. She was tired mentally and physically. Perhaps she slept on the bench. Suddenly she realised that she was not in the park but in a bed in a big room.. The first thought that came to her mind was that her brother had found her and she was in the house of the old man. No, she was wrong. She was in some new place. She looked around. No one was to be seen . She again drooped into sleep. She got up with a start when someone touched her fore head. A lady asked her how she was feeling. The first question Paro asked, ”Where am I ? How did I reach here?”The lady said,” You can call me Aunty. Don’t worry, you are in safe hands. Where is your house? Where are your parents?” Paro was still in a dazed condition. She could not think logically. She herself did not know how she had reached this place. She was in such a state of uncertainity that she herself tried to recollect the events how and when she came here. Her eyes were still closed, when sound of some people talking echoed in the room. She saw a young man talking to another man, who seemed to be a Doctor, because of a stethoscope round his neck. The lady who was talking to her was also there. The Doctor came near her bed and said,”Hello, young lady, how are you?”
Paro,” I am all right.”
The Doctor asked,” What is your name?.”
She replied,”My name is Parvati, but every one calls me Paro”.
The way she spoke innocently , made everyone smile. The Doctor said that she was fine. He took the young man outside and told him, “She is stressed. She will be allright in a day or two after some rest.”The man came inside and addressed the lady, “Mom, the Doctor says she is fine. Get her some breakfast.”After his mother left he addressed Paro,” Should I call you Paro or Parvati? Before she said something, his mom entered with a tray . “Have your breakfast. Mannu, you also come. You have not had anything since morning. I will get some milk.” Paro asked him why he had not taken breakfast. He smiled and said,”I went to call the Doctor. He has certified you are well, now I will have my breakfast with you.”Paro felt shy and looked the other side.
After breakfast, he took her outside. He supported her and walked at a slow pace with her. They sat under the shade of a big mango tree. Mannu asked her lovingly whether she was comfortable. She just nodded her head. He asked her that why she was sleeping in the park all alone. She was terrified. She did not want to think of the past events. Something in the eyes of this young man encouraged her to speak. She told him everything about her past. Next day in the morning, she told the lady of the house that she was leaving. Mannu’s mother asked her where she would go. Paro did not say anything. She herself did not know where to go. Mannu’s mother told her that a friend of hers was working in Social Welfare Department. She said,”I can refer you to her. She may be able to help you.” Paro was more than happy on this proposal.
Paro met Mrs Gidwani in her office. Mrs. Gidwani sent her to an orphanage for girls. She advised Paro to study and help the matron in day to day work of the orphanage. Next day when Paro went there, she felt as if she had come to her own house. The first thing that attracted her was a notice board.
“People become really quiet remarkable when
they start thinking they can do things. When
they believe in themselves they have the secret
to success.” – Norman Vincent Peale
Paro met the matron, Indira Rani, who was like a mother figure. The girls were very fond of her. Paro told her story to Indira Rani. On hearing the the struggle in Paro’s life, tears came to her eyes. She introduced Paro to all the girls. There were about 35 girls ranging from five years to twenty years of age. All the girls were victims in the hands of cruel society. Three of them were newly born when they were discarded by their parents.
A new life started for Paro. She was very considerate towards the girls. She could relate to their miseries. She decided that she will get every girl well settled.
Time passed. Paro completed her post graduation in Sociology. Indira Rani gave charge to Paro. Mannu was a good friend. He loved Paro and raised the issue of marriage to her but she politely refused as she was committed to settle the girls staying in the orphanage. He too joined her in her noble venture. All the girls were given training in a subject of their choice. They were made relent reliant. Most of them were married off in good families.
On Republic Day, the President of India conferred the award, of Padma Shri to Paro.
