This ray of sunshine walked into my office half an hour ago. Shivam. He studies in 6th grade and would love to play cricket the whole day – “par Naani ji nahi maanti” (“but my grandmother will not allow that”). Diagnosed in January of this year Shivam lost his Mom and Dad to Tuberculosis five years ago and he lives with Naani ji, Mom's Mom – who has two teenaged sons of her own – "Haan, kabhi kabhi jhagda karte hain lekin hum log Masti bhi bahut karte hain!!!" (“Yeah, sometimes we fight, but we also have great fun together!!!”)
Naani ji works as the domestic help in a couple of houses and they live in Pune. They will return today to Pune as there is nowhere they can stay here in Bombay and tomorrow after Naani ji has finished her work inthe two houses here she works, they will come back to Bombay to collect their supply by then all the formalities will be completed and Novartis will have signed the release letters. Guys, this picture doesn't say enough. It doesn't say anything at all about just how bright and beautiful this boy is. My heart, as I write to you all, is bursting with Love for him…and I mean EVERY word of this last sentence. All the while that he was here, that crinkly smile never left his face and now I cannot wipe the smile off my face. Is it possible for one person to make another SO happy? I feel like I have seen and understood the meaning of this whole world in the unquestioning acceptance that I have seen in Shivam of
everything that has happened to him in his 13 years. He simply radiates joy and love …sweet, shy and soft Shivam. I cannot wait to see him again.