The girl who stole my (chocolate) heart

Still time for more stories as I skipped the sunrise boatride and private concert on the boat itself. I know I know, how could I? But There have been so many glorious experiences that I really never said no to despite probably needing to rest and the idea of sleeping in and having no where to be really appealed to me. I just finished my breakfast on the terrace and when I wandered down to the internet cafe I ran into many others who apparently felt the same way and stayed behind. By the way, several of us have declared that we really could sell all that we own and move to Varanasi...

So a little about hawkwers and beggars...many of them are children and very tenacious. There are many ideas about how to handle this because if you give, you encourage the behavior which includes the deliberate maiming of children for the added sympathy factor. Not to mention you can start a stampede of other children who have radar for those who give. I've seen it already where a well-meaning fellow traveller gave away pieces of gum and had to have assistance in extricating herself from a sudden mob. And then we want to listen to how we feel and not become cold. Many have spoken about how it affects them. One gentleman admitted during sharing at our dinner last nite that he refused to look them in the eye and didn't like that about himself. And then once in awhile something unconventional happens...


Yesterday I pulled on a jacket I hadn't worn since Valentne's day and found a chocolate heart in the pocket from when fellow travellers Jessica and Fazl put them on our bus seats to find when we boarded that day. Jessica was nearby when I happened to notice that I still had it. We had just disembarked from our boat ride on the Ganges where we were to meet a bus that would take us to yet another point of interest. As we walked to the bus from the boat, Jessica heard 2 or 3 children asking specifically for chocolate and approached me to say that if I was interested in giving the chocolate away, there were children who were asking for some. I thought it was a good idea and when a young girl approached me alone, I dug into my pocket for the heart shaped foiled piece. I told her and gestured 'from my heart to hers.' She happily accepted while Jessica snapped pics but then the girl asked for more.
By then others children were approaching and seeing her treasure, also asked for more. This fun idea came over me and I explained as best I could that she had the ONLY piece of chocolate and I then began begging HER for the chocolate relentlessly, tugging on her sleeve the way they often did. She laughed and pretended to run away, but contnued returning for the game. I chased her around and then it became a situation where children were running up to me hoping to be chased by me. So when they even began coming near I would feign a start in their direction and they would scatter. The whole time I am saying 'chocolate chocolate!!' Finally she came up to me once more and when I said 'chocolate' and gestured toward the piece she clutched to her chest, she didn't run but sweetly explained in broken English that the heart was now hers but to me, offered a paper picture of an Indian movie star she had been holding, all tattered and wrinkled.
I took it, profusely grateful and she smiled, held my hand then kissed it. No more begging. She told me her name (Danika) and I told her mine.

When we returned to our boats later, I said to my friend Jaird, I wonder where my little Danika is and within seconds, I kid you not, she appeared. No trace of chocolate. I tried to give her her little picture back and she would have none of it. She held my hand and we walked to the boats together. It struck me that despite hardships, children are still children after all. I have a picture of her waving from the banks of Varanasi as we motored away.

Have a beautiful day, all. Love, Wendy