My fingers trembled as I was called by my new teacher, who wanted me to write my name on the clean blackboard. It was obviously wiped with water and a cloth, for it shone brighter than all the lights in the classroom.
“Write your full name and introduce yourself to the class”, the teacher said.
How could I say to her and the class that I never had a full name? It was just NINA, or ‘Nina – the Orphan’ or ‘Nina – the Extra’.
What would I write and say about myself? Moving from one foster house to the other, I just had few real-life experiences to narrate. Will these 3rd graders be able to understand my stories, I wondered.
So, my fingers trembled as I headed down to write my name on the board. I wrote NINA in bold letters, the name that I was sure of!
Maybe, I took a longer time to write it too, because I was never sent to a school before. The Swamy family was the first to do so. They had a boy about my age and since they loved children, they took me in. Living in the 8th foster house with the Swamy’s, felt nice and comfortable. There was a warmth that I had never felt before. But I never knew for how long, so it was one day at a time for me.
I stood there facing the shimmering blackboard, staring at the 4 alphabets of my name standing there like ready soldiers to defend and protect me. As I was lost in thoughts, Deepak – the only child of the Swamy family, who studied in the same class, came quietly and nudged me from behind. I turned to look at him and he simply gave me his happiest smile and took the white chalk from my hand.
Next to N I N A he added:
N I N A S W A M Y –sister of Deepak!
And without even looking at me, he proudly announced:
Nina Swamy is my sister. She loves playing with dolls and of course with me – her only brother. We have lots of fun together. Our mom and dad grew us up from their hearts instead of tummy and loves us both very much.
Nina loves Amma’s rasam rice and papad.
This year, I will have a rakhi like you all, as my loving sister NINA will be tying it on my wrist. And then I will be her protector in the whole wide world and she will never have a reason to cry at all. We both love each other very much and would love to have you all as our bestest friends.
Innocently saying this, he again smiled at me happily, squeezing my hands while mine still trembled, and went ahead to sit on his desk. The entire class was clapping and hooting for us. And so was our teacher. My mind was numb from the warmth and love I received at that moment. For the first time in my life, here was another 8 year old like me, who not only made me feel wanted, and at home but also had given me a new recognition.
It no longer mattered that how much I suffered all through these years.
I still didn’t know what lay ahead of me. Will the Swamy’s adopt me?
Will I be their daughter, they never had?
Will I get the love and affection of a family like everyone does?
Will I finally be able to understand a mother’s love and a father’s unspoken, kind love?
The only thing that mattered was, in Deepak’s heart – I was his sister for life and him being my brother for eternity!
Picking up this new feeling and understanding the depth of this sibling love, I proudly looked at Deepak, my classmates and my teacher who was beaming with happiness for both of us. With happy tears glistening in my eyes, I gazed back at the board to see my name written in bold: NINA SWAMY!
And finally my story was being re-written and I was entering a beautiful – lovely new world!
With this post I am taking my blog to next level with Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa
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Also, if you like the story please comment below and I will be inspired to write more and share it with you all.
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I loved reading this.. short, sweet, and a happy ending. What more can one ask for 😉
Thank you Nupur. Glad that you like it.
Such a sweet short story. Really the children with their pure hearts teach us so many lessons. A lovely reading 😊.
The very lovely bond they shared. I loved reading this. Last few lines made me emotional too. Beautiful story and happy ending.
Children teach us great lessons by their innocent hearts. They accept everyone as their own with open arms. Lovely read.
Thank you so much dear. Glad that you liked it
Such a beautiful and heartwarming story. I wish every orphan child got the same love from other children. And I wish every Nina got another Deepak. Loved it.
This is a such a heartfelt story. It is not just a piece of fiction but has a beautiful message. None in thins world is alone. There are people who value us. Nina and Swami family are such examples.
Thank you for your kind words. Glad that you liked it Alpana
Awwww, such a sweet story about Nina. It’s a beautiful message for people to accept those you invite in the house. Same with daughter in laws. Feeling accepted is what we want.
Cant agree with you more Cindy.
Ah! what a heartfelt emotional fiction! I must say Swamy sibling brought tears to my eyes. it is sad to see an ocean of a dilemma, and fear over a little, innocent mind and heart, it made me think about the chaos of the foster children, that they face every time entering in the new atmosphere. Beautifully penned!
Very nicely written Manni, hope to see the story go ahead smoothly .
It’s amazing how children can develop meaningful relationships in such a simple manner. Nicely written story. Good to see a fresh perspective on sibling relationships.
This is such a short and incredibly sweet story. So poignant and touching. The feelings of a little girl and her trepidation is brought out beautifully.
I love to read such stories. Very well written story. This story makes you feel become emotional. Thanks for spreading beautiful message through this story.
A very beautiful story…. Nicely captures the feelings of a foster kid. I would love to see this story continue… Hear the journey of Nina in her new world….
So touching and charming. I could imagine the emotions and the innocent faces as I read. Sad but also happy for her new life and relationships. Beautiful
I really loved reading this sweet short and beautiful story ..Liked the bond and emotions which connects from heart!!
This is such a touching and adorable story! Loved reading this out. Kids are a boon to every parent.
This was such a beautiful read. Short and heartwarming and that too with a happy ending.
Oh wow. I was so caught up in the story that I didn’t want it to end. It’s a beautiful take in foster family and relationship for foster kids.
Nina and Deepak remind me of the fact that children are god’s special gift to the world. Their innocence is truly unmatched, almost next to none ☺️
The message is very beautifully conveyed in the story. I will be holding Nina with me for longer.
It’s hard to understand what an orphan feels, moving from foster home to foster home. Lively story with hope and warmth.
Such a sweet story and ya loved the happy ending. Kids have this quality, they are spontaneous, non judgmental and extremely open and empathetic. Love reading it..will share with my gals too, I am sure they will love it.
Aww such a heartfelt story and I had felt that emotions of Nina so vividly through your write up. Yes orphan kids face so many struggles during the tender age of childhood. And I m glad that the story has a happy ending and bough smile on my face.
That’s a wonderful story Amritha. All that anyone wants is acceptance. Frm parents, partners, family or boss and colleagues. Loved how you have showcased Nina’s emotions in your writing.
Melts my heart. Such a sweet story. I like how two kids of the same age, with different past, bring together a beautiful story of warmth and acceptance.
That’s a beautiful story! Even when kids from secured homes have trouble adjusting, imagine what Nina must be going through. Yay for Deepak! We need more guys like him around.
What a beautiful story filled with wath and love Amritha. It brought a smile to my face and I feel my read for tonight before hitting bed is complete. You should definitely write more stories and I’m looking forward to them.
Very nice story, Amrita. Lovely ending. I enjoyed it very much…
Divine, splendid and our fav bedtime read. Crisp and short. There’s a way lots to learn from our little munchkins.
This is such a sweet story with a happy ending. I like it when stories have a happy ending. Very nicely written.
An endearing story of an adopted child, Amritha! I loved reading this one. 🙂
This is such a touching story. I am literally crying… Beautifully written! I will forward this to my friends!
I love such tiny and happy ending stories. Though the end part was a bit immotional for me but I loved it.
Wow! Such a powerful short story, beautifully capturing an orphan’s fears and another child’s love! Really enjoyed reading the story.
Such a happy, happy story!
This is a story from the heart – short, sweet and emotional. So endearing! I loved reading it.
This is a lovely story of innocent childhood love and affection. You weave brilliant stories and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the emotional rides.
Beautiful writing and thought. Left me misty -eyed and smiling at the same time. Loved reading this!
Really nice thought provoking one. What Deepak did was awesome but you know what would be even more great if there would be a time where one doesnt require a surname. Nina should be enough. Great one. Keep the good work going.
#MyFriendAlexa #ContemplationOfaJoker #Jokerophilia
such a joie de vivre
Such a lovely tale. Children are true at heart and in their innocence they do teach some life lessons. So good to see Nina found a home and a loving family.
This story left my teary-eyed. Such a beautiful short story of love and empathy.
That was an amazing story,.so heart touching and so happily comforting..
A very poignant tale which could have been very sad but you uplifted it and made me believe that there is humanity still alive! This hope only makes us go on.
This is such a beautiful post Amritha, I wish every child gets such love from another child
#TuggunMommyReads #MyFriendAlexa
Now that is a short story with love and bliss. Enjoyed it so much.
Such a heartwarming tale
Although I had felt Nina her name was her self identity and she needed no surname to support it. When she grows up I wish she realizes the power of her name and her identity as a self-dependent female with no supports to help her stand in this world.
But kudos to Deepak for being that support and strength to her for yet another chapter she is going to live of her life. A nice read.
Such a sweet and heartwarming story. Kids with their innocence. If only people had such welcoming hearts as they grew up.
This is such a warm warm heart warming tale 💕 we don’t realise how little things we take for granted in the society affects others.
Nice tale Amritha. Reminded me of this book…Why is my hair curly.. a beautiful tale of adoption.
A heart-touching story of the “extra” becoming the essential. Loved it. Your narrative style is superb too.
Wow! Just… wow. Like such a simple story, with such a powerful message and write so elegantly! This is indeed one of the best stories I have read in this season of MFA. Just astonishing how much it manages to convey in so few words… the pangs of an orphaned child, the happiness of finally having someone in life, the beauty of the moment… everything!
Lovely write-up, Amritha. Often we fear rejection from the world on a particular thing and suddenly someone comes up with his warmth and accepts us.
That’s God saying that all are my child.
Such a sweet and poignant story. Loved it. Wish there are more like Deepak and the swamy family
Such a beautiful story. Deepak understood what it means to be family. Children have hearts of gold.
Beautiful story. I wish to see more of this happen in real life.
What a beautiful, heartwarming story. I loved this a lot and honestly, it encouraged me to write short stories too that I have not been doing since years now…I would love to get back to it. thanks for sharing.
This is such a beautiful story. You penned it beautifully 😊
Thats a very lovely story. Love your style
Beautiful touching story and I like it. keep on writing such beautiful stories.
Beautifully written story. Kept me hooked till the end.
This is really a wonderful story of how a child’s heart and soul open up to another so easily. Very touching. Well written.
Such a heart-warming one…I love Deepak !
such a beautiful heartwarming story! We need more positive stories like this in the real world
Heart touching story, Amritha. Nina and his brother have such a beautiful bond.
Such a heart-warming story… I am sure Deepak, with such a kind heart, will definitely make Nina feel loved… Whether she is being adopted by the Swamy family ir not, she has a brother for life…
A beautiful, heart-warming story. This moved me to tears!