Let’s get the records straight: I’m not an intrepid traveller. Left to my lazy self, I’m not a traveller at all, unless you’re counting flights of fancy. So, when the Delhi chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation of India, a non-profit organisation, invited me to join them on a bus ride from Delhi to Gurgaon and back, I was reluctant to join. But then, when work calls, you answer with a yes.
Although this was an official trip, I’ve seldom been as excited about a bus ride. The bus was full of kids, some smiling, others grinning, several tired from the journey till now, since they had come from all over this sprawling city. There were parents and caregivers, volunteers and staff from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of India . As I looked for a little space to park myself, virtually everyone was ready to move, pushing aside personal discomfort and even aids like crutches.
The rest of the ride seemed like a breeze, with so many children to meet. Most of them are living with life-threatening illnesses and as the mission of the foundation states, they come from across castes, socio-economic backgrounds and faith. These are children who make frequent trips to hospitals for treatment, transfusions or surgery. For some of them, even seemingly simple routines like getting off a bus and into the office can be more difficult than we would imagine.
The kids were met by a band of cheerful volunteers from their hosts for the day, Gurgaon-based BPO WNS Global Services. Kickstarting the festive season, they offered their buzzing premises for an afternoon of fun for the kids.
The party began in the cheerful cafeteria. Someone had taken the trouble to do up the place with balloons and buntings. Once colourful party hats and masks were passed around, the mood was set. Starting off with a Michael Jackson dance, a young magician regaled the kids with tricks. Soon, they were helping him out.
After that, a tour of the modernistic office was on the agenda. Almost like playing oranges and lemons, the kids and their parents wound through WNS, gaping at blipping computer screens and bright walls. As little Kannu told me, “I’m going to work in an office like this one day!” The children left the hall with heaps of gifts, and some needed help to carry back the goodies.
Finally, it was time to fulfill wishes. The mission of Make-A-Wish Foundation of India is to “fulfill the cherished wish of a child in a way that makes it a very special and memorable experience for both the child and the family.” With five lovely gifts to give away, it was the day to fulfill the ‘I wish to have’ category of wishes. Smiles stretched far across little faces as one child toddled up to receive a cuddly soft toy almost as large as her. Another child got a dream bicycle. The other gifts included a toy car, a remote-controlled bike and a remote-controlled toy car.
As they got ready to leave, every child was given a cuddly soft toy. It had been a happy, long day for all of us. Believe it or not, the return drive saw the children tired, but excited.
And then, we were in Delhi . Time to get back to routine life. Hey, when did they say the next event will be?
