RAMU OF ORTHOPAEDIC WARD

I had handed some candles to my daughter and told her to light

them. She danced towards the main door and started lighting them. was
very busy in making arrangements for the pooja. It was Diwali. After
some time I hurried towards the main door to call her. She rushed
towards me and whispered into my ears “Mama he is Ramu”. I saw a
boy standing with support of wicket gate. His eyes had same
glitter and he had the same smile. Yes, he was Ramu. He smiled and
said “Ramu, gaddha.” This happened in 1983.We met Ramu first time
in October,82 in children orthopedic ward of Lok Nayak Jai Parkash
Hospital in Delhi. My daughter had an unfortunate accident when an
iron grill which had been hastily erected for Asian Games opposite
Indira Gandhi indoor stadium had fallen on her. The penalty for
negligence of the contractor was a fractured leg and deep cut on the
forehead. She was rushed to LNJP hospital. The young doctors of
causality ward were prompt in attending to her. Next morning she was
moved to children orthopedic ward. One of the early visitors to the
orthopedic ward was Ramu. He was a small boy of 9-10 years. He used
to sell biscuits and sweets and had befriended all the children of the
ward. He was one who brought smile on sad faces of children including
my daughter. He displayed all kinds of tricks like a clown. He played
hide and seek with the matron, who did not like him a bit and even he
was scared of them. He had won the hearts of all the children of the
ward .and he would make children smile by calling himself “Ramu
gaddha”. He helped us pass long depressing days in hospital with some
cheerful diversion. His father was a Postal employee working
somewhere near Behrampur in coasta1 Orissa. Ramu had stiff knee
joints and could not walk properly. He had got separated from
his parents and landed in the hospital for treatment and
stayed there on after being discharged. He had some faint recollection
of the name of his father and village. My husband requested
P.M.G.Orissa to help in locating family of Ramu. My daughter was
discharged from hospital. Thereafter, one day Ramu came to our house
with a letter he had received. The letter was in Telegu. I requested a
neighbour to read it for Ramu. There was good news that Ramu's
relatives were coming to take him back.

During our subsequent visits to hospital we were told that Ramu

had gone to his native place. He, however, did not like to live there and
came back to Orthopedic ward of the hospital and continued to sell
biscuits and entertain children. Year after year on Diwali, we saw his
glittering eyes and smi1ing face . He has now grownup as a fine young
man. He has acquired a tricycle for handicapped persons which have
been donated to him by a charitable organisation. He now sells
cigarettes on his mobile shop on his tricycle outside causality ward of
LNJP hospital.

Today I am tempted to write about Ramu as we shall miss him on eve

of Diwali. Ramu will not be able to visit us as we have moved to
another city. On this day, I pray for bright future to Ramu. May God
bless him?

TANYA LALWANI