He saw a light and ran towards the window. The sun had risen and although it was still dark inside the room, he could see the sun rays and the dust particles seeming to dance in it.
After all, he was a small boy and such things fascinated him. He ran back to freshen up and rush to the school. He loved studying and science mattered the most. The teachers also loved him but sometimes they felt exasperated with his questions which seemed to be a bit too complex for his age.
Other students were more interested in sports while he went to the library during recess to read books. He could not afford to buy them of course, The orphanage had a small library but he had read all the books not once but many times over.
He would ask the kind sisters about buying more books but the food was also a necessity and the orphanage was small. They asked him to read the newspaper instead and he did read the science columns but was not interested in the politics and sports page.
The hunger for knowledge increased with time and the sisters knew that he was a brilliant boy and deserved more than the others. They made some calls and asked the overseas connections and one day, the call came.
Two weeks later, a couple turned up in the orphanage. They were from the states. He was asked to report to the senior nun's room. The junior nun asked him to wear his best clothes. He was always tidy and never bothered any of them. She looked sad and wondered how he would be fair but at the same time, she was happy for him.
Unaware of all this, he went towards the room and was introduced to the couple who asked him if he would accept them as his parents. The mother extended to him a gift and he was taken aback. He loved the orphanage and the sisters and the other inmates meant a lot to him. He looked at the nun and she prompted him to open the gift which to his delight were, books on science. His smile was delightful and the couple was hopeful.
He looked at them slowly. They seemed to be the good sort. He had seen a few who came to the orphanage to adopt. He wouldn't have gone with them even if they promised the world. He shuddered at the thought of the children that were sent with them.
The couple looked at him, hopefully. The man took him in his lap and told him that he was a professor and so was his wife and they would love to have him as their son whom they could give all he wanted.
He smiled and nodded yes. The lady was so happy, she cried. He was told to pack his bags. He bid farewell to the other children and the sisters. It was with mixed emotions that they bid farewell. He also telephoned his school teachers to bid goodbye but promised all of them that he would return to donate books so that all of them could become more knowledgeable.
Years passed. A tall young man walked towards the orphanage. He was asked to sit down. The junior nun had now become senior. He smiled at her. She burst out in tears and hugged him. He had returned home. A ray of hope for the small children who had come running to see the person who had showered them with gifts of books and chocolates.
