The paper snake shikhar made for me.

This is the joy I always thought about. The one you derive from the smallest of things.

So, I met a bunch of kids today at the jail, who live in the jail, not because they have committed a crime but because their mothers have either done wrong or have been accused of something they haven't even done.

What lively kids. When I introduced myself they said: Hum bhi copy layenge, hume bhi padhao ma'am.

While teaching them, one of them said, "ma'am yeh meri lubber le rahi hai" and I was like " L nahi R, rubber" and then started the L vs R debate. Expect for them L and R not only sounded the same, they just couldn't say R. For one hour I tried to make them say "rubber" and promised to give a star to that one kid who says it first. Oh the eagerness the get that star from their "ma'am" , finally I managed to make five of them say rubber and gave them stars. The others were disappointed obviously but told me they'll learn.

This really enthusiastic girl, mansi, was my favorite! She kept asking me questions, riddles and what not. "Maam kahani sunao? Ma'am baccho waali nahi, bado waali" "maam aap kitne bade ho? Maam kavita sunao? Maam questions poocho? Maam aapke paas dolls hai?
Maam aapka bachpan kaise tha? Not giving the question a second thought, i said, jaisa sabka hota hai!
It was only later that I realized what Id said was so untrue. These kids were in the Jail for nothing. I have to write so much.

"Maam gareeb ko english mein kya kehte hai" "poor" toh kya mein poor hu? "Tumhe aisa kyu lagta hai? Ek baar maam ne meri copy mein likha tha.

This one lady wasn't ready to "promise" me that she'll come to school everyday. She said "promise ka matlab toh waada hota hai, woh toh todte nahi haina? Mein nahi kar rahi waada, kabhi beemaar padh gayi aur nahi aa payi toh?"

So much to think about. So much there to do.