The Kids from the Hills

They were three of them and they had left behind the only home they knew and have following their surrogate grandmother to visit Delhi. The ride in the Rajdhani Express from Gauhati was something they enjoyed and remembered with smile on their beautiful, tiny and little lovable faces. They hard remember that they had lost their parents who had suffered and succumbed to the epidemic of AIDS. They carried forward not only the genes of their biological parents by also the HIV virus a legacy from their parents. One is 8 , the other 6 and the youngest just 3 years;they were just so cute, tiny, so smiley, so innocent and very cheerful. None would ever think and believe that this children harbor and carry the lethal virus that destroy their immature immune system so viciously and so unsparingly each moment.

Their grandmother narrated their tales not only the medical history or treatment stories, but the challenge and the future of her grandchildten. I carried them on my lap, give them a hug and conduct medical examination to which they were so cooperative and unafraid. They were excited of everything, and everything inthe city are new to them. They were so happy to be in a big city and it was the first time they were out from the green, hilly resort they have in Kohima. They had not remembered much nor have memories of their parents to share but even if they had the colors and sights of the city surely made them forgot those troubling and sad memories. In anycase their parents ha left them and had since long been gone. They need to move on and races one with life filled with excitement and joy for one day at a time.

March 15 2006