It was a moment of revelation or something which made me really brood over the strange ironies of life or should I say the wild fantasies of life.

I was walking back from college yesterday evening enjoying the sound and fury of city life, which I have just started to get accustomed to. I was in my own world and unconsciously was humming softly in my heart. When I came to Varkeys Supermarket I remembered I had a promise to keep - to Ammu, the five year old daughter of my neighbour; a cute little girl who is a regular visitor to my house. Yesterday as I was getting ready to come to college, she came to me and started talking to me in her childish way. When I kissed her goodbye at the gate she told me, "Didi, bring me a big bar of chocolate when you come back in the evening." I kissed her again promising to bring it for her.

I got into the supermarket, went around and purchased a few things which I wanted and of course a big bar of chocolate for Ammu. When I was just adjusting my slip-ons, I could feel someone pulling my duppatta from behind. I turned back and found a small girl of three or four years smiling at me with open palms. She was in dirty rags, her hair unkempt. Her complexion was tanned - maybe due to constant exposure to the sun. But what caught my attention were her eyes - so innocent but so deep.I felt her eyes telling me something. She didn't say anything to me and I just stared at her and then suddenly so many things flashed through my mind. I opened my plastic kit and took out the bar of choclate that I had bought for Ammu and placed it in her hands. I don't know why I did that but as soon as she got it in her hands, she started jumping with joy. It was as if she had just got something she had been wanting for a long time. Without saying anything to me she turned back jumping and started walking back. Suddenly I caught hold of her hand and placed a five-rupee coin, which I had just received as change, in her hand. She took that too and walked away, turning back in between and waving to me.

I too walked home, but instead of the soft music there was a silent pain inside - the reason for which I don't know. One side of my mind was full of questions and on the other side I could hear voices "Ammu,don't do this," "don't do that," "sweetheart,come for lunch,""dear be careful" then lullabies and lots more.

Suddenly I felt like seeing that girl again.I turned back but she was gone. Where? To whom? Who will take care of her? What will be her future?