Every Morning, A New Beginning

I have always believed that every morning offers us a fresh start, a new promise. My day usually begins with a quiet walk around the society garden where I live —surrounded by trees, the soft rustle of leaves, the cheerful chirping of birds, and flowers smiling in full bloom. Their fragrance carries stories if you pause long enough to listen.

Most days, I carry a book with me and settle under the morning sun to read. It was during one such morning that a small incident changed everything—and eventually inspired an entire chapter of my life.

A young boy, barely ten, who delivered newspapers in the neighbourhood, suddenly tugged at my dupatta. His eyes were earnest as he asked, “Will you teach me?”

His name was Rajat.

Surprised, I asked, “Shouldn’t you be in school?”

He simply smiled and repeated, “Will you teach me?”

I couldn’t refuse.

And just like that, the journey of the Sling Bag Diaries began.

Rajat’s enthusiasm soon spread like wildfire. Within weeks, more children started arriving—each with a sling bag on their shoulder—excited to learn. I taught them for a couple of hours, a few days each week. We worked on the basics of education, prepared for their exams, and slowly, I watched something beautiful unfold.

Their confidence grew. Their dreams expanded. And their lives began to transform.

But what happened to Rajat?How did the boy with the sling bag rewrite his destiny?

To know the rest of the story, you’ll have to read Under the Gulmohar Tree—a collection of heartfelt tales rooted deeply in the soil of India.

Now available at https://LanternBookshelf.com.

-Metali