but it does not put food on the plate. You see my dear, one has to be practical in life."
He turned back to his monitor screen.
Jaya kept quiet. She regretted having spoken to the doctor. He would never agree or understand. He was blinded by his greed for money, so were others. It was all wrong, very wrong. Without her knowledge, the tears started flowing. She used the napkin the nurse had given her to wipe her eyes and cheeks.
The doctor was busy looking at the monitor & the nurse was busy doing something else. They did not see her tears. Even if they had, they would not have been affected. Senti ments and money were different things. ●

Chapter Three SINISTER PLAN

Jaya remembered the moment when she had first discovered that she was pregnant. she had been overjoyed. She could not wait for Amol to come home. As soon as he returned from work, she broke the good news to him. He too was elated and held her in a tight embrace.
The joy however, did not last long. Her mother-in-law began taunting her at every opportunity - she wanted to know if Jaya was carrying a son or a daughter and insisted that she should undergo a test to find out. Jaya was horrified. To her, a child
-girl or boy -was a child.
She would be happy to be mother to either. She knew however, that if the new life growing within her were a girl, her mother-
Lalu
in-law would not be happy. She did not know how she would react if it were to be a girl, but she was afraid. Amol's mother was a cruel woman.
With the mother-in-law harping on finding out the sex of the baby and Jaya resisting it tooth and nail, quarrels became frequent. Amol was - as always - caught between his mother and his wife. The home had become a battleground.
Meanwhile, as Jaya's pregnancy advanced, her mother-in-law became more adamant and aggressive in getting the sex-determination test done. Amol too, gently convinced his wife to undergo the test.
In any case, she was due for an ultrasound examination. If it were to be a boy, everything would be fine. If it turned out to be a girl, he promised to talk to his mother and convince her that a girl child was also precious. Jaya had very reluctantly agreed to have the test done.
The result of the ultrasound sex determination test was a surprise to everyone. Jaya was nurturing twins -a boy and a girl -in her womb. Both Jaya and Amol were thrilled. Jaya was also relieved that there was a boy. Now her mother-in-law would not have reason to complain -that is what she thought.
Reality however, was different. Her mother-in-law was not happy that Jaya was going to be mother of a girl as well as a boy.
"Girl?" she shouted. "What use are they? All they do is to put their parents into debt. Their very purpose in life is to make their parents miserable."
"Abort the girl!"

While Jaya and Amol stood aghast at this command, the old woman continued

"Imagine what would happen to the girl. She would use up a lot of money for her education and upbringing, and then we will have to pay a hefty dowry for her marriage besides other marriage expenses. and then what happens?
She sways her buttocks and goes away to someone else's house with her man, leaving all of us behind, burdened by debt..
"Think of a son. He remains with us till we die. He brings in money as dowry when he marries. He also earns money and when he marries, we get a free maid to do all the housework.
If we ever get into a financial crisis, we can always put pressure on the girl and ask her to get more money from her parents. Sons are always better. Daughters are nothing but curses."
Jaya was livid but chose to keep quiet. What was the point in arguing with this uneducated, rustic, orthodox woman who could not see that she too was a girl once?
The old woman was so selfish that she probably could not see beyond the tip of her nose. There was no use trying to argue with her. When the right time came, she would show everyone - her mother-in-law in particular.
Jaya's father-in-law too did not say anything. He did not want to interfere, especially when his wife was in such a mood. He was nothing but a henpecked husband. He would be ineffective against the wrath of his wife.
Amol's mother began pestering and nagging Jaya to abort the girl. Day in and day out, morning to evening, the same song was being played -abort the girl.
Jaya stood firm and did not relent. She was determined to have the twins. The atmosphere in the house became vicious. There was no peace at all.
One day, Jaya contacted her friend Geeta, who was a highly qualified gynaecologist. She asked her to come home and explain the facts to her mother-in-law -particularly that the father and not the mother, was responsible for the sex of the child that would be born.
Dr. Geeta, MD, DGO, accordingly, paid them a visit and took the trouble of talking to Jaya's mother-in-law.
"Look aunty," she said. "The sperm, which is the male reproductive cell, has two types of chromosomes -X and Y. The mother's egg cell has X and X but the father has both X and Y. When fertilisation takes place, one part of the father's cell joins one part of the mother's cell.
Since the mother has only X and X - it is the father's cell which decides whether the child will be a boy or a girl.
If father's Y chromosome unites with the mother's egg cell, it will result in a son. If his X chromosome unites with the mother's egg cell, it will result in a girl.
In short ¬
Mother has X & X Chromosomes
Father has X & Y Chromosomes
If Father's Y Unites with Mother's X ¬It's a Son
If Father's X Unites with Mother's X ¬It's a Daughter
So it's Father's cell which decides Son or Daughter.
"See aunty. The mother has no choice at all, since she only offers X and X towards the child. The father has X and Y so it is he who provides either the X or the Y component in the making of the new life. There is no point in blaming Jaya at all. And what is wrong if she gets a girl? These days, girls are no less than boys. They can do everything men can, and better too," she concluded.
The mother-in-law was not convinced. "Why did Jaya's egg cell have to choose the X chromosome of Amol? Why did she not accept the Y chromosome?" she argued.
Geeta laughed. "Aunty, Jaya really does not have a choice. It is always the father, who.s chromosome decides the sex of the child. and aunty, can you imagine what
would happen if everyone were to only have male children?
There would be no girls in the world. Who would bear your heir then? Who would ensure that the family lineage was maintained? Who would be there to marry your sons? Come on aunty - you too are a female. You should understand all this.
"Do we really hate girls? Don't we fight to win their favours and don't we go after them almost all our lives? What is the major preoccupation of men in the world
-is it not chasing women?" Geeta tried to win the old woman with a bit of humour.
The old woman was however, rigid in her stance. "I do not want to understand all these things. Your science is not going to pay the girl's dowry. All I know is that I want only a male child. I do not want a female. That's all."
Now Geeta was beginning to lose her patience. "Look aunty," she shot back. "What you want or don't want is your business. Science may not pay any girl's dowry, but it is also science that makes her independent and capable of making a life of her choice. Look at me. I'm a girl too but I'm able to stand on my own feet.
I'm not dependent on my husband. We have a girl child too and we are very happy with her. My relationship with my husband is on equal terms and I'm not subservient to him or to anybody in the house.
If I can do it and so many other girls can do this, why can't Jaya's daughter too be independent and not a burden on anyone? Wake up aunty, the world has changed, and times have changed. It is no longer the 'Raja-Rani' days. Girls are as important to our society as boys are."
The old woman was not moved. She maintained that the girl child should be aborted.
Geeta then gave up trying to persuade the selfish old woman. "Aunty, what you have done is illegal. In our country, it is against law to find out the sex of the unborn child.
All I have to do is go to the police and inform them and you will be in jail. And abortion? Do you know it is not only dangerous to perform abortions on women who are over four months pregnant and illegal too? Do you want to go behind bars for murder?"
Hearing words like .Police'-.jail' and .murder,' Amol's mother became rattled and fell silent. Her opinion did not change, but after this incident, she stopped talking about abortion and remained in a corner of the house, sulking. This was a big relief to Jaya. At least now there was no active opposition to her daughter.
The old woman however, was plotting and scheming in her mind. .Let the girl be born,' she thought. .I will kill her after she is born.' It was only the girl who was unwanted. She would drown the girl in a large vessel or bucket of milk. It was said in her village that drowning someone in milk was not a sin. It was also held that honour killings were not crimes.
There were so many honour killings that took place in her village and all had been accepted by an illiterate, ignorant, superstitious bunch of villagers. Even the Khap honour killings are also supported by the Parents, Relatives, Politicians and the Police in our country [?]
But she would have to get a large container
-even a bucket would do for a baby. She would have to get a lot of milk though. After much thought, she decided she would smother the baby girl to death with a pillow. Rubbing her hands in glee, she looked forward to that day when the baby girl would no longer be there, to make everyone's lives miserable.
She kept her plans to herself and did not confide in anyone -including her own husband. �

Chapter Four WITHIN THE WOMB

After her experience with Dr. Sunil (a family physician) Jaya decided to avoid him and chose her old friend Geeta as her gynaecologist and obstetrician. She registered herself with Dr. Geeta and went regularly to her for her check-ups. The twins were growing well and both Jaya and Geeta were happy with the way they were developing.
"Geeta, can you give me the child development chart?" asked Jaya on one of her visits to the clinic. "I would like to read it and also feel my children." Geeta smiled and gave the chart to her.
Jaya started reading the chart immediately, feeling her distended belly from time to time, as if she was caressing her children from the outside. The chart contained fascinating information.
Month 1
The fertilisation process depends on a number of factors - the woman's ovulation cycle, the motility of the sperm cell and many other factors. The fertilized cell is called a zygote. It starts dividing rapidly and growing at a tremendous pace. The process of fertilization is an amazing process and decides not only the gender of the baby but also the colour of its eyes, hair and other features. In fact, all the physical attributes of the baby are decided at this time. Usually, within a week to 10 days after fertilisation, the zygote gets implanted in the womb of the mother. If the implantation is not in the uterus but outside, it is called an ectopic pregnancy and can be life-threatening to both the child and the mother. Normally however, implantation is within the uterus and in ten days, the umbilical cord and the amniotic sac are already beginning to form, although the baby is hardly 1/4 inch long. It is however, shapeless but growing fast.
Month 2
Your baby is now considered a fetus. Its heart, neural tube, arms and legs, liver
and other major organs begin to form. By your 6th week of pregnancy, its heart will be beating and visible via ultrasound. The placenta also begins to form as well as the eyes, ears, mouth, and bones. In this month, your baby's fingers and toes will become present. However, they may still be webbed. Your baby's brain and cranial nerves will also begin to form this month. Your baby is approximately 1/2 inch - 3/4 inch long and weighs about 1-2 grams by the end of this month.
Month 3
During an ultrasound examination now, you would be able to see your baby's arms and legs moving. Your baby's heartbeat can also be detected by Doppler from your third month of pregnancy. Development of the heart and all major organs is complete by the end of the third month. Your baby's sex organs continue to develop, but it is still too difficult to differentiate its gender. The baby's muscles in the trunk limbs and head are developing. Its face is well formed and your baby looks like a baby. By the end of your third month, your baby is 3-4 inches long and weighs about 28.35 grams.
Month 4
During your fourth month of pregnancy, your baby's hair and teeth begin to form. Your baby will be moving and active now and you may begin to feel baby's movement this month. Your baby's digestive system is forming and the intestines are present. Meconium, your baby's first stool, is present in the intestines as well. By the end of this month, it may be possible to determine baby's gender. Your baby is approximately 5-6 inches long and weighs 142 - 227 grams by the end of the fourth month.
Month 5
Your baby is developing fine hair, called lanugo, which covers the head and body. Likewise, its eyelashes and eyebrows are also developing. Its fingerprints and footprints are now developed. The baby begins to suck and swallow and may even be found sucking its thumb. Vernix, a white lanolin-like covering, appears on baby to protect the skin. The baby's ears are developed as well and for all you know, it may even be able to hear you. Your baby is approximately 7-8 inches long now and weighs 340 grams - 454 grams by the end of this month.
Month 6
Your baby's immune system is developing and he / she is beginning to create his / her own antibodies. The baby has developed a hand grip reflex as well as the startle reflex. Its lungs are beginning to develop and alveoli (the air sacs in the lungs) are forming. The baby is growing and filling out. By the end of this month, the baby will be approximately 9-10 inches long and weighs about 680 grams - 1 kg 20 grams.
Month 7
Your baby's eyes are open and it is now able to cry. It may be very active now and others may be able to see its movements in the form of bumps and undulations on the surface of your abdomen. The baby may have hiccups which will feel like a jumpy movement. It is putting on body fat and the bones are fully developed now. By the end of this month, your baby is approximately 11 inches long and weighs around 1 kg 360 grams - 1 kg 588 grams.
Month 8
At this point of your pregnancy, there is not a whole lot of new development. However, your baby is growing and maturing and preparing for life outside the womb. Your baby sleeps most of the
time now and has periods of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Your baby is also becoming increasingly cramped for space, but is still very active. Your baby is now approximately 13 inches long and will weigh around 2 kg 268 grams -2 kg 722 grams by the end of this month.
Month 9
In your 9th month, which actually extends a little further than 9 calendar months, your baby is preparing for birth. It will spend a lot of time resting, but it should still have plenty of active periods. The baby should be facing head down sometime during this month, in preparation for birth. Babies' weights and lengths vary considerably at birth, but a typical range would be between 19-21 inches in length and 3 kg 175 grams -3 kg 629 grams in weight.

Chapter Five BROTHER, SISTER AND BRIBE

After going through the developmental chart from beginning to end amidst smiles and caresses through her belly, Jaya returned the chart to her friend and left the clinic. She also thanked Geeta for the .magic' she performed on her mother-in¬law who has not uttered the word .abortion' even once after her visit. She left the clinic, a happy person, in the full bloom of her pregnancy.
Everything was going on fine till one day, she lost her footing while getting down the stairs and rolled down a few steps. Along with her, the twins too tumbled. They were startled and even alarmed. Unable to see beyond the cocoon of their mother's womb, they wondered what had happened.
"Mother has fallen down," said the girl in a hushed voice.
"Oh my God!" said her twin brother in panic. "She must be hurt. What should we do now?"
Jaya was immediately rushed to the near¬by hospital by her neighbours. After a thorough check-up, the doctor told her that she and the twins were quite fine and no damage had been done.
"Anything could have happened," said the doctor. "You are however, safe and so are your twins. I think it is probably they who saved you. You must be thankful to them. Please take good care of them." With a smile and a pat on her shoulder, the elderly doctor sent her home.
The twins have now become good friends. They are glad to have each other's company.
"It would have been so lonely without you," the boy said to his twin sister.
It was a tight fit for the two of them, but neither had any complaint. They felt safe, secure and their closeness only contributed to the warmth and the bond between them. They could hear and even understand what was happening outside. At times, they had this uncanny ability of reading the minds of others around.
One day, while her twin brother was sleeping, the girl heard her grandmother's thoughts. .Yes, I will kill the girl - Even if it is a sin. I will suffocate her and snuff her life out with a pillow.' The poor baby girl kicked out in alarm and woke her brother up. Jaya felt the movements and smiled in ignorance.
"What happened," the boy asked, trying to yawn away his sleep. His twin told him what she had heard. Her grandmother was evil. "I wish we could stay here forever," she told her twin brother. .It's so nice and cozy here and we both are so tenderly protected by our mother..
I'm so unwanted outside. I don't want to go there."

"You know that is not possible," her brother told her. "We will soon be entering the world outside. But don't worry. I'll take care of you and see that nobody harms you." That satisfied his twin sister. She smiled, touched him on his cheek and promptly fell asleep.
A big and unpleasant event suddenly took place. Amol was caught red handed in his office accepting a bribe from a supplier. His boss immediately suspended him from his work. An enquiry was going on. Apart from the ignominy of having to face the world, the family was also plunged into a financial crisis.
With Jaya having been asked to leave her job, Amol had been the only earning member in the family. The pregnancy, the impending delivery expenses, the prospect of having to bring up twin children was looming large upon the family.
Not missing an opportunity, Amol's mother started to brainwash her son about the expenses a daughter would cause, though she knew that an abortion at this stage was out of the question.
She cautiously suggested getting rid of the girl as soon as she was born, even going
to the extent of blaming her for the misfortunes that had beset the family.
How will you manage the family once the children are born? Do we really require to bear the burden of a girl? Look at her ¬even before she has taken birth, she has brought bad luck to the family. She has taken away her father's job -God only knows what else she is going to take away and destroy.
Do we want such a .demon' in our house? As it is, you have been suspended. After the girl is born, you may even be sacked from your job. Why do we have to nurture bad luck in our house? Can we not get rid of it? she slyly suggested.
Amol did not say anything. His mind was in turmoil. He knew what his mother was saying was insane, but somewhere within him, the rustic villager, full of false beliefs and superstitions, reared up.
Was the girl really required? Did not all these misfortunes occur only after she was conceived? Would she bring further misery on the family after she was born? Unable to decide, Amol left the place with a heavy heart.
Nothing was going according to his plans and intentions. When he had married Jaya, he thought they would be able to live happily. Jaya was also happy and willing to take care of his parents at that time. He had never thought things would have become so bad... and now the suspension.
Yes, he had been foolish. He should have covered his tracks. He felt his biggest mistake was his carelessness in getting caught and not the act of accepting a bribe
-everyone accepted bribes these days.
"You know," said the boy to his sister, "Dad has been caught accepting a bribe."
"What is a bribe?" his sister asked.
The boy was not very sure. "I think it is something bad," he said. "It is something nobody should do."
His sister was not convinced but decided to let him continue.
"Now, he is suspended."
"What is .suspended' -is it bad too?" she asked.
"I'm not very sure," her brother said. "Like you, I'm also crouched here and can only
make a few things out from what I hear. When you were sleeping, I heard father say that he had been suspended and mother started crying. It must be something bad for sure."
"What is .bad'?" asked his sister.
"How do I know?" snapped the brother, now clearly irritated with his sister's silly questions. He felt they were silly because he could not answer them. "While you were snoring away to glory, I kept awake trying to listen to what was happening. If you are so keen on knowing, try to sleep less and listen more."
He turned over and went off to sleep.
His sister could not sleep. She was confused. All these words -.bad,' .suspension,' .bribe' etc. were so difficult to understand. Her brother too, had not been of much help he got angry very soon - all boys must be like that, she thought.
Not only was the atmosphere outside miserable, it had now begun to extend to within the womb as well. It had been so nice and comfortable all along. Now, with the friction between the two, the womb suddenly started feeling cramped and
crowded. It had never been like this before. They had got along so well all this time. Now what had happened?
She did not understand, but she did not like what was happening either. With no alternative, she too turned over and went to sleep, uneasy and troubled by nightmares she could not understand -where there was a world with laughter, suddenly silent and cold, dark and foreboding.
She twisted and turned in her sleep and Jaya thought, .The babies are getting more and more active these days.' Blissfully unaware of what was going on, she too shifted her position, ran her hand over her bulging abdomen and went to sleep.

The next morning, the boy got up and opened his eyes. He saw his sister too had hands and legs -he had not noticed this before. He woke her up. "Hey, you have hands and legs -and even fingers and toes! How nice," he exclaimed.
His sister was not happy to be woken up but seeing her brother in a happy mood and laughing, she forgave him his transgression. Laughing with him, she said, "You saw all this just now? I knew this from long before!"
They laughed and played with each other, pulling and kicking. Jaya was distinctly uncomfortable but bore their pranks in silence. They were active and they did cause her some pain and a lot of inconvenience, but they were babies after all -her babies -her own.
Meanwhile, her two babies were trying merrily to swing holding the umbilical cord. They knew that this was their lifeline. They felt grateful to her for housing and feeding them in such comfort and sang a small song in her praise. All Jaya could feel was some pleasant vibration coming from within, but she felt at peace. She closed her eyes in happiness.
Weeks passed into months and the twins grew merrily, laughing, playing and even playfully fighting. The boy had already learnt to pull the soft hair of his sister.
"How long are we going to be here?" the little girl asked her brother.
"Not too long, I guess. I think both of us will be out of here soon."
Both became silent. They knew they had not much time left in the warm safety and comfort of their mother's womb. They would have to vacate soon. It was an eerie feeling, for they were not sure of what was to be expected outside. This was the only world they knew.
About people, the only person they felt they could trust was their mother. They could feel her - not only with their hands but through the umbilical cords that connected them to her. She had kept them alive for nine long months with the help of these lifelines.
"I think I'd like to be here forever," said the girl.
"So would I, but I think we must be born. I heard people talking that this will take place soon," replied her brother.
"Will we die after we are born?" the girl innocently asked.
"Not immediately, I think," her brother told her. "Had that been the case, our mother and father would have died too immediately after birth and mother would not have been able to conceive and nurture us." The boy had even started thinking logically. She trusted him, but was not sure.
"Is there life after birth?" she asked, trying a different approach. "If we lose this place, where will be and how will we live without this cord that keeps us alive?" She gently caressed her umbilical cord.
"We shall take it along with us".
"Look, I'm not very sure," said the boy, "but I think we shall have a place to stay and I'm sure our mother will find ways to feed us and keep us alive."
"I think so too," said his sister. "After all, we are growing all the time and space is so limited here. How long can she keep us inside her?"
"Right," her brother agreed. "If our life is to end in birth, isn't the whole process senseless?"
"But grandma is going to kill me after birth," his sister sobbed. Now her real fears were coming out. "Just because I'm a girl."
"Don't worry," consoled her brother. "Our mother has taken care of us all this long. She will find a way to protect you." After some thought, he added, "So will I."
The tiny girl was touched by her brother's words, though he failed to convince her. "But we don't even know what our mother looks like!" she exclaimed.
"Just because we have not seen God, does that mean there is no God? We may not have seen our mother but don't we feel her all around us, in every fibre of our bodies?
Do you think she has looked after us all these months just to let you die after birth?" He had now taken the role of an elder brother, though they were of the same age. "Trust in her. She is our God. She is everything for us now," he concluded.
All the same, he too was troubled. The future was uncertain and the only way out for them was to trust their mother. He did not want to lose his sister, who looked to him for support. He did not want to lose his only companion for his entire life so far. Thus, they drew so lace from their thoughts and hopes -one expressing her fear and alarm and the other reposing his trust on his mother and God.
Some more time elapsed and the moment for them to enter into a vast new world with unknown experiences and dangers, drew near. Brother and sister clung to each other and to their hopes. ●

Chapter Six LIFE AFTER BIRTH

They cried when they were born -they gasped as they fought for life and drew dry air into their lungs. Everything felt new and strange - the air they were breathing, the emptiness around them, the feeling of space, the bright lights, and the sounds ¬everything was different. They screamed in panic.
Then they saw the most beautiful sight in the world -their mother. They saw the love in her eyes, the concern on her face, felt the warmth of her embrace -it was different, but felt similar to what they had experienced inside her body.
They had come out, but she was still with them. They cuddled in her arms and calmed down, soon drifting into sleep
-confident that she would always be there by their side, confident that she would move heaven and earth to protect them from harm.

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has made for those who love him.
One of the happiest beings who celebrated the birth of the twins was Lalu, Jaya's pet dog. He was a German Shepherd and a fine specimen of his breed -tall, handsome, well-built and extremely intelligent. Nobody knew how he had sensed the birth of the twins, but at that exact moment, he
jumped up and rushed here and there, wagging his tail and barking with excitement and glee. Jaya's father-in-law, who was the only person at home since his wife and son had gone to the hospital, wondered what had happened to Lalu.

Unfortunately, humans only think they know better -there are times when dogs show more feeling and compassion.
Lalu always hovered around the twins, watching them with his tongue hanging out as they had their oil massage and bath, bringing the talcum powder tin and later, even their milk bottles. He was their caretaker, protector and guardian angel.
With Jaya's mother-in-law remaining silent, things seemed to be finally falling into place. Jaya was of course kept on her toes by the twins, who demanded constant attention whenever they were not sleeping, but she was also a bit apprehensive.
It was so unlike the old woman to have changed all of a sudden. Jaya suspected that she was hatching a plot in her mind. She kept a safe distance from her and was cautious in her presence.
Her fears increased when her mother-in¬law chose .Rahul' as the name for her grandson but avoided given a name to the baby girl. This was a bad omen and Jaya became even more protective towards her children, though she did not express her fears to anyone - not even to her husband Amol. On her own, she named her baby daughter . Rani.'
She noticed that Lalu was very loyal -not only to her but to her babies as well. This was a big relief to her as she could keep Lalu to guard them when she was in the bathroom or the kitchen. The dog too, seemed to be happy to be near the children. Still, she saw to it that her babies were never left alone -even with Lalu around
-for too long, making frequent visits from the kitchen to ensure that they were safe.
Lalu never liked the wold woman. He did not like Amol either. He was happy only in the company of Jaya and her babies. He somehow seemed to sense malevolent intentions in both Amol and his mother.
Jaya's mother-in-law however, was busy plotting. She decided that when Jaya went for her bath, she would lure Lalu with some food items he liked, lock him in another room, and then kill Rani by smothering her with a pillow.
She even went slyly to the market to purchase Lalu's favourite snacks. Hiding them behind her clothes in her cupboard, she waited for the opportunity to take Lalu away from the twins when Jaya was not around.
That day finally dawned. Jaya had gone for a bath and Amol and his father had gone out. Now was her chance! Retrieving Lalu's favorite biscuits from their hiding place, she offered one to Lalu, who promptly snapped it up. Good! Now he would come after her. She dangled another biscuit in front of his nose.
She walked to the door holding the biscuit near Lalu to entice him to follow her. As she had thought, the dog got up and began to follow her. However, he stopped at the door of the room where the babies were sleeping and would not step outside the door. The old woman tried to lure and cajole him with clicking sounds and entreaties, but he would not budge. He just stood inside the door, not willing to go beyond.
After some efforts, the old woman got frustrated and shouted at Lalu, even trying to drag him outside the door by his ear. Lalu naturally, did not like this and baring his fangs, growled at her. She did not want to confront the brute - he was too powerful and his teeth were sharp. She retreated into her room, giving up her effort -at least for the moment.
Jaya could hear the growls and snarls of Lalu from inside the bathroom. She hurried through her bath and hastily wrapping herself with a towel, came to see what the matter was. She found the babies scared and fidgety and Lalu growling at the door, looking towards the closed door of her mother-in-law. Her suspicions became stronger. She became even more cautious and protective to her children. ●

Chapter Seven A NARROW ESCAPE

It had been months ago that Amol had been suspended from his job. An enquiry was going on and everyone knew that he would eventually be dismissed from his job. Without a job and without a salary, it became difficult to run the family.
The allowance given by his management during the pendancy of the enquiry was not sufficient, especially with the children. Amol became irritable and edgy. He had tried for other jobs, but nothing had materialised.
Jaya's efforts to console and comfort him went in vain. He hardly spoke or listened to her, did not have any attachment for his children and picked up quarrels with her on flimsy issues.
Jaya was in a vulnerable position as she had to stay at home to look after the twins
-she had lost total confidence in her mother-in-law. For this reason, she could not go out and take up a job either. The atmosphere in the house turned from bad to worse.
One day, after a quarrel with his wife, Amol stormed out of the house in anger. His father had already gone out for a walk. Keeping Lalu to guard her babies against her mother-in-law, Jaya went for a bath. Once again opportunity presented itself to the wicked old woman. She believed that everything would be all right after the death of the baby girl.
She had even consulted a tantrik who had confirmed her fears that the problems faced by the family -even Amol's job problems
-were due to the girl. Killing her was the only solution. Everything would be all right after that. The tantrik had told her that after the death of the girl, Amol would even get a better job, better position.
Unfortunately, Lalu's bladder was full that day and he had to go out to relieve himself. The moment he went out, grandma stepped in. She had been watching like a hawk and
waiting for just this moment. She took a pillow and placed it on the sleeping baby's face.
Probably due to her struggles, her brother, who was sleeping by her side, woke up and started screaming loudly. Maybe he had sensed that his twin sister was being harmed. His screams brought both Jaya and Lalu rushing into the room. The old lady was caught red handed, trying to press the pillow on Rani's face.
Lalu jumped on the old woman, biting her hands and legs. Screaming in terror, the old witch fled into her room, cowering in fear behind the closed door, with Lalu snarling ferociously outside. She bolted the door from within, fearing that the powerful dog would slam the door open. He was a brute, that dog.
Jaya, after ascertaining that Rani was safe, calmed both the children, rocking them in her arms. Lalu was rushing between her room and the closed door of her mother¬in-law, growling and barking at the closed door. Jaya realised what must have happened. The moment Lalu stepped out for some reason, her mother-in-law had tried to kill her own granddaughter.
After this, there was no point in continuing to stay in that house. As long as her mother¬in-law was there, her daughter was never going to be safe. She had to leave the house. She started packing her belongings and the belongings of her children.
The mother-in-law stayed inside her room, trying to attend to her wounds and too scared to even peep through a crack in the door - Lalu ensured this by sitting in front of the old woman's door and growling and barking. She would not dare to step out, as long as she heard his growls. ●

Chapter Eight
A LONG JOURNEY

Lalu realised, with his canine intelligence that Jaya was preparing to leave the house. He agreed with the move. It was risky to stay here. He remained outside the old woman's door, barking and growling, so that Jaya would have time to pack and get ready to leave.

Soon, Jaya stepped out of the house with her twins and her belongings and began walking away from the house. Her face was streaked with tears. Quietly, Lalu began following her. She was his mistress and he loved her and the kids.
Seeing him walking behind her, Jaya tried to persuade and even force him (by picking up a stone and pretending to throw it) to turn back and go home, but Lalu had decided that he would be wherever Jaya was. In any case there was no point in going back to the home where the old witch lived.
Jaya kept looking behind her and was annoyed that Lalu was still following her. In her situation, she did not want to be further burdened with Lalu. Her priority was to look after her children.
She tried to shout at him and picked up another stone and threw it at him. She had not intended to strike him with the stone but it hit Lalu on the forehead. Lalu squealed in surprise and pain. This was not expected.
Realising her folly, Jaya tried to make amends by calling Lalu, but he had already fled the scene in confusion and pain. When
she tried to go behind him, he retreated further, fearing she would hurt him again. Finally, Jaya gave up and moved away.
She did not know what she was going to do. She had herself and her two small babies to support. How could she have supported Lalu too? She regretted having hit him with a stone but now it had been done.
She decided she should go somewhere far away, away from Amol, away from his mother, away from the very city that harboured both of them. She decided she would go to Bangalore, to Lata, her best friend and confidante during her college days. Lata would help her.
She was surprised by the sudden appearance of Lalu in front of her. He approached her cautiously, crouching and crawling slowly towards her. "Oh Lalu, I'm so sorry I hit you," Lata cried. "But I have no place to go and my own babies to look after. How can I take care of you too? Please go home." She folded her hands and pleaded with the dog, hoping he would somehow understand her and go home.
Lalu however, was overjoyed that his mistress was no longer angry with him.
The moment he felt her touch, he jumped up and started prancing around her, jumping in joy and barking in excitement. He had been accepted again by Jaya, and that was all that mattered to him. It took him quite some time to understand that Jaya did not want him to be with her. He lay down quietly.
"Lalu, I promise I will come one day and take you back with me," she told her pet. "But right now, I'm on the streets with nowhere to go and nobody to support me. How can I take you with me?" She started walking again, wiping her tears. Looking back after some distance, she saw that the dog was no longer following her -in fact, he was nowhere to be seen. He had vanished into thin air.
Jaya hailed a passing taxi and told the driver to take them to Dadar railway station. She had decided to go to Bangalore to her friend Lata. Lalu, who had been hiding near-by, took off behind the taxi, pausing to recover breath at traffic signals when the taxi had to halt, and then continuing behind it, much to the amusement and surprise of passers-by, for he was not a mongrel or street dog.
A handsome German Shepherd running at full speed behind a taxi is always a sight to stare at.
Getting off at Dadar, Jaya bought a ticket to Bangalore. As there was some time before the train departed, she also sent a telegram to her friend Lata, briefly indicating her predicament and that she was coming to her for help.

When the train arrived, Jaya managed to get into an unreserved compartment with the help of a friendly porter. The compartment was already crowded but looking at her condition and her two children people made some place for her. That is the greatness of our country -in any situation, there are people to help.
Lalu had also entered the platform. He had followed the taxi all the way to Dadar. Watching Jaya and her children enter the crowded compartment, he did not know what to do. He could not enter the compartment as it was too crowded and people would get scared of him. His mistress would scold him again and he did not want to face that.
Looking around, he saw there was space in the compartment next to Jaya's. It was in fact, a mail compartment. There were mail sacks strewn around and only two persons inside. One of them was stamping inland letters, post cards, and envelopes while the other was busy writing something in a register.
Lalu quietly slipped into the compartment unnoticed and hid behind one of the mail sacks, pushing them a bit to make space for himself.
Meanwhile, he also kept track of Jaya and her children, who were in the next compartment. He could smell them. After all, he was a dog, not a puny human with hardly any sense of smell. He could track criminals for miles only through the scent they left behind. He reassured himself even as the train started, that Jaya and her children were close-by.
Whenever the train halted at a station and the two postal officials got down for a cup of tea, Lalu would quietly slip out and ensure that Jaya and her children were safe, watching them from a distance. The moment he saw the postmen returning, he would rush back to his hiding place behind the mailbags before they entered the compartment.
He wondered how Jaya would feed herself and her children. He too was feeling hungry but he had had some water from a pool on the platform, near the public tap. However, he was a dog. He could survive better than humans, without food.
Looking at the milling crowd, people in different clothes - some filling their water bottles, some drinking water directly from the tap, cupping their palms, he recollected an old saying: "Most accidents are caused by humans and most humans are caused by accidents."
Smiling to himself, Lalu wondered how the country would prosper -the focus seemed to be less on food production and more on human reproduction. Alas! If only Sanjay Gandhi was still alive!
His attention was drawn to a fat man eating a big burger. He had a huge belly that extended almost two feet from his body. My God! Lalu looked at the man in fascination. He as sure a complete dinner set, including a glass of water, could be very easily placed on the man's stomach.
He was beginning to understand why so many people in India remained hungry, in spite of all the progress the nation was making.
.Hey fatso! he murmured under his breath, have you no mercy on your stomach? It might burst one day.!
Deciding to have some fun, Lalu quietly approached the fat man from behind and barked. Startled, the man dropped his burger. Lalu could have snatched it and enjoyed a well-deserved snack but refrained from doing so. When his mistress Jaya sat with an empty stomach, how could he eat? "I have done you a favour, you fat pig," said Lalu silently. I have saved your stomach from further torture."
Lalu could not sleep that night. His mind and senses were all the time with Jaya and the children. Did she eat something? Were the children fed? How were they
taking the long train journey? He was tense and worried.
The train arrived at Bangalore city the next morning. Passengers started alighting with their baggage, creating chaos on the platform. The train was gradually getting empty. The postmen were busy unloading the mailbags on the platform. Lalu got up and stretched, sniffing the air for the scent of Jaya and the twins. Their scent was becoming faint.
Not wanting to lose them, he jumped out of the compartment, to the astonishment of the postal employees. They were startled to see a large dog emerging from among the bags. Ignoring their exclamations, Lalu ran on the platform, trying to locate Jaya. In his anxiety and hurry, he took off in the wrong direction.
Not finding them, he returned to Jaya's compartment which was empty by now. There was a faint trace of her scent however and focusing on this, he began following her trail. Finally, he saw them at a distance. A lady was embracing a tearful Jaya. She affectionately touched the cheeks of the children. Lalu was happy that at last, Jaya was with someone who liked her and her babies.
He followed them at a discreet distance, waiting for their next move. He wondered what he would do if they caught another train. Where would he find another postal carriage?
"What a fine dog!" exclaimed a group of ladies who were passing by. "Wonder whose it is?" A few of them sent flying kisses to him. Lalu wagged his tail in joyful pride.
He saw Jaya and the lady getting into a car with the twins. So! He paused, body taut and leaning forward, getting ready for another marathon. He prepared himself mentally as well. He would have to catch his breath at traffic signals.
To his surprise, this time the chase was not as difficult as the one in Mumbai. Traffic was heavy, so the car moved slowly and there were frequent traffic signals. Keeping a safe distance from the car and simultaneously keeping a watch on other vehicles on the road, he kept following the car. ●

Chapter Nine THE HANDSOME FOREIGNER

The car entered the gate of a bungalow. Lalu stopped at a distance, watching them go inside the house. He was sure that this was where they would be staying but decided to watch and wait, to confirm. His stomach was rumbling in hunger, for he had not eaten anything for over 24 hours. Yet, he did not move from his vantage point.
He was assured that Jaya and the twins would stay here for a while when, after a few hours, he saw her fresh from her bath, combing her hair on the small lawn in front of the house. Now he could go in search of food. But how? Nobody knew him here. He was nobody's pet. Wearily, he laid his head on his paws and went to sleep. He was hungry, but he was tired as well.
Alsatian dogs come from Germany, where they are known as Deutscher Schaferhund. They were originally bred for herding and guarding sheep. This also gave them the name .German Shepherd.' They were, as a breed, strong, intelligent, and very loyal to their masters.
Their keen sense of smell, obedience, and ability to learn quickly had made them a much sought after breed, often used by the police and the military all over the world. They were also good as house hold pets due to their loyal and protective nature. They also bonded well with children, just as Lalu had bonded with Rahul and Rani.
Essentially, Lalu (in spite of his Indian name) was a foreigner - and a very good-looking foreigner at that. Soon, people began to gather to see him, for Indians are crazy after anything foreign -foreign goods and foreign people. The same applied to dogs as well.
Lalu was not just a foreigner - he was also a tall, handsome, and strong foreigner. He woke up to find a crowd around him, many offering him food, some wanting to touch him.
A few even wanted him to come home with them. There were a few photo-journalists in the crowd, busy shooting videos and clicking pictures of the strange dog that had appeared from nowhere. He had become an instant celebrity in Bangalore.
After some initial hesitation, Lalu allowed people to touch and fondle him, accepting the food they offered with glee, wagging his tail in appreciation. He ate to his satisfaction but would not go with those who wanted to take him to their homes.
He nimbly got out of their way and would not be caught or chained. Much to their disappointment, especially a bunch of rich women who had got down from their costliest cars in the hope of getting a fine dog for free, he suddenly leapt away and vanished.
The next morning, some of the local newspapers carried a photograph of Lalu along with the story of the mystery dog that appeared from nowhere and refused to be taken away though he appeared to be friendly and good-natured. Naturally, the photograph also featured some of the high-society ladies offering food to Lalu. Opportunities, you see, are not to be missed. The wise have said so.
When she saw the newspaper, Jaya was shocked. Could it have been Lalu? Was it possible that he had a twin in Bangalore? If so, how did he have the same injury mark on the forehead that Lalu had when the stone thrown by her hit him on his forehead? Jaya was confused and also disturbed, for she had loved Lalu and would have brought him with her -had the circumstances been different.
She casually showed the photograph to the twins, asking them, "Is this Lalu? Do you recognise him?" The babies were too small to reply, but they immediately threw their arms and legs in glee.
It was almost as if they knew it was the same Lalu and were happy to see him again. Jaya was even more confused. She went to Lata and showed her the photograph, pointing out the wound on Lalu's forehead. It had to be Lalu and none other than Lalu.
Lata gently consoled her and tried to reason with her. She had never seen Lalu but how could a dog be one day in Mumbai and the next day in Bangalore, that too, without escort or help? "Look," she told Jaya, "Lalu is not God to vanish from one place and reappear in another.
I also don't understand how he could have come from Mumbai to Bangalore in one day, unless he came by chartered flight."
Jaya quietly went inside and brought an old family photograph where Lalu was also there. "Now tell me," she told Lata "that it is not the same dog." Lata smiled indulgently. "No, Jaya, don't get angry or feel hurt.
I can understand your love and attachment to your dog but how is it possible for a dog to come all the way from Mumbai to Bangalore on it.s own and then also find out the house where you are staying? Be reasonable.
"Dogs are like monkeys," she continued. "You cannot tell one from the other. In fact," she smiled, "I cannot even tell one Sardarji from another. They all look the same. Can you tell one monkey from another when you see ten monkeys sitting in a row?"
Jaya was not convinced but she did not want to argue with her friend, who had given her shelter and protection in her own house. She kept quiet, knowing that if the dog were really Lalu, they were destined to meet sooner or later.
84
Lata's house was situated on the outskirts of the city, overlooking a densely wooded hill. A small, clear lake lay on the other side of the hill. Hardly anyone went there, as there were rumours that wolves roamed the forest and the hilly area.
It was ideal hiding ground however, for Lalu. He would slink around near Lata's house during the day and retire into the forest at night. He used the lake to bathe and drink water.
Lalu however, found that it was not easy to be near Lata's house. There was a lot of traffic and noise and often, stupid boys threw stones at him needlessly. Even when he did not interfere with them or was sitting quietly by the roadside, they drove him away with harsh words and stones. It was safer and more convenient to stay in the hill where he could hide among the trees and the bushes.
Lalu was also in love with the area. The hill provided him with the freedom to move as he wished and the lake was good with its cool, clear waters. Hardly any human came there to disturb him. He found food near Lata's house, for some of the neighbours still hoped they could entice Lalu to their homes with food.
Lalu was too smart for them. He would accept and eat the food they gave but would then run away, going into the hill shrubs and disappearing among them.
He loved the chirping of birds in the dense woods. He could see a few wild cats and some stray dogs. At night, he could hear the howling of wolves, especially on full moon nights.
There were other sounds too, reptiles slithering in the bush, the scuttle of insects, the spiders spinning their webs and a thousand other sounds that could never be heard by human ears. Lalu loved all these sounds. They were the sounds of nature. They were the sounds of freedom. ●

Chapter Ten MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE

Though he stayed in the vicinity of Lata's bungalow and managed to maintain himself fairly well, Lalu was sad that he could not see Rahul and Rani. He missed the twins. He decided he would try to see them one night, when the entire household was asleep. He was aware that there was a female pet there but he thought she would be tied up inside the house at night.
One night, creeping into the bungalow, he scouted the perimeter of the building, sniffing the air for the scent of Rahul and Rani. He located them by their scents in a corner room of the house but he could not see them, as the window was about six feet above the ground. He looked up and scratched his head.
There was a tree near the compound wall, but he did not know how to climb trees. In fact, no dog ever climbed trees. Cats did though and he had always wondered how they could do it. Well, perhaps he could jump on to the compound wall and rest his forepaws on the branch of the tree and peep inside the window. He decided to give it a try.
He looked for a suitable spot and jumped on the compound wall. Cautiously making his way towards the corner room, he managed to locate the window and tried to see within, but the leaves of the tree in front obscured his view.
He decided to lean a little ahead by putting his forepaws on a branch. Cautiously testing the branch to ensure that it could take his weight, he gingerly placed his left paw on it. It was a fairly strong branch, about an inch thick. He placed his right paw on the branch and was about to lean forward and poke his head through the leaves when his feet slipped.
Lalu crashed to the ground with a thud and a startled yelp. He was not hurt but he was definitely surprised. He was once again surprised when Sandy, the female dog, came after him barking furiously. He
had thought she was inside the house.
He realised she must have been sleeping under the staircase. He was not afraid of her, but he did not want the rest of the household to wake up and come after him. He took to his heels.
Sandy thought he was afraid of her and chased him. Just as she drew near, Lalu turned back and showed his fangs to her. He was bigger and stronger and could have easily overpowered her but decided not to as people in the house would get up hearing the noise of two dogs fighting inside the compound.
He quickly jumped at Sandy and she retreated with a squeal. He then easily scaled the wall and was out of the compound.
Sandy came to the gate sniffing and looking for Lalu but when she saw him, she quietly slunk back to her place under the staircase, where she stood trembling and panting. She knew she had had a close shave. Lalu could have torn her to pieces in quick time.
She had made a mistake and her first instinct was to bark and go after the intruder. When she saw it was another
dog, she became even more incensed and ran after him, especially when he started running away.
Naughty boy, scaring female! Sandy murmured under her breath.

His size became apparent only after a while and it scared her. She was also a bit fascinated by this hulk of a male dog. He had power, he had grace and he had the good sense not to use his power on her. He was quite a handsome chap too. Sandy now repented having barked at him. They could have become friends. Well, one opportunity lost. She hoped there would be another, soon. ●

Chapter Eleven JAYA SETTLES DOWN

Though Lata insisted that Jaya should continue to stay with her for some more time, Jaya was not comfortable. She was grateful to Lata for having sheltered and taken care of her but how long could she be a burden on her?
She rented a flat near Lata's house and shifted there with her children. She even refused to take monetary help from her friend, preferring to sell some of her ornaments for her immediate needs. Jaya was grateful to her friend for her help, but wanted to be independent.
At the recommendation of Lata, Jaya employed Radha to look after the children and help with the household chores. Radha turned out to be an excellent maid, both
hard working and loyal. Meanwhile, Lata was trying to get Jaya a job in local colleges. She wanted to do as much as possible for her dear friend, who had been through so much hardship and pain.
Jaya too, did not remain idle once she had settled into her new house. She started giving tuitions to the local children and soon made a name for herself as a good teacher and became popular in the neighbourhood.
With Radha to look after the children, she could now devote more time for tuitions and soon became financially stable -so much that when she received a job offer from a college near-by, she refused the offer as she was making almost the same sum by staying at home and giving tuitions.
Lalu was aware that Jaya had shifted to another house. He was sad that he could not help move her things - he could have carried a few items in his mouth. He was also not very sure of how Jaya would receive him -she had after all, hit him with a stone and driven him away when he had tried to follow her after she left her house. He kept circling Jaya's new house but did not have the courage to go in front of her -not as yet.
Was it possible that Jaya did not want him any more? Had she not hit him with a stone and made his forehead bleed? Had she made any effort to trace him and get him back? He was confused. He did not want to leave Jaya and the kids, but did not know whether Jaya wanted him either. He rested under the shade of a tree in front of her house, tongue lolling out and dripping sweat.
From his resting place, he could see Jaya and at times even Radha and the twins. They all seemed very happy and Lalu was joyous at seeing them happy. If they were in a good mood, maybe they would take him back. Now was the time to go and meet them, he thought.
Jaya's neighbour had seen Lalu resting frequently under the tree and after a bit of waiting and making sure that no owner was going to claim the dog, tried to befriend Lalu by offering some biscuits. Lalu of course, was interested only in the biscuits and not in the person offering them. Polishing off the biscuits, he quickly went away, much to the disappointment of the neighbour.
Lalu was encouraged in his resolve to meet Jaya by the continued laughter he heard from her house. He could even hear the twins gurgling in happiness along with the laughter of Jaya and Radha. He felt it was a good time to go and present himself. After all, Jaya was now financially stable and could look after him.
He too would make himself as useful as possible by protecting them and doing small chores for them. The more he thought, the more he felt that this was just the right moment for him. He quietly made his way to Jaya's house and scratched on the door with his front paws.
Poor Lalu did not know how much Jaya loved him and how much she regretted having hit him with a stone. He also did not know how insecure she felt, even if she was financially stable and earning good money. She needed emotional security and that was quite possible with Lalu around - only he did not know it. He had no idea how much Jaya missed him.
Hearing some noise at the door, Jaya was a little annoyed, for whoever was there could have rung the bell. When the noise continued, she decided to investigate. She went to the door and opened it.

There was Lalu, standing with his head down, his tail wagging slowly, not knowing whether she would beat him again and drive him away, wanting to be accepted, fondled and above all, wanting to be loved by Jaya and the children.
Now there was no doubt in Jaya's mind. This was Lalu. It had to be, no other dog would dare come and scratch on her door. And there was the scar on his forehead ¬where she had hit him when he had tried to follow her in Mumbai. She had no idea how he had come to Bangalore or how he had found her place, but she was sure this was none other than Lalu.
She dropped to her knees with a startled cry of "Lalu!" and hugged the dog, sobbing in guilt and relief. Lalu on his part wagged his tail furiously and licked her tears away. That was all he could do. He did not have hands to wipe her tears.
Cuddling him and pulling his ears as she used to earlier, Jaya took him into her house. Lalu was overjoyed -he had thought she would reject him again. His joy knew no bounds. He raced through the house, much to the surprise and alarm of Radha and even knocked down a few chairs in the
process. He was so happy. He had finally found his home.
"Oh Lalu, Lalu, how much I missed you," Jaya cried. "I saw your photo in the newspapers and was sure it was you." She drew him near and allowed him to lick her face. "Where were you all these days and how did you manage? How did you get to Bangalore from Mumbai?"
All that Lalu could do was wag his tail in response. Humans did not understand his language. He barked in excitement. Jaya took him to the children who were very excited and waved their hands and feet in joy. They wished they were able to walk and play with Lalu.
They knew however that their time would come soon. Lalu settled into a corner of the verandah -it was as if it was made especially for him. Jaya too was happy that there was someone to stand by her and protect her children. With Lalu around, life would definitely be easier.
In fact, she did experience many unpleasant moments and comments from men who knew she was a single mother. They saw that she was young and beautiful and with her children, she was vulnerable.
Many had even dared to make advances to her. Though she knew how to take care of herself in a world dominated by men, the comments and advances were not pleasant. At times, men would follow her from the market right up to her doorstep.
"What a pity! Such a beautiful woman and so young too - she needs someone like me to keep her happy."
As if this comment was not enough, one man even approached her directly saying "I will do all your marketing for you and carry your bags. Treat me as your friend."
Another said, "I have lots of money but no friends. Will you become my friend?" Jaya had walked away from him hurriedly without replying.
One young lad hardly 18 years old would hang around her house the whole day, bunking college. He was infatuated with her. One day, he mustered the courage to approach her. "From the time I saw you, I cannot eat, I cannot sleep and I cannot even do my work. Will you marry me, please?"
Jaya was both irritated and amused at the same time. She firmly told him, "First go
home and wipe the milk from your mouth. Aren't you ashamed to be behaving in this manner with a woman much senior to you? Who do you think you are?" Taken aback, the young boy left quickly, seeing others approach the scene. He never came near her again.
Though Jaya was able to handle such advances, she also found them bothersome. She wished she could go out without these irksome comments and innuendos, in peace. .Why can't they leave me alone,' she thought. ●

Chapter Twelve LALU BECOMES HERO

All these problems vanished after Lalu joined the family. He would accompany her everywhere and was fiercely protective. He had the uncanny knack of knowing who was good-natured and who had other intentions. He would stop them with a growl or a snarl.
The sight of his fangs was enough to deter them from their intentions. They would quietly slink away, glad to be out of sight of the ferocious Alsatian dog.
Once, Lalu had chased a man who had approached Jaya in the market. He kept barking at him and chasing him right up to his house and even stayed for some time after the door was closed hurriedly, barking and making threatening growls. That man never dared to approach Jaya again.

Rani and Rahul would watch Lalu from their mattress. They were just three months old and loved to see his tail wagging. He too, loved to see their little hands and feet waving in the air and the gurgling sounds they made. The twins and the dog bonded well.
One evening, a thief snatched a lady's bag and started running away. In spite of the lady's shouts, none of the passers-by gave chase. They just stood there and watched. Nobody wanted to take risks. The lady continued to scream for help. Suddenly, a large German Shepherd appeared from nowhere and took off behind the thief. He was much faster than the man of course and caught up with him in no time at all.
Seeing the ferocious Lalu coming after him, the thief threw the handbag into the bushes by the side of the road and started running even faster but he could not outrun Lalu. Cornered by the dog, he stood terrified, cowering in terror. Looking at Lalu, he knew that had the dog wanted, he could have torn him to bits.
In fact, Lalu was thinking of biting the rascal but desisted from doing so. He only wanted to teach him a lesson - it was not his intention to hurt him. He caught the thief's sleeve and started dragging him towards the woman whose purse he had stolen. On the way, Lalu went into the bushes and picked up the bag, resuming the return journey with the thief and the stolen bag.
Meanwhile, a crowd had gathered. People became brave when they saw their numerical strength and started beating the thief. Lalu however, intervened and snarled at the men who wanted to beat the thief further. He barked at him once, as if to give him a warning and allowed him to go.
The crowd was perplexed. The woman knelt down and hugged the dog that had saved
her from losing her entire month's wages. Lalu's popularity soared after this incident.
Lalu was deeply attached to Rahul and Rani. He would bring their things after their bath, put his nose in when they were being dusted with powder and then back off sneezing, he would fetch their clothes and even their milk bottles. He loved being with them during their bath, watching them splash around in the water. He too would get wet in the process and later, shake the water off his fur.
After a while, he could even understand their language and they could understand his. It was either this or they enjoyed the gift of telepathy. Whatever it was, it was wonderful to see others were in awe over the near perfect understanding between the twin babies and the huge Alsatian dog.
The children loved him as he would go and fetch their balls from even the most inaccessible places. He also played with them and joined their games, getting between their legs and making them fall, but they did not mind. They would get up, dust their clothes and resume play.
He was also the leader of the local dog pack and played with other dogs in the locality, who were glad to have such a strong and handsome dog as their leader and protector.

Chapter Thirteen THE INSEPARABLE TWINS

Thus, three years passed. Rahul and Rani graduated from babies to toddlers and then started running around, much to the consternation of their mother and the joy of their dear friend Lalu. Now Lalu had two more companions to play with in the park. The days went by in a whir of joyful squeals and frenetic activity.
The twins were eventually admitted to the nursery class of the local school. Jaya and Lalu would see them off in the school bus and Lalu would bring them back home in the evening, either with Jaya or with the maid Radha.
During the day, Lalu would help Radha carry groceries and vegetables or play with other dogs and children in the
neighbourhood. In spite of the absence of their father, the twins were happy and proud of their mother. They were also very deeply attached to Lalu.
One day, Rahul had not done his homework. When the teacher asked him, he glibly told her, .Sorry, miss.
My dog ate my homework
I had done my work but the dog picked it up and carried it outside the house and ate it..
Rahul was afraid, for the teacher was strict and had the reputation of being harsh with the children. Could it be because she is unmarried and does not have children of her own? Rahul wondered.
"Don't tell me lies," the teacher told him sternly. Even as Rahul was preparing to reply, Rani came to his rescue. "No, miss, we both did our homework together but our dog Lalu... miss, he is a big Alsatian dog and has a mark on his forehead. and miss, he is very brave. he once chased and caught a thief who had taken away our neighbour auntie's purse."
"Okay, okay," the teacher said with irritation, not wanting to hear a lecture from Rani about her wonderful dog and its many virtues.
"Rahul, as this is your first time, I'm excusing you but next time, you will be punished if you don't show me your homework," she admonished.
"Yes, miss," said Rahul meekly, glancing at his sister in gratitude. She smiled at him mischievously. He also silently apologised to Lalu for using his name to get out of a tough situation. He would complete his homework without fail henceforth. He realised he had had a narrow escape.
Usually, Jaya would check and make sure that her children did their homework but that day, she had been tired after a long day's work. Rahul too had not reminded her.
After reaching home, Rahul went to Lalu and told him what had happened at school. Lalu listened to the little boy in rapt attention, cocking his ears to catch every word. He decided he would have to help the kids with their homework. He also knew that to be able to do this, he would have to do some bit of reading himself.
The next day, the entire family was amused to see Lalu holding a book open with his paws, looking at the pictures and trying to figure out the words. It was a book titled .German Shepherd' bought recently by Jaya who wanted to know more about Lalu's breed. Everyone had a hearty laugh at Lalu's expense. The dog seemed so engrossed in the book.

Rahul and Rani were almost inseparable. Unlike other siblings, they never argued or quarrelled. It was almost as if they were Siamese twins with separate bodies. They shared a bond that had begun much before they were born - when they were in their mother's womb. Time had only served to strengthen this bond.
Both were extremely intelligent and brilliant in their studies. After the single incident, their homework too was always completed without anyone's prodding. Not only were they well-up in their studies, they were also very good in general knowledge, thanks to Jaya's constant attention and coaching.
The family atmosphere was also happy ¬the twins caring for each other and holding a deep love for their mother. They were passionate about Lalu too, who was always near them when they were at home. They had a healthy respect for their maid Radha as well.

Rahul and Rani would have finished revising the entire book twice by the time
their teacher finished the first lesson. They were naturally able to answer all questions in class and during their examinations. They would even borrow the textbooks from senior class students and go through the books together. They were precocious children with a thirst to know more and to go to the depth of any topic.
Their teachers and the school principal were proud of Rahul and Rani, who consistently scored 100% marks in all subjects and jointly held the first rank in their class. They also won several prizes for their academic performances and extra¬curricular activities.
Eight years passed by happily, they are now in standard III. In fact, for many years running, Jaya had been invited to the school Annual Day celebrations and specially honoured by the school for nurturing such bright children in spite of being a single parent.
Once, one of the teachers, surprised at their continued brilliance, wondered how they could manage to get 100% in all subjects all the time. In his lifetime, he had never seen any student scoring over
99% in all subjects. He took up their answer sheets as a challenge and evaluated them.
To his great surprise, he found that their answers were perfect. They deserved nothing less than 100%. Still, his ego did not permit him to do so and he deliberately gave them 99%. The next day however, he was pricked by his conscience and revised his assessment, giving them the full 100%. ●

Chapter Fourteen CHILD GENIUSES

During a free period one day, Rahul happened to be passing the corridor next to Std. VIII, where a maths class was going on. The teacher had written a sum on the blackboard and asked the students for the answer. The entire class kept quiet and all the students put their heads down in shame. Nobody knew the answer.
Rahul, peeping through the class window, piped out the answer in a shrill voice. He could not hold himself, for he knew the answer. The teacher, new to the school, was startled and stared at the young boy in astonishment.
He did not appear to be a Std. VIII student from another division. He was too small. Before he could say anything however,
Rahul had dashed away, afraid he had done something wrong.
Finding out from other students who the boy was, the maths teacher summoned him to the class. He also sent another student to call the principal.
When Rahul arrived, he started pleading before the teacher. "Sorry sir, I will never disturb your class again." He was almost in tears, fearing he would be punished severely for the transgression. Meanwhile, the principal entered the classroom. He saw him pleading with the teacher to let him go and asked him in a very kind manner, "Rahul my son, what are you doing here?"
Before Rahul could stammer a reply, the maths teacher intervened -"Sir, this student correctly answered a Std. VIII maths sum -when none of my class could do it."
"How is it possible?" he continued. "This is simply unbelievable." The maths teacher then gave him other sums from the Class VIII curriculum, all of which Rahul answered correctly. The teacher and the principal were stunned. "He is a miracle child," said the maths teacher. "Yes, he is
a genius," added the principal. They spoke together about how they could take this matter up.
"My sister can also do these sums correctly," Rahul quietly told them. This surprised them even more. They had Rani brought to the class and found that Rahul was right - she too answered all the questions correctly.
"How can you manage to do this?" asked the principal and the teacher in unison. "I don't know, sir," Rani replied. "We just know the answers."
Within a few days, the school organised a press conference to which the chief reporters of all the prominent newspapers and journals were invited. Rahul and Rani were called to the podium. All the teachers and students of the school were also present.
In front of the entire audience, the teachers and even the reporters asked Rahul and Rani questions from even the Std X syllabus and many questions that required general knowledge. The twins answered all their questions correctly.
The newspapermen were dumbfounded. They had never witnessed anything like this before. The questions were from different subjects, like mathematics, history, biology, general science and so on. The reporters were wonderstruck by the twins ability to answer all questions without fumbling or even pausing to think.
Jaya was also there, as a special invitee and the proud mother of the special twins, but apart from smiling, she did not offer anything else to the audience. One of the reporters asked Rahul: "How is it that you can answer all these questions so easily? Have you always been able to do this? Since when did you realise you had this special gift?"
Rahul was about to answer but put his hands to his mouth -Rani would be the better person to answer. Rani looked at him and said, "You better answer." Rahul told her, "No, you answer, for it will be the same whether you answer or I do."
Rani then disclosed that they studied their lessons with great concentration, due to which they were able to grasp and remember what they had read. She also said that they borrowed the textbooks from
some of the senior class students and read them in their free time. She said their mother had helped them a lot and also taught them how to use the internet, from where they obtained more information.
She said that she and her twin brother also liked to watch cartoons on television and took time out to play with other children and their dog Lalu. The reporters were even more surprised. They thought the two would be bookworms and be spending most of their waking hours buried in their books.
The principal then gave a speech on ¬
How to be good students ¬
"My dear children and assembled guests," he said. Any school has hundreds of students. Yet, out of these hundreds, only a few are called good students. Does that mean others are bad? no, not at all. All students have the capability to become good students. It all depends on how well we use these capabilities. The good students have put their capabilities to good use. Others have let their capabilities remain inside, unopened, unable to come out and shine.
Gender has nothing to do with being a good student or otherwise. Any boy or any girl can be a good student. I believe that each one of us has the capacity to learn ¬a quality we derived from our birth. We learnt to walk, we learnt to speak, we learnt to eat on our own -we learnt so many things.
We will continue to do our learning -not only in school but even after we leave school, leave college, become parents and grandparents. Learning is one process that does not stop till one dies. However, learning is not always automatic. One has to show interest and curiosity to know more and more.
There has to be interest in learning. If interest wanes, the learning also reduces. How to keep the interest alive is the responsibility of each one of us. It is not required or even possible that each one of us will be interested in everything or the same things. We may have different interests but our curiosity, our desire to go into the depth of the matter, must remain alive.
Having interest and desire to learn is good but these alone are not enough. One must
also work hard. One must take the trouble and effort to pursue knowledge. Unless one works hard, one cannot expect knowledge -it does not fall from the heavens into our laps.
A good student utilizes his brain to think, research, study, experiment and find results. He does not depend on other people to find out answers and hand them over to him, but he uses his own thinking powers, his logic and uses them on what he has observed to deduce a conclusion. Only human beings have this highly developed sense of logic and reason. It is only when we use these powers that we become good students.
A good student is an avid reader, a good listener, analyses what he sees, hears and observes and has good comprehension skills. His memory is also good because he "imbibes" the knowledge and does not simply learn it .by heart' or mugs it up. If you .by heart' or .mug' something, you may pass exams, but your knowledge will be superficial and may not come handy when you need it, simply because you have not taken the trouble to understand what you have seen, heard observed, read or experienced.
Have you ever wondered what is so special about students who get .A's? They have the same two hands, two legs, two eyes and one head -just as each one of you. They are also not the favourites of their teachers -each one of you is. Then what makes them different from others? They are different because they display consistent, constructive behaviour patterns that are different.
Let us see what these are ¬
Firstly, they come to school on time. They are early to catch their bus, or use some other reliable transport. It is better to be early than late, because you may miss something valuable that has taken place. Remember, time lost is lost forever. They will also not be disrupting the class like the latecomers. They also do not have to do things in a hurry to catch up, like those who come late.
Good students always sit in the front of the class. You can choose to either sit in the front or be among the backbenchers. Those who sit in front can see the board clearly, hear the teacher better and avoid the company of the laggards who prefer the rear seats.
A good student will study his syllabus carefully right at the beginning of the year. He will also keep it safely and refer to it from time to time. A good student will also add to the syllabus anything extra that the teacher covers during the year and ask questions relevant to the syllabus. Do all of you do this?
Good students respect their teachers. They take the trouble to find out their names and address them as .Miss,' .Madam' or Sir. If you think it is appropriate, you may also refer to your teacher by their last name, like .Vivek sir.' Disrespect to the teacher is disrespect to the process of learning.
Good students come to the class prepared
-they come on time, they have their homework done, their books, pens, pencils and other things ready, they have also gone to the bathroom and do not need to leave once the class begins. They have also had their food and water so that hunger and thirst do not distract them from what is being taught.
Good students take notes during the class and revise them after they reach home. Those who cannot write fast, learn to jot
down just the important points, which they expand when they go back home.
With practice, good students know just what to pick up from whatever the teacher says during the class. Revising the notes every day not only helps understand the subject better but also keeps the knowledge fresh in your minds for a longer time.
I have seen that good students always keep the phone numbers of at least 2-3 good classmates. Whenever they have to miss a lesson, they call them and get an update on whatever has happened in their absence. The teacher cannot repeat a class just because somebody is absent. Isn't it your responsibility to ensure that you have caught up with what you have missed?
Whenever students are assigned a group task - be it a project or a presentation, the teacher knows that not everyone is good at everything. See where you can contribute to the group. A good student will volunteer to do that aspect of the work he is good at.
Others may say .I don't know how to do this. You guys handle it.' Who then, is the loser? Be serious about the assignment and see what you can learn from others in the group who are better than you at certain jobs.
At the same time, do not dominate the group and insist on having your own way. Be a good team player. It is everyone's effort that will count and not the effort of just one or two in the group - even if only a few do it, those who have contributed will benefit and those who have not, will only be fooling themselves - just as those who copy during exams do.
Getting good marks through cheating does not mean you have the knowledge. Good students never even think of copying or cheating during exams.
It is not true that good students never make mistakes. They do. What makes them different is that they learn from their mistakes and don't repeat the same mistake twice. Having realised and corrected their mistakes, good students also keep on trying to do things better.
If they have achieved 92% in their last test, they strive to make this 93% or more. They are never satisfied with what they do and always want to do more. They do not hesitate to ask their teacher for guidance and listen to their suggestions. They don't give up easily.
Lastly, good students have a positive attitude. They always take it in the right spirit whenever their teacher points out their mistakes or tries to make them do better. They are humble, eager to learn and have a healthy respect towards their teachers and elders.
They leave their personal matters at home and realise that they are here for the main purpose of learning. They don't waste their time talking on their cell phones, nor do they ever think they are smarter than their teachers or know everything there is to know.
These are some of the hallmarks of good students and I am telling you all these only because I know that each one of you can become a good student. There is not a single student in this auditorium who cannot do better, nor is there anyone who can be written off as useless. All you have to do is to have the right attitude, shake off your lethargy and work hard.
Aren't rank holders also boys and girls like you? If they can do it, can you not? Apply yourself. Where there is a will, there is always a way. I would be the happiest person on earth if all of you did so well
that the teacher does not know whom to give the first rank and whom to give the next. That is what I expect of you and I'm certain you are capable of this.
The speech ended to thunderous applause from all in the auditorium.
After most of the students had left, the principal told the reporters ¬
Many capable children experience frustration and failure in school. It is not because they lack ability, but because they do not have adequate study habits. Good study habits are important for success in school. Knowing how to study effectively fosters feelings of competence, develops positive attitude, and helps children realize they can choose how well they can do in school and in life.
Teachers and parents must work together to help children develop good study habits. Learning styles vary from child to child. Children need to discover how they learn best, work out a study system that fits their learning style and use that system regularly.
Parents of elementary students usually help their children more than parents of
adolescents. However, older students also need parental support and encouragement throughout high school, sometimes even later.
The reporters then started asking a few questions to Jaya and congratulated her on bringing up such bright and loving children. They left after chatting with the teachers and principal over tea and snacks. ●

Chapter Fifteen STORM CLOUDS GATHER

Poor Lalu was quietly hiding behind the door of the auditorium wondering why nobody asked him questions or even noticed him.
They could have included him in the meeting and given him due credit -after all, he too had helped the children in so many ways -carrying their schoolbags, looking after them, playing with them and even trying to learn how to help them in their homework. Of course he had not been able to do the last, but he had definitely been a significant contributor to their success.
He did have his moment though, for when they were just about to leave, he rushed in towards Jaya and started whining.
The reporters took some photographs of Jaya and the twins with Lalu proudly standing between them, wagging his tail.
Many parents came to meet Jaya and the principal after the reporters and other guests had gone. They also tentatively came near Lalu and patted him. Lalu was delighted and wagged his tail vigorously.
The principal told the students that they could also do what Rahul and Rani did. They should concentrate while studying and always have high ambition and morale.
He cautioned them however against spending all their time in study and said they should take short breaks to refresh themselves. The school did not want them to excel in study alone but to develop comprehensively in all aspects and become good citizens of the country.
The children nodded their heads but did not want to leave Lalu's company. Finally, the principal and other teachers had to shoo them away so that Jaya, Rahul, Rani and Lalu could leave in peace.
Rahul and Rani became famous after lengthy reports appeared along with their photographs in all the newspapers. Even
Lalu was happy with the attention he was getting. Jaya of course was extremely happy over the developments. Live was on a roll for the family.
Alas, nothing lasts forever -neither good times, nor bad. A few neighbours and others who were jealous of the children's success and fame, started making stories about them and spreading rumours. Their own children barely scraped through their exams and they could not see Rahul and Rani cornering all the glory.
Rahul and Rani were of course oblivious of these developments and so was Jaya. They went about their affairs as they always did, smiling, laughing and often hugging each other. This was enough for their jealous neighbours to twist facts and interpret them in a bad light. They lost no time in trying to turn the twins into villains.
Their taunts, innuendos and snide remarks did not take much time to reach Jaya and even the two children. This had of course been the intention in the first place. Radha was the first to hear of it and she was shocked. She did not expect any person in her senses to talk the way these people did about the children.
"Are they really brother and sister or lovers in disguise?"
"Just see their behaviour! I knew this was Kaliyug, but I did not expect things to go to this extent. Shame!"
"They look so young and innocent but look at their behaviour! We too were children once, but we never behaved like this."
Rahul and Rani, not knowing the reaction of these rumour mongers, continued to be as usual, holding hands, hugging and kissing in full view of everyone. They had nothing to hide and were only continuing a relationship that had begun even before they were born. This added fuel to the fire and gradually, the remarks began to reach Jaya and even the twins themselves.
"Is Rani your daughter or daughter-in¬law?" asked one of her nasty neighbours one day.
Deeply hurt, Jaya hid her tears and left the place in anguish. What had she or her innocent children done to deserve such vile comments? In deep pain, she tossed and turned on her bed, unable to sleep.
Rahul and Jaya were puzzled when their mother refused to allow them to go out and play. They no longer slept on the same bed either. They did not know what was wrong. They had heard that some of their neighbours had spoken badly about them, but they were too young to realize the import and seriousness of their words.
Even their mother was no longer cheerful. The peace and tranquility of the house had been shattered. They were confused and did not know how to handle the situation.
They asked their mother the reason for not being allowed to go out. They pleaded with her. All they got from her was silence and a few tears. She did not know how to tell them. They were too young and too innocent -they would never understand. She suffered in silence and so did they.
Lalu was not able to understand the sudden change in the household. He only knew something was drastically wrong. However, he could go out and he could also hear what other people were saying about Jaya, Rahul and Rani. He learnt the real reason very soon and decided he had to do something about it. These were wicked
people. They needed to be taught a good lesson.
One day, Lalu was slinking along the pathway in the park with his tail down and head drooping. A few children were playing but he paid no attention to them. When Rahul and Rani were moping inside the house, how could he play with them? He was sad and angry. How could they do this to the guileless children?
Lalu idly noticed that the children were playing with a ball, trying to break a small pyramid made of stones. He knew the game. He had played it many times before but always when Rahul and Rani were there. They were always together, part of the same team. Not once did they take opposing sides -even in play.
Lalu saw a boy of about 15 years from the near-by slum approach the children. He had a smirk on his face. He came to them and without saying anything, kicked the cairn they had made, scattering the stones hither and thither. The boys and girls, hardly half his age, looked at him with fear. Before they could say or do anything, he snatched their ball and started running away.
Lalu saw all this. Under normal circum stances, he would have intervened and even joined the game. The situation was different now. Not only was the home atmosphere gloomy, Rahul and Rani were not part of the game. It was none of his business any more.
When the children started crying however, Lalu could not be a mute spectator. He took off behind the bully, catching up with him in no time. Seeing the huge, snarling dog coming after him, the boy became terrified and took to his heels. He was no match for Lalu's speed.
To distract Lalu, he even threw the ball he had snatched but Lalu ignored it and continued after the boy. He could have caught up with him and even bit him quite easily but that was not his intention. He only wanted to frighten him so that he would never dare to trouble the children again.
The bully looked back at the dog, which was chasing him and ran smack into a tree. Had he wanted to, Lalu could have done anything to him. The boy was dazed and there was a trickle of blood from his forehead. Smiling to himself, Lalu turned
back, picked up the ball on his way and returned it to the children, who were extremely happy and danced and jumped around their friend and rescuer in joy.
Meanwhile, a group of parents and elders, hearing the cries of the children, had gathered in the park. When they saw Lalu returning with the ball, the bully having been chased away, and the children laughing and prancing in joy, they understood what had happened.
Silently, they thanked Lalu and appreciated his wisdom and love for the children. They came to him, patted him and one of them even offered biscuits but Lalu did not accept them.
His job done, he quietly moved away from the place, a morose and forlorn look on his face, even as the adults extolled him and continued singing his praise. ●

Chapter Sixteen THE TWINS ARE SEPARATED

Lying down between Rahul and Rani, Jaya was wracked by her thoughts and the taunts of neighbours constantly hammered her ears. She had put them on separate beds but they were too depressed and she could not bear to see their tears, so gathered them to her own bed, putting one on each side and sleeping in the middle.
At times she wondered was she over¬reacting? After all, they were only children
-just eight years old.
One morning, she found to her surprise that though she was in the middle when they went to sleep, during the night, somehow, the twins had got together and were in deep slumber, entwined in each other's arms.
How had they managed it? Looking at their innocent faces, she felt a rush of love for them. She had been cruel to them. Their love was pure. Yet, the neighbours. their insults. she had to do something about it. She got up, pensive and disturbed.
She was unable to concentrate on what she was doing all through the day. In the afternoon, she found that she was not focusing on her tuition students so told them to leave early and went and sat down on her easy chair, stretching her arms over her head and closing her eyes. She had to take a decision about Rahul and Rani.
Her neighbours' words haunt her -could there be some substance in what they were saying? Was the love between Rani and Rahul fraternal or. no, she could not even imagine it. They were just children and had always been together, right from the time she was carrying them in her womb.
Still, should they be subjected to the verbal barbs of their jealous neighbours? No. It was not fair to them. She searched for an answer. What should she do as a single mother? After much thought and soul searching, she decided that they had to be
separated. She would send one of them to a school, which had hostel facilities.
She knew her decision was not correct. Rahul and Rani were children and had always been very close -they were not behaving any differently than what they had behaved from the beginning. It was unfair to them but there was no alternative. She had to take a tough decision.
Her determination was strengthened when later that day, she heard some neighbours deliberately whispering loud enough for her to hear -that was their intention anyway ¬
"Who knows who the father of the kids is? Maybe even the mother does not know."
The other neighbour nodded her head.
"I wonder if she is even married. Should we have such a person in our midst? What effect will she have on our children - and even our husbands?"
Jaya walked away pretending to have not heard, but her mind was made up.
The next day itself, Jaya took Rahul to a boarding school in the same city and got him admitted there -much against his
wishes. He made a big row about joining the new school and staying in the hostel. "Mamma, please mamma," he pleaded. "What have I done? Why are you sending me away? Why are you punishing me?" Jaya had no answer to his questions.
"Mamma, I want to stay with you all. I don't want to go to the hostel. I want to be with you and Rani." Tears flowed down his soft cheeks. Rani was too distraught for words, sobbing continuously. "Please, mamma", she said amidst her sobs,
"I can't live without Rahul. We have been together all our lives. How can you send him away? We were together even before we were born. We were together after we were born. Now why are you separating us? Were we together all this time only to be separated like this?" she argued.
Jaya too was very sad and did not really like the decision she had taken. It was however sometimes necessary to take unpleasant decisions in the interest of the children. She turned a deaf ear to their pleas. Rahul was admitted to the new school and placed in the hostel -much against his wishes, Rani's wishes and even Jaya's wishes. Fate plays strange tricks on us.
After placing Rahul in the hostel, Jaya tried to pick up her life again but this was not to be. The peace and tranquility of the home had been shattered. All the happiness that was there earlier had evaporated. Radha went about her chores like a robot.
Lalu sat moping in a corner, refusing to go out and play like he used to. Rani was crying all the time and frequently woke up in the middle of the night shouting "Rahul!"
Jaya too, became listless and disinterested in what she did. Her zest for life and her energy and enthusiasm had vanished. She thought of Rahul all the time, wistfully looking at the vacant spot on the bed where he used to sleep. She even stopped taking tuitions and went into depression. She ate without hunger, often missed meals and started taking sleeping pills in order to get some rest.
Rani too, stopped taking interest in school, did not go out to play and eventually stopped going to school. Jaya too did not protest. She was too deep into depression by then. The house was dark even when all the house lights were on. Nobody had a clue about how to come out of the situation.
One afternoon, when Jaya had fallen asleep out of sheer tiredness and boredom, Rani quietly slipped out of the house. Even Lalu did not see or hear her leave the house. Asking people for directions and with the help of some good Samaritans, she managed to reach Rahul's school.
When she reached the school, it had just ended and it was playtime, so she could meet Rahul. The twins were overjoyed to see each other and went into a tight embrace and kissed each other on the cheeks and forehead.
"Come Rahul, let us go away somewhere", said Rani. Rahul too, was fed up of the school, the hostel and his life there. He had missed Rani terribly. He had also missed his mother and Lalu and was terribly unhappy. The twins conferred in whispers and decided to run away.
They gradually moved towards the main gate pretending to be in serious conversation and when the watchman's attention was temporarily elsewhere, both dashed out of the gate and before one could blink, had disappeared into the crowd walking along the road. Other boys, who were playing near the gate, raised an alarm and the watchman too tried to look for them, but they had already disappeared from the scene. In spite of the watchman and his colleagues and a few senior students scouring the area around the school, Rahul and Rani were nowhere to be seen. They had fled the scene and escaped. ●

Chapter Seventeen TO DIE OR NOT TO DIE

When they were sure that they were not being chased or followed, the twins stopped and took stock of their situation. They had some money with them, but very little. They did not want to go back to Rahul's school. They did not want to go back home either, for them their mother would again put Rahul back in the same school and hostel. They had nowhere to go.
They used some of the money they had for food, eating from a roadside vendor. Wandering aimlessly, they came to the outskirts of the town and entered the jungle and started climbing the densely wooded hill. They were tired when they reached the top and scratched by the thorny bushes on the way. On the other side of the hill, they could see the still waters of the lake.

Tired, dirty and sleepy, they lay down on the grass under a large tree and almost immediately went off to sleep, their arms around each other. Their faces were dirty and streaked, though they had tried to wipe each other's tears. Their clothes were tattered and dirty. They had no money, no place to go and no friend to rely on. Yet, they slept peacefully in each other's embrace.
The stray dogs, cats and other animals in the forest looked at the twins in sympathy. The children seemed to be in a bad shape. The animals wanted to do something for them, to lighten their misery, but did not know what to do. They communicated
among themselves and not finding a way to help the twins, went away to attend to their own business -the job of surviving in a cruel, unrelenting world.
Rahul and Rani were however, unaware of the animals around them. They were fast asleep, in their own dream world.Strangely, they were both dreaming the same dream.
They were together, in a forest, and confused. It was a dark, foreboding place with creepers hanging from every branch blocking their way, thick roots springing up from the ground to trip them and unknown sounds of creatures padding softly or slithering around. Somewhere, an owl hooted.
"What can we do?" Rahul asked Rani. "We cannot go back to the cruel world. We cannot even survive in this jungle full of unknown dangers and risks. I think our only option is to end our lives."
"But suicide is sin," replied Rani.
"Hmmm", mused Rahul. "But I believe there is life after death too."
"That's what I too believe," replied Rani. "Maybe we can both commit suicide and start a new life together."
Both kept quiet for some time. They were not sure that this was the best idea but no other idea occurred to them. It seemed as if this was the only way out for them from their present situation. Still, they continued to think and voice their thoughts and feelings. The debate continued.
Suddenly, they heard a loud voice reverberating through the hills: "Suicide is sin. suicide is sin." it echoed. Rahul and Rani looked around but could not locate the source of the voice. They clung to each other in fear.
"Don't be fools," the voice said. "Don't die before your time comes. Do you know what some of the great religions of the world have to say about suicide?"
"No. We don't know. What do they say?" asked the children.
"Then listen," said the voice.
The Hindus believe that the souls of those who commit suicide or die violent deaths are denied the right to after life. They therefore remain wandering in limbo till they repent for their sins and are redeemed.
Christians believe that committing suicide is a grave sin, for only God has the right to give and take life. Life is God's gift and no mortal should tamper with it. That is what the Christians believe.
In Islam, suicide is considered .haraam' -something that is unholy, wrong and should neither be permitted nor tolerated. Muslim clergy condemns suicide and a few Sufi scholars even consider suicide bombing as .haraam.'
"Suicide is forbidden by Jewish law. Judaism has traditionally viewed suicide as a serious sin. It is not seen as an acceptable alternative to the trials and tribulations of life. The Jews feel that Jehovah has put difficulties in their paths to test them and to make them better human beings.
"Jainism however, is largely held to accept suicide as a way of life. Many Jain munis are known to have starved themselves to death. There could however, be a deeper significance to this, which is not easily understandable to most of us.
"The law too, prohibits suicide, though it is ����� that only those who have failed
can be punished. The law cannot touch those who are successful in committing suicide".
"Think this all over," the voice said. "Make a conscious and correct choice." The voice faded away even as the twins woke up from their sleep.
"Did you hear the voice?' Rahul asked Rani.
"Yes. Did you too have the same dream?" asked Rani in reply.
"Was it all only a dream?" wondered Rahul and the children spoke at some length and finally came to the conclusion that they should not commit suicide but return to their mother and their home and face the world bravely.
Their mother had nurtured and protected them without any support from her family or that of her husband's. She had tried to do her best for them as a single parent, but these jealous neighbours. she must be under great tension now.
"Mummy, where are you?" the children cried in unison. ●

Chapter Eighteen TWIN TRAGEDY

When the watchmen and some of the senior boys returned from their search empty handed without finding Rahul and Rani, they reported the matter to their principal - that Rahul had run away from the school with a girl. The principal had no alternative but to inform the police and Rahul's only parent -Jaya.
By the time the principal phoned Jaya, she had already discovered that Rani was nowhere in or around the house and was just about to set off in search for her with Lalu. As soon as she heard what Rahul's principal had to say, she knew that Rahul and Rani had gone together.
She rushed to the school and even as she was talking to the principal, Lalu started
tugging her sari. He had picked up the scent of the twins and wanted to take Jaya to them. Hurriedly excusing herself from the principal, Jaya left the school and started following Lalu who set off at a fast pace, hot on the trail of the twins.
Even as Rahul and Rani were getting up to return home, they were being stalked by a hungry wolf. The children were of course unaware, but the other animals had better senses of smell and hearing and had already run away from the spot or climbed trees to be safe. The children, blissfully unconscious of the danger, got up hand in hand and started skipping their way homeward.
The wolf was in no hurry. This was going to be easy. The children had no defences, they could not run faster than he could and had nothing to protect themselves -they neither had claws nor had hooves. They had no fangs either. He approached them with casual arrogance, licking his lips in anticipation of a succulent meal. He had not eaten well for a long time.
The children were startled when they saw the wolf. They trembled and held on to
each other in terror. Together, they started backing away from the wolf not daring to even look behind them. The wolf too advanced slowly towards them, eyes red and tongue lolling, confident that the prey was his for the taking.

The twins continued to move slowly backward till they realized to their horror that they had reached the edge of a precipice from where there was a 100 ft. drop to the waters of the lake.
It was almost like the old idiom -caught between the devil and the deep blue sea - only in this case, the devil was a hungry wolf and the deep blue sea was a lake 100 feet below them.
It was ironical that just at a time when they had decided to live, death was chasing them. They moved back as far as they could -another inch and they would fall off the precipice into the water. They watched the wolf slowly advance towards them. When the wolf crouched in readiness to jump on them ¬
They screamed, shut their eyes and took a step back. straight down 100 feet into the deep waters of the lake.
Not knowing swimming, they struggled and shouted for help, thrashing their limbs in the water in an effort to keep themselves from sinking. It was amazing that even in their struggles, they did not let go of each other's hand.
They screamed for their mother. They gasped for breath and coughed out water from their lungs whenever they came to the surface. But the lake was large and unmerciful and the children were small and helpless. The children soon disappeared under the water.
Within seconds, even the last ripple had disappeared and the lake appeared as calm and placid as ever. ●

Chapter Nineteen LALU FINDS AND DISAPPEARS

Jaya was tired by the time she reached the edge of the forest with Lalu. Not wanting to proceed further, she rested her back against the trunk of a tree and called Lata from her cell phone. From Lalu's behaviour, it was obvious that her children had entered the forest. She did not know where they were and how they were faring in an unknown place without help.
Lata being a practical woman, immediately phoned the police and arranged to have a police party reach the forest at once. She told Jaya to stay where she was and that help was on its way. She too was starting immediately and would be reaching the forest as soon as possible.
Lalu
Meanwhile, Lalu had gone ahead alone. He saw that Jaya was tired. She would only be a liability had she continued. He could do better without her. The scent of the twins was now stronger but there was another scent that he could not immediately identify. It took him some time to do so but in the end, he recognized the scent.

The hairs on his neck bristled. His lips curled back from his teeth in a silent snarl. The twins were in danger. He quickened his pace, following their scent trail and reached the precipice from where they had fallen into the lake. He was confused, for he lost their scent there.

He realized that the wolf could not harm them and had moved away after a while, but there was no sign of Rahul or Rani.
The scent trail had ended abruptly at the edge of the peak.
Lalu howled in frustration.
By the time he returned to Jaya, Lata and a few policemen had already joined her. Lata was comforting the distraught mother of the twins while the

policemen were searching for clues
It took him nearly half an hour to locate
on the banks of the lake at the edge
their bodies. Even in death, they were
of the forest.
joined together. They had been inseparable They did not seem to know what they in life and were inseparable in death as were looking for, wandering aimlessly well. Barking loudly to draw the attention here and there, shouting "Rahul!" of the searchers, Lalu took hold of Rahul's and "Rani!" without much hope of a shirt and started pulling the two entwined response. bodies to the shore. A couple of policemen
who knew swimming, entered the lake and
Suddenly, it struck Lalu that the children
helped him bring the bodies ashore.

had either jumped or fallen into the lake trying to escape from the fangs of
When Jaya saw the dead bodies of her children, she swooned and fell down. Lalu
the wolf.
was disconsolate. He rushed hither and He immediately plunged into the water, thither in frenzy, howling his anguish. He swimming here and there, trying to pick felt as if the sky had fallen on his head. up the scent of the twins. He sniffed the bodies of the children, hoping
in vain to detect some sign of life. Alas! He was too late.
Not knowing what to do, Lalu ran away from the scene and disappeared. The others tried calling him and looking for him but after some time, they gave up and left the place with the bodies of the two children.
Jaya had come to her senses but was weeping all the time. She had lost her voice along with her children. She fainted frequently and had to be revived by sprinkling water on her face. Lata and Radha were constantly by her side.
After the post-mortem and other formalities were completed, the bodies of the children were brought home. The police registered the event as death due to accidental drowning and closed the case.
Jaya's neighbours -even those who had been responsible for spreading false rumours about the character of the children
-gathered to offer their condolences. All of them felt sorry and repented their actions. A few staff members from both Rahul's and Rani's schools were present. Heads drooped, eyes were moist and the atmosphere was somber and bleak.
The neighbour women, Lata and Radha tried to comfort Jaya but the bereaved mother was inconsolable. Those who gathered recollected experiences and how well behaved and intelligent the children were, how well Jaya had brought them up and looked after them alone etc.
Jaya was crying herself hoarse, "Rahul, wake up. I will never put you in a hostel again. Rani, I will never take Rahul away from you. speak to me Rani."
Most of those who had gathered remained silent. They were feeling guilty and knew that it was they who were responsible for the children's death -through their jealousy, their insensitive and harsh words, their insults. now it was too late. The children were dead. All they could do was silently pray to God to forgive them and to give everlasting peace to the two children.
When Jaya suddenly shouted, "Where is Lalu?" the neighbours remembered the affectionate, playful dog who had always protected the children -not just Rahul and Rani but all the children in the neighbourhood.
They recalled how Lalu had chased away the bully who had snatched the children's ball, how Lalu had recovered the lady's handbag from the thief. several other incidents too, but Lalu himself was not there to hear their words of praise. He had just vanished.
The bamboo stretcher to carry the bodies of the two children was made ready and the children were placed on it. They appeared to be sleeping. Even those who had controlled their tears so far cried openly when the stretcher was lifted on to the shoulders of the pallbearers.
"Don't take them away," cried Jaya,
"Let my third child -Lalu -come."
There was however, no sign of Lalu, they still waited for some time and finally the mourners lifted the bamboo stretcher bearing the bodies of the children and moved away from the house, carrying it on their shoulders. An earthen pot kept by the side threw plumes of grey smoke.
"Ram naam satya hai," they chanted. ●

Chapter Twenty LALU'S SUPREME SACRIFICE

The procession slowly moved to the cremation ground where a pyre made of logs of wood had already been prepared. The stretcher containing the bodies of Rahul and Rani was placed on the pyre. Flowers were strewn on their bodies.
More logs of wood were placed over the bodies, covering them completely. A priest was chanting prayers and performing rituals. Finally, the pyre was lit and soon became a blaze.
Suddenly, Lalu appeared from nowhere and rushed towards the pyre. Bystanders tried to shoo him away. Jaya called out to him and hugged him but he wriggled away from her and in spite of the shouts and gestures of the onlookers, leapt into the fire.

There was one final howl of pain and the flames consumed Lalu, along with the bodies of the two children he loved.
"Lalu my child, please come back. You are my only child now. If I lose you, who will I have. who will protect me and take care of me. please come back. Lalu. Lalu." Alas, Jaya's pleas went in vain. Lalu was already dead. He had joined Rahul and Rani.
Now, nobody could separate them -not even Jaya.
Jaya fainted again - probably the emotion and exertion were too much for her. When attempts to revive her failed, a doctor was summoned. With his treatment, she regained consciousness after a while but
was crying all the time. The doctor told her that however bitter, reality had to be accepted. With a kind word doctor left.
Lata and the other ladies escorted Jaya home and consoled her as best as they could. Lata was with her all the time and never left her side. On her part, Radha managed the house without saying a word.
Lata in fact, stayed with Jaya for about a week and went back to her own house only when she saw that Jaya had recovered sufficiently to now be able to manage without her constant presence. Of course Radha was there and could always call her on the phone whenever she was needed.
Jaya took out a photograph of Rahul and Rani with Lalu between them. She had the picture enlarged and framed. She put up the picture on her bedroom wall and would look at it often, almost always with a sigh. Gradually, she began to come out of her depression. She resumed her tuition classes after a couple of months.
As they say, time is a great healer.
One day, she received a call from the principal of the school where Rahul and Rani had studied. When she went to meet
him, he made an offer to her. He told her that the Trust not only ran the school but also a college. The principal wanted Jaya to take up the post of headmistress as the present headmistress was due to retire in a month.
Jaya kept silent. This was too sudden. It meant another big change in her life. Thanking the principal for his kind offer, she requested for a couple of days to give her answer.
Actually, it was her friend Lata who had approached the principal for Jaya. She had known that Jaya had been a lecturer earlier and had the qualifications to be one. She also had a few copies of her resume from the time when Jaya had first come to Bangalore and stayed at her place for a few months.
At that time, she had even got her a job as a lecturer but Jaya had preferred to continue with her tuitions and stay at home.
Even now, the college did have a vacancy for a lecturer and Jaya could have easily got the post but Lata felt it would be better for her to join the school, especially the same school where Rahul and Rani had
studied. She spoke to Jaya and persuaded her to take up the job. Jaya finally accepted.
After a month, she became the new headmistress of Swami Vivekananda School. She was allotted quarters within the school campus and shifted to her new residence. She was just about 37 and pretty as a picture.
Wandering in the school playground, Jaya wondered what further tragedies were in store for her. ●

Chapter Twenty One LIFE AFTER DEATH

Life went on for Jaya, but only because she was not dead. There was nothing to live for. She had left her husband and home, she had lost her twins and also her pet dog Lalu, who was a third child to her. Life had become empty without them. She carried on listlessly, wracked by old memories.
One night, she saw Rahul and Rani lying by her side on the bed. Lalu was also there at the foot of the bed, whining for attention and wagging his tail. How could this be? She got up with a start.
It was as she had known within herself. It had all been a dream. She tried to go back to sleep but sleep had deserted her. She laid on her bed the rest of the night, tossing and turning, not knowing who to turn to and who to blame.
The same dream haunted her again and again. She could even hear Rani's tinkling voice: "Mummy, here I am! Catch me if you can!"
"No, no. catch me first!" - This is Rahul.
Even Lalu, who could do little else but yelp, snarl, bark and whine, started speaking to Jaya in her dreams. "Don't you recognise Lalu, your third child?" All this was weird. Jaya could not understand what these dreams signified. She knew they were dreams and yet, it was as it Rani, Rahul and even Lalu were reaching out to her through her dreams and trying to tell her something.
Confused and not knowing what to make out of these repeated dreams, Jaya would get up, sit thinking for a while, then splashes some water on her face and sit thinking -it was not possible for her to sleep after such disturbing dreams.
Often memories of her children, their pranks and their love for each other would come rushing to her mind and Lalu too would be there -poor, faithful Lalu who had followed her all the way from Mumbai to Bangalore only to be burnt to ashes.
She would wipe her tears, sigh and try to go to sleep again, but sleep eluded her.
What Jaya did not know was that Rahul had already been born again, as the son of an industrialist and business magnate V.
J. Mally. He grew up as a precious child of rich parents and was pampered and looked after like a prince. When he became three years of age, he was admitted to St. Joseph's School, one of the elite schools in Bangalore, meant only for aristocrats and rich industrialists.