Lost girl in the crowd
I’ll find you, Don’t worry.
I’m a 7-year-old girl traveling with my parents and relatives. We are proceeding to a temple of the goddess our clan deity.
The temple is crowded with devotees because of the festival. We entered the temple’s large stone gate. It’s an ancient temple so it’s beautifully carved out of marble rock.
I can see the goddess statue adorned with gold ornaments and dressed in a shining red saree. Her eyes were wide and had a serious facial expression.
When I came out of the inner sanctum, I saw a group of women possessed by the goddess. They were twirling their head with long black hair falling on the face. I had never encountered such a scary scene But I was curious enough to stare at them.
After some time I found myself surrounded by unidentified people. The crowd pushed me into the line. I was searching for my parents, my eyes filled with tears. Women around me were staring and murmuring among themselves, “Who left this girl here.”
I saw a woman inspector patrolling. I went to her and grabbed her hand. She asked me sweetly, “Where are your parents?”
I said, “I don’t know.”
She inquired all the ladies standing in line near me, and everybody replied they didn’t know anything about me.
Lady Inspector held my hand and took me to the stage, I think it was a section for lost children.
She said, “Sweety, What is your name and age.”
I told my full name but I don’t know my age.
She said, “Can I ask You are studying in which class?”
I said, “Yes I know, I’m in 4th standard.”
I heard her announce my name loudly. I was sitting on a chair drinking juice offered by the lady.
I saw my papa had reached, he brought a smile to my face and I was pleased But inspector lady stood between us turning to my father she said, “I can keep your daughter if you can’t take care of her.”
My father said, “It’s crowded in the temple and she was dragged away from us. We have been looking for her, thank you. May the Goddess bless you.”
I ran and hugged my Papa, he lifted me in his arms and we went back.
I saw a wide smile on the Inspector’s face. I admire her, I wish everybody would think in the same way.
Whenever I think about this incident I question myself
what would have happened to me if I hadn’t managed to meet the Lady inspector?
What if my father wasn’t able to find me?
My life might have turned into a disaster. Maybe I would have to beg people for food to survive.
