Sunshine, a sunny story!

Sunshine has been the closest I’ve ever come to being in a hospital. (With the exception of the time when I was born of course). Saira aunty- a charming and nice lady whom I met at my favourite bookshop introduced me around here. Aunty took me to the Sunshine room, the playroom for children at Sassoon’s pediatric ward, introduced me to Dr. Arti Kinitkar and Varsha tai from Shreevatsa (the orphanage run by SOFOSH on the premises) and the atmosphere which is the hospital.
The first sight is of the people. Around the premises of the hospital they lie- some taking a nap under the shade of the tree, others making small conversations in little groups, while still others chewing some food and betel leaf. Carrying unwashed faces, weary eyes and wrinkled skin they wait on for dusk and the following morning sun to shine, they wait on for time to pass.
Each of my experiences at sunshine has been very different. I’ve come to realize that each child is so different from the other in thought, behavior and reaction. The philosophy I’ve come to believe in and practice here is this: See. Absorb. And do what your instincts tell you. You cannot say the same thing to two children who you think have behaved in a similar fashion. Within these similarities what you fail to see are the stark little deceptive differences which are not easily evident while you see but when you look they appear before your eyes-- crystal clear.
The children and their faces. Their eyes fascinate me. The spark I see in their eyes leaves me inspired. They tell so much through their eyes. Most are shy to speak to me at first. I look into their eyes and try to gain their trust. I look into their eyes to understand what they are trying to say. I look into their eyes...and it captures me. Leaves me entharalled. Completely.
The rest of the landscape is filled with the sightings of the intern doctors all over campus. Their walk is brisk, their faces focused and they sip chai on the trot. But have you seen them with their children? It’s magical how they transform their countenance within a split second. Their energy levels rise and they’re high fiving their kids and again the next second they’re rolling their eyes at them because they’ve skipped the bland hospital meal which they were strictly supposed to adhere to.

Christmas was celebrated with the children at Sassoon this weekend gone by with Santa, music, dance and puppets! And the cheer was infectious!
The sun shone in glory and look here to see how!