A Balloon selling girl(Aswathi Asok) She was a street hawker used to sell balloon on the street, but her age was very young for that position. Her name was Angela I put that name for her, she was the little girl seems to be 5-6 year old on her appearance, but she must be more than that. She looks so strange and I never saw she speaking to someone, she only smiles and it was very nice to hear when she giggle. I saw Angela first time on the street carrying a bundle of balloon on her right hand and a mouth harmonica on her left hand holding in to her mouth. Her lips always plays harmonica, she plays it amazingly and I was stuck on my way to railway station when I heard the lovely music flowing on air. People were attracted to her music than balloons, when someone go near to her she sudden stop playing and give them a big smile, very innocent smile only two or three tooth left on front that too were decayed. When someone put penny on the pot stays in front of her, she offer them a balloon but never speak to them, when they ask something she continue her smile. I was observing her since 3 days but I couldn't get a chance to go near her and ask for a balloon. One evening I went to her, all of a sudden she took off the harmonica from her mouth. I asked 'how are you today? she smiled at me back, I continued, what is your name? no answer only smile. I told Okay I will call you Angela, is that fine for you? she shook her head and giggled. It was very sweet, when I told her 'good bye' she gave me a blue balloon, I looked at her pot there was not even one penny in there. I put some money in the pot she looked at it and smiled at me so thankfully. Everyday Angela wears same dress it was not colourful, her hairs looks very messy, no shoes on her feet, her eyes were looks very tired, who is she?, where she comes from? who sending her to sell balloon? many questions came into my mind answerless questions. The children always play around her they wears colourful dress, muffle, shoes and hair bows but Angela never gave any notice on that. I thought in my mind, which world she lives? what an extraordinary behavior? who gave birth to her?, I stopped and I thought myself when I have enough problems why should I bother about these?. I had an annual leave for one week, on the first day of my duty after leave, I was running to the railway station I saw Angela standing on the street but there was a change no harmonica on her left hand, no smile on her face. I was very disturbed I was impatiently waited for the evening to come; to go and see Angela. As soon as I got down from the train I ran to Angela and I asked, what happened to your Harmonica? same, she didn't answer, she didn't smile but she cried aloud. I was shocked no words came from my mouth to console her, I felt bit embarrassed on the street I walked away from her, almost all the shops were closed that time. So I went to a second hand musical instrument shop near to my home and searched for a mouth harmonica 'yes, I found one which was almost same which Angela had it before: I felt very happy. I went home and wrapped them with silver paper and wrote above it 'for my Angela' I slept peacefully but my dream was full of meeting Angela on the next day, giving the present and seeing her cute smile. What an exciting moments, in the morning I felt like I had a deep sleep last night. As usual I got ready to go for the job, when I opened the door I realized there was a heavy rain last night, leafs were covering the street, some rescue team were removing a big tree which was blocking the road. Street looks very gloomy and silent but my mind was full of meeting Angela and giving her the present. When I reached the station-road I looked around there was no Angela, some police man was standing around, people talking each other. My mind became suspicious I asked to the shopkeeper on the street ' any bad news?' he said yes, a young girl who sell balloon was died on the heavy storm last night, an enquiry is going on in order to find her identity. I didn't speak a word, walked down to the station, got in to the train, the man sat opposite to me were reading the news paper I saw a bundle of balloon on the front page and small Angela was laying on the floor. I couldn't hold my tears, I read the small description written by the news writer, an unnamed little girl around 10 years died on the heavy storm last night if anyone know who is she please report to the nearby police station. I took the mouth harmonica from my bag and unwrapped it and put it into my mouth and played people sat around stared at me but, I gave no notice of them.

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