Biography

The Little Girl

Being far away from protection

Once upon a time, in the large and lively city of Bilaspur, standing gracefully on the banks of the Arpa River, lived a cheerful little girl. This is recited in the opening lines of my state song, and it has always held a special place in my heart.

Even today, as I sit in my marital home and write these words, the memories of my childhood city return to me with surprising clarity. Bilaspur—fondly remembered as “बिलासा की नगरी”—has always occupied a warm corner in my heart.

Back then, our colony was a small world of its own. Concrete houses stood close together, narrow lanes echoed with children’s laughter, and every evening a group of kids gathered to play. Our games had no complicated rules, except one sacred principle: no cheating.

Among those children was a lively little girl who laughed easily and ran faster than most. Her younger brother followed her everywhere like a small shadow.

Around that time, the girl had fallen ill with chickenpox. Because of it, she could not be admitted to school that year and had to remain at home. But childhood has its own ways of learning. While other children attended classrooms, she spent her days reading small books, writing alphabets, and inventing playful lessons with neighborhood friends.

One afternoon, the children decided to play “school.”

A friend assumed the role of teacher and stood proudly before the imaginary class.

“अ से क्या होता है बच्चों?” she asked.

The little girl raised her hand confidently.

“अनार.”

“Very good!” the teacher replied with approval.

Then came the next question.

“Tell me, what comes from इ?”

Without hesitation, the girl answered,

“इमली.”

But her younger brother could think of nothing. After a moment of struggle, he frowned and declared,

“Let’s play something else. I don’t like this game.”

The children burst into laughter, and the classroom dissolved into another round of carefree play.

---

One day, while wandering near the lane, the children overheard two men talking.

One of them said,

“Have you heard? A grand fair has been organized nearby. It’s amazing.”

The other replied,

“Yes, my daughter has been asking me to take her there. I’m planning to go.”

“Tell me when you go,” the first man said. “I’ll follow you.”

The children listened silently, their curiosity growing with every word.

A fair meant bright lights, sweet treats, giant swings, toys, and performers doing astonishing tricks.

The little girl whispered to her friends,

“I’m getting bored here.”

Her friend replied thoughtfully,

“Maybe we should go there once.”

Her younger brother immediately asked,

“May I come too?”

After a brief pause, they agreed.

The girl was only six years old.

---

One afternoon, guided purely by excitement, the little girl, her younger brother, and their colony friend quietly left for the fair.

They told no one at home.

The fairground was nearly five kilometers away.

But at that age, distance meant very little. The little girl thought innocently,

“We’ll be back soon. Why worry anyone?”

The road stretched long before them like a quiet serpent—straight, yet somehow mysterious.

---

When they finally reached the fair, the place looked magical.

Colorful lights sparkled everywhere. The smell of sweets and roasted snacks drifted through the air. Giant swings creaked high into the sky, while acrobats performed daring feats that left the crowd clapping in delight.

The children were mesmerized.

The younger brother held his sister’s hand tightly as they wandered through the moving sea of people.

But in their excitement, something unfortunate happened.

They forgot why they had come… and how to return home.

---

Slowly evening approached.

The sky turned dim, and the crowd grew thicker.

The little girl, her brother, and their friend stood quietly for several minutes, staring at one another with growing worry.

Soon their eyes filled with tears.

First softly… then uncontrollably.

They walked to a corner and prayed with innocent sincerity:

“O Lord, please show us the way home.

We promise we will never be so careless again.”

Just then, a thin man with a moustache approached them.

He looked carefully at their frightened faces and spoke gently,

“I think I have seen you children somewhere. You belong to our colony, don’t you?”

They nodded silently.

“How did you come here alone? It’s evening now. Is anyone with you?”

The children did not answer. Instead, they instinctively held his hands.

In that moment, his simple words felt like sunlight breaking through a cloudy sky.

The man calmly led them through the crowd and walked them back toward their colony. Soon they reached the familiar lanes of their neighborhood.

He left them near their homes.

And just like that—he disappeared quietly into the evening.

The little girl and her brother slipped inside their house as if nothing had happened.

But their sudden return had not gone entirely unnoticed.

---

Moral

A single malicious intention can leave lasting scars.

Yet one simple act of kindness can remove fear and restore faith in humanity.

Helping someone who is lost may seem like a small gesture, but for that person, it means the whole world.

---

A Small Wish

Years later, the writer often wandered through the streets of the city, pausing to look at posters of upcoming films.

Sometimes she imagines that if she ever finds Doraemon's Time Machine, she would travel back once more to the childhood streets of Bilaspur and visit the beloved Mama Bhanja Talab.

Because some places are not just locations on a map.

They are memories that live forever in the heart. ' बिलासा की नगरी, मामा भांजा तालाब. 

Celebrating Teachers Day