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The Gift - By- Sandhya Acharya Sandhya, 21, lives in Thane, a suburb of Mumbai. She works with Siemens at Worli, which happens to be a long way from her home. The grind of a 6 hours daily commute to and from work do not deter her from finding time to pursue her other interests - reading, writing and music. She has studied German and is quite conversant with the language. She explains her view of life with - "My friends call me Dream Girl, not because I look like one (As you can see I am hardly a looker), but because I dream a lot. I believe that dreams sustain your today and build your tomorrow." As is evident, besides being talented Sandhya is also modest!

I was walking in a nearby park built around a lake. It was a early evening and a beautiful one. It had just ceased to rain and the soil still had that fresh earthly smell. The sun was up now and the colour of the sky a delicate pink hue. Couples had come out to spend some special time together. Seeking and probing each others world - to become more familiar. Groups of old people huddled together in intervals. To find solace in each others company - to escape from the familiar. Children played merrily single and in groups in mercurial agility. Oblivious to the familiar or unfamiliar.

My eyes fell on two little girls so engrossed in their play they did not notice me coming and sitting on a nearby bench. They were busy pouring all their adulation on a brand new doll. It shone resplendent in its attire and beaming as is enjoying the attention of the young girls. As it is with children imagination took flight and they wove stories centered around the doll and passed their time in glee. It was difficult to say whose doll it actually was. At that time it did not matter. It belonged to their world of fantasy and imagination which they both had built together.

The sun was setting now and the crowd was slowly diminishing. Retreating again to the familiar. I could see the mothers of the little girls appearing . It was time to say goodbye. The children realised at that time that the doll would have to go with the owner. One girl picked it up in natural ease. It was hers. She brushed the doll and smoothened its hair like her mother would do to her. The other girl looked on reluctantly. The loss of the cynosure of her eyes seemed to be dawning on her now. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she watched her friend hold her coveted treasure in her arms. I followed her gaze and looked at the other girl. She had seemed to notice her friends disarray and looked back at her guiltily. Her eyes darted from her friend to the doll and back again. She was plainly in discomfort. She seemed to be trying to make a decision. She felt her doll gently - it was the centre-point of her life. Her daily routine was intermingled with the presence of the doll. It was part of her life. Her true companion in play, her accomplice in all her pranks, her comfort during distress. The other girl looked at the ground trying to hide her disappointment her misfortune. Suddenly she found the doll shoved into her hands. "Take it!" her friend said. She looked up in disbelief. But her friend had made the decision. She hesitatingly held the doll but her friend pushed it at her finally. "See dolly is smiling - she likes you. She's yours".

How would a person react if his heartfelt desire and dream came true? Presently the girl dabbed her tears away and clutched her new treasure happily. The two mothers came to them and led them to their homes. One had found the world one had lost hers. Perhaps tomorrow the grownups would come and return the gift to the owner. But today one little girl had given her friend the greatest gift. It truly was a beautiful evening.

Credits: Doll Picture provided by- http://members.core.com/~carriage/index.html

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