Question

Write a story or essay -- fiction or non-fiction – in narrative form that details a time when you, someone else, or a fictitious character experienced a challenge or injustice in your life (or both). How did it change your/their lives?

Answer 1

In the largest slum of India, Dharavi, lived a girl named Jhumpa. She was a frail looking teen in some hand-me-down top and skirt. Her mother, Sarda, worked as a household help in few well-to-do families. So everyday Jhumpa went with her mother to suburban areas. The tall buildings, cars, big shopping complex and people in new fades always fascinated her. She always used to nag her mother, asking her why their lives were so different from other people, to which her mother said "Jhumpa my love, we are special people. God has made us this way we are special. He wanted us to have all his love instead". Being unsatisfied Jhumpa would mock her mother and would keep admiring the new world Infront of her, which would end as soon as they would leave the neighborhood and board the local train to her reality home.

One day Jhumpa decided to go and travel the suburbs on her own. It was her first time going to the big city all alone. Her mother was ill and Jhumpa had to go in her place to do the chores. Not that she was afraid or nervous, but something just kept her on her toes. She got of the local train and went to the houses and did her jobs.

It was evening when all the work was finally over and she started for her home. Suddenly she has a very strong urge to pee. "Damn! Why did i during so much water" she thought. She looked around to find some public toilet but she was not in a condition to search for one. She looked around and saw all the stores, restaurants and food outlets around her. Suddenly she remembered that she had heard in some of the the houses that the malls and outlets had restrooms in them. She took a deep breath of relief and went to a pizza outlet. When she entered the store, the manager saw her and came to her. He saw the girl with a very questionable eyes and asked her to stop right at the door. Jhumpa stopped. The manager asked her why she had come to the store, to which she genuinely explained her predicament. The manager was flustered and shouted at her saying "Who the hell you think you are? How dare you step in this store in the first place? And now you have guts to ask to use our toilet. Get lost you poor peasant before I loose my cool".

Jhumpa was stunned. She walked out of the store and could organise her thoughts properly. Slowly she started walking towards local railway station. As she walked, she started feeling some heaviness. When she looked down her dress, it ws wet. But there was no reaction on her face or any emotional stress. She had realised soivery important.

Ten years later, Jhumpa arrived into the same pizza outlet in a car. He went inside and sat on a table. But this time she was not alone. She had about a dozen of you boys and girls, young and brimming with smiles. They were looking at the restaurant with curiosity as Jhumpa once had. The manager came to Jhumpa and very politely asked her what was her order. At that moment a small girls came to Jhumpa and interrupted their conversation by saying " Sister Jhumpa I have to pee". Jhumpa got up from her seat and took the girl to the toilet of the restaurant. The manager looked at them but could not remember if something had happened.

Jhumpa, while waiting for the little girl, remember how her life had turned after the event ten years back. Now she was an entrepreneur and has started an NGO for the education of the children in slum.

She wanted that there should not be any Jhumpa who face any discrimination any more and live their lives as they want.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes!!