**I saw her after a long time, maybe after a couple of years. The name escaped my memory, but the face was unmistakable. Her story came back as if I had heard it yesterday!
It was 8.30 pm on a week night. I was outside my daughter’s martial arts class, wanting to end the tiring day, profusely dripping in sweat from my workout. Step in for a few seconds, get Ria quickly and go home, I thought! That’s when she looked at me with those kind, smiling eyes. In an instant, I knew I had to go talk to her.
Me – “Hi! You may not remember me but we had met at that bagel place across the street a while back. It’s been many months…probably years. But I remember you and your kids very well. My daughter says your son Ravi was also in her Chinmaya Mission class.”
The expression on her southern European looking face was obviously quizzical. But she said, “Oh really? You look kind of familiar too.”
Me – “Yes, the last time we met, you were getting ready to go to India to bring her home.” I blurted out, half smiling at her daughter who had just come by.
“Ah yes! This is my newest daughter Alpana. She is originally from North India but is forgetting Hindi now. Glad that there is a Hindi class here. Even my other daughter Kinnari speaks better Hindi,” she said breaking out into a big smile.
Then she introduced me to Kinnari, a bright and cheerful bundle of energy with African braids and features. Kinnari hugged her and said with a twinkle in her eyes, “Meri maa paagal hai!”
I chatted with Alpana and Kinnari for a bit and then they went off to play. She turned towards me and said, “You know…I loved being in India. The people were so welcoming. I had been corresponding with the orphanage about Alpana for a while and they have been very transparent about her.”
Me – “Didn’t you get her from Ahmednagar? I remember you trying to learn Marathi just for that.”
“Yes, Kinnari and I went to complete the adoption process in India. Alpana was probably in a lot of trauma when we met her. You know…her whole family perished in a huge fire and as you can see, she has some burn scars as well. She didn’t even remember her name correctly. I tried to figure it out. Alpana sounded the closest so that’s who she is now!”
Me – “It’s a beautiful name. She seems to be adjusting to the life here quite well.”
“She is trying but it’s different. It’s good to see that she is less timid, and is opening up more to people. Coming from such circumstances, it is not easy on a child. But she is bonding well with Kinnari and my two boys – Ravi and Arjun. I adopted Ravi from China and Arjun comes from another Asian country. The experiences were very different compared to India.”
Me – “I can imagine. If I may ask, where are you from originally?”
“I am of Jewish origin with a very traditional last name. But when I came here, I changed it to Jacobson. I badly wanted to be all-American! But I am also into Chinmaya Mission for years now, so very much a Hindu at heart,” she said with conviction.
We talked about a few more mundane things when I finally realized that Ria was waiting for me patiently. So I said bye to my new friend, still feeling kind of ashamed about not remembering her name. As I started walking away, something stopped me. I turned around and said, “I am so sorry but I can’t recollect your name. Do you mind?”
She gave me that big smile again and said, “It’s Rosy, actually Rosy Sinha now. My kids & I have officially adopted Alpana’s last name. Alpana, Kinnari, Ravi & Arjun Sinha. It’s my way of honoring Alpana’s lost family!”
**This is a real story. It’s my interpretation of a person, based on limited interactions with them. All names have been changed for privacy.
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