Story of a Library

Selvi hears her name being announced.She cannot believe.She starts walking and suddenly her vision seems to blur and her mind flashes back.

"Selvi!Selvi!Wake up ma.Its already 8" Kanimozhi yells from inside the small kitchen in the already small one bedroom house in the slum clearance board housing complex. Kanimozhi is one among the millions of India who form the low income group.Actually they should be just above the poverty line if we had a proper and realistic definition of Below Poverty Line in our country. She works as a house maid.Though from a poor back ground there is no lack of self respect. Selvi is her 10 year old daughter studying 5th grade in a Government Higher Secondary school in Semmenchery. It is the annual leave and since she said she is bored Kanimozhi decides to take her along while going for work.

"haaaaa"yawns and wakes up yelling back "Yes Amma. I am up. Milkkkkkkk"."First brush your teeth.Milk is already ready". Selvi quickly brushes and comes hopping to the kitchen "Amma you are the best"hugs her while Kanimozhi hands over the glass of milk. "Today you said you want to come with me right.Go quickly take a bath and wear the new clothes i have kept in the mat.I will make Idli's ready".She comes back in a jiffy and after the meal they head out walking towards the apartment complex whereKanimozhi works."Selvi!I will take you to the houses where i work.You should not take anything from there or ask for any eatables.Understood??" she asks. Selvi nods her head while she keeps looking at the small puppy of a street dog. Selvi keeps asking so many questions on the way and though Kanimozhi does not know the answers her chest swells with pride that she is growing up and is so intelligent and inquisitive.

On reaching the apartment, Kanimozhi signs the register and picks up a small note book from the security booth . "Amma! Why do you have to sign and what is that note book??" asks little Selvi.Portly security admires the way Selvi asks the question,  tells Kanimozhi "Your Kid is too smart and cute.Look at the way she asks".Kanimozhi explains that it is to make sure that strangers do not enter the complex and also she needs to get a signature from the house lady or the lord."Oh!.So much for security"She wonders.First they reach the house in A Block.Only the house lady and a boy kid of 10 years are in the house. Kanimozhi smiles at her and enters the house and heads to the kitchen to wash the utensils. The kid being the same age looks at Selvi and starts smiling at her with an intention to play. Houselady understands the intention and immediatley tells her son to go and play with the neighbours kid in their house.The kids leave reluctantly."Selvi come here to kitchen.Sit here till i finish the work."yells Kanimozhi. Selvi being a kid gets restless and slowly gets and tries to look around and starts walking.She looks at the big Pooja room with beautiful paintings of Gods and Goddesses and starts walking towards it but stops when she hears the scream from the house lady "No.Don't Go inside".Selvi just freezes."Amma sorry.She does not know"Kanimozhi apologises. Lady is still fuming. Selvi looks perplexed as she is unable to understand whats happening. While she is about to leave "Kanimozhi.I have some food.Take some in your utensils" tells the lady. "Oh Sorry Amma.I forgot to bring my utensils" acts as if she really forgot to bring it.

Kanimozhi then takes Selvi and moves to the other house where she works.Both of them ,Vetri and his wife, Aathirai work in a MNC. They have a small girl child of 7 years called Yazhini. Kanimozhi knocks the door."Akka.Come inside.Oh! This is your kid Selvi" Aathirai caresses the hair of the kid and mildly pinches the kid in her cheek with affection. "Yahini! Come here one cute little akka has come to our house.Go take her to your  room and share your toys and play with her.Vetri see how cute she is". Selvi is all smiles on seeing Yazhini. Within  no time both start playing with each other and starts and running around. Yazhini brings Selvi to her dad Vetri and they all start playing.As they keep running around suddenly Selvi stops"at the door of a room and stares at a huge book shelf. Vetri and Yazhini also stop. Yazhini tells Selvi "Selvi Akka! This is Äppa's small library.He has so many books" stretching her arms. Vetri asks "Selvi.Why are you staring?Do you like books??".She nods but it was more like an astonishment she felt in a similar way on seeing the huge pooja room in the previous house. "Can i go inside??"She asks Vetri not wanting to repeat the mistake.Vetri looks puzzled but then says "Of course.You can go inside.Do you want a book?I have some books for kids as well".Selvi's eys light up.Yazhini also joins "Appa.Give that elephant story book.I love it" They then start reading it. Kanimozhi comes to see what her kid is doing and heartened to see her kid with a book reading out to Vetri. Aathirai who is also inside along with Vetri and the kids in the room tells Kanimozhi "Akka! Make some dosas for you and Selvi as well and have it".Kanimozhi replies "Ok ma.Will have it if we feel hungry.We already ate breakfast and then only came".

Selvi asks Vetri "Uncle!Why do you have a library??". Vetri explains how he liked reading and came up in his life because of studies.Then he explained further it is important to keep reading even though one has finished college and studies. Selvi listened to him with rapt attention and finally says "Ok.I will also make one library ".Vetri smiles and tell her "Yes.You can have one when you become old like me".Selvi immediatley replies "No No Uncle.I will make one now before my school starts".Vetri and Aathirai are just pleasantly surprised at the confidence of the young girl.Vetri keen to understand more asks "Why do you want to make a library ??You need some space if you want to have a similar sized book shelf ".Without hesitation but with all innocence she replies "Uncle! We all live in small houses.If we have a library then me and all kids in my area will study and become like you and live in bigger houses comfortably right??".Vetri was moved and replied "OK.I can collect  20,000 rupees and set up a library for you but that will not be right.You want to make a library for everyone right.Then everyone should contribute for the library.Only then everyone will feel it is their library and take good care of it.Can you understand what i am saying?".Even though she is small, she is smart enough and nods her head.Vetri starts with a small contribution and reminds her that she should not accept any one person offering to make this library and she should only raise funds by collective contribution.He also promises her to help buy the shelf and the books once the amount has been raised. Kanimozhi feels so proud and they come back home.

Selvi goes to her friends and tells this idea. No body seems enthused by the idea and they start playing. Kanimozhi also for her part tries to  tell the idea to her friends to raise some money.They all start mocking at her.Dejection only delves in the mind of the adult but not  kids. No matter how many times they fall,they still get up,dust themselves and start running. Selvi does not give up and starts visiting each house in her effort to raise money and slowly a group of similar aged kids gather behind her and they start reaching out to all houses.Slowly people start contributing for the cause and they start accumulating cash.Local councilor upon hearing this, offers to build a library but Selvi explains to him that she want to raise it from all the people but all that she wants is good space for setting it up.Being a kid she has just remembered every word of Vetri. Even though she could not understand the larger reason behind that,she just blindly trusted Vetri  because she wanted everyone to take care of the library.Asking for space was Kanimozhi's idea and she had just parroted it.The local councilor agrees to allot a small room intended for some other purpose for setting up library. 

Meanwhile the kitty swells up to 15K. Kanimozhi  joins the drive whenever she can but being an adult she could see how the people do not hesitate to immediately donate for temple renovation but hesitate to contribute for library.With just 10 more days left, Selvi along with her friends and mother start visiting houses again and again.They stop at a tea shop.Tea shop run by Mani anna is always crowded. Today a group of guys between 25-30 were discussing animatedly with all the excitement sitting in their bikes.Kanimozhi went to one of the guys she knew and asked "Guru!Selvi is collecting funds to set up a library for our community.Can you and friends contribute a little bit for that??". Guru replied but it was very clear that he was trying to keep his anger in check."Akka!We ourselves are clueless as to how we will raise money which is falling short for arranging a grand welcome for our cine star Thalaivar Ranjith" . Soon it became clear to Kanimozhi that Ranjith, a leading actor is about to visit their complex for a movie shooting and all these guys who were part of his fan club   wanted to install huge flex banners burst crackers and welcome him with a huge garland.They were all worried about their own fund situation that they were 5000 rupees short of 25000. No wonder they were not interested to part money for this Kanimozhi thought to herself. Meanwhile Selvi oblivious to all that is happening around her goes about her drive to raise money.Finally many residents start to yield to the 'never give up attitude' of Selvi and her friends."Selvi! You are unstoppable.I am sorry i could not give it earlier.Here keep this 500" told a woman same age as her mother Kanimozhi. Many more people did the same thing. Selvi and her band of friends cannot hide their glee when Kanimozhi told they had collected 20,000 amount."Amma! we have collected the money..Check one more time if its correct".Kanimozhi nods in disbelief and then finally smiles after counting. Selvi eggs her mother to take her to Vetri's house without any delay. Vetri is sitting in the hall wearing a shorts and T-Shirt and as usual with his newspaper sipping a tea. "Vetri Sir.Selvi has collected the total money of 20,000" said Kanimozhi with a smile. "What? Selvi has collected the money.Aathirai looks at this superstar?"exclaims Vetri. Selvi jumps with joy and Vetri just lifts her up in joy."Uncle we collected the money.We collected the money"   Selvi keeps on shouting. Upon hearing Aathirai stops working on a laptop ,comes to the hall and kisses Selvi.

Yazhini, though she is clueless about what is going on,  nevertheless is smart enough to understand its a joyous occasion and joins the celebration. Together Vetri and Selvi go to the furniture store and upon hearing the effort the owner of the store decides to give the shelf at a better discount without any profit for him.He also tells he will deliver it free of cost and provide few chairs. Vetri armed with a list of books suggested by a professor gives order to the book store.Owner of the book store again turns up to be a kind man and offers them books at highly discounted increasing the number of books.

Selvi and her friends go and invite everyone in their slum clearance board complex for the opening of library. Kanimozhi and Selvi then invite Vetri and Aathirai. They also request him to open the library and Vetri agrees to come but still reluctant on opening the library.On the day of opening, many residents,including the councilor  and school staff turn up. On being prodded to cut the ribbon, Vetri lifts Selvi and makes her to cut the ribbon. Everybody makes a huge noise in appreciation. Kanimozhi could not stop smiling because of happiness and her eyes were filled with pride.Many of them assembled keeps clicking the pictures and shooting the video.

"Selvi and her mother Kanimozhi Madam! Please come up to the stage " requested the anchor again. On hearing this Selvi came back to the moment.They went up the stage and collected the award for Amazing Kid of the year by a famous magazine.

Little did they know that the pic and video of Library opening was going to become big later.One person just posted the video of the opening in social media.Like any other beautiful story it was lapped and became a big sensation as everyone started sharing it.Finally it ended beautifully with Selvi getting the amazing.Vetri while standing applauding tells Aathirai " Normally the Library has so many beautiful stories in it.But this is special.This is a beautiful story about a library ".Aathirai corrected him " Ah!No.Selvi's Library".