44) Getting wiser at school

Madhulika’s dad is one of the principals of Jumbo Queen Chain of restaurants and one of the whose-who of Mumbai celebrity circle.

Even while she was in her XII standard, Madhulika couldn’t wait for the excitement of college as to parade those designer clothes in her closet. Madhulika Sen had visited Europe and Americans many times over and it wasn’t unusual for her to be in England during Wimbledon or PGA masters in US.

Madhulika’s dad presented her a plasma TV when she passed her X. She was promised an apartment in Juhu if she cleared her XII and a Pajero to go with it. Her cell is a latest Nokia N-95 and a Louis Vuitton for handbags and Jimmy Choos footwear. Her T-shirts invariably were from a Mark and Spencer to Tommy Hilfiger. Point being belaboured is that they are as rich as it gets for an Indian family. As on her 18th birthday, she was splashed on the page 3 supplements of TOI.

Just like any of the girls in her college, Madhulika enjoys her discotheques and running up bills over Rs.50 K on an evening’s outing with friends a routine.

It was Mr. Shirish, her Maths teacher who transformed her. He summoned her for a chat and said,” Look, Madhulika you are no doubt rich and can afford the luxuries. For lunch, you order Pizzas and most of your friends can’t afford that on a daily basis and yet they emulate you. I have received complaints from couple of parents to the financial strain it’s putting them through. I suggest you either go alone or place an order and have it in the teacher’s cabin”.

The girl was genuinely shocked, “But sir, it’s only Rs.100”.

The teacher gave her lessons in reality,” Madhulika, many people struggle to make that money in a day”.

Since then the rich princess abstained pizzas and instead got lunch from home.

Madhulika chanced upon a television programme that featured an interview with Vidyakar and since then been a regular at Udavam Karangal. There were a lot of toddlers – most crawling and the oldest must be 3 years old – and these abandoned kids raced to be just picked up. It was truly a heart wrenching sight.

She realized how fortunate destiny had favoured her to the deprivation of these abandoned kids; so innocent and loving and yet had none to fondle them and shower affection. Life was harsh on them even before they learned to stand up. That day she did not sleep as the images poured itself over and felt that she needed to something to improving their lot.

Thereafter her pocket money went to buy baby foods and clothes and she now goes out to solicit money for these kids.

She advises corporates on their social responsibility and how just about anyone can contribute without hurting a pinch. “Instead of traveling by business class take economy and give the differential to us. We will provide succour to these kids with that money for a month”.

Her parents too are happy at the transformation. They wanted her to go to a Harvard or Stanford but Madhulika’s hands are full.

In these kids she has found her true calling in life.