Shame

Khushi smiles, plays and babbles all day long about the new and various things she is learning. All the people congratulate Khushi's mother and ask her how does it feel to have a wonderful,clever daughter such as her. Khushi's mother beams and replies that the experience is wonderful. As she reaches home, a tear silently falls from Mrs.Sharma's eye as Khushi was not her own daughter.
Khushi was adopted by the Sharmas approximately a year ago. There were no children in the house and due to the illnesses Mr. and Mrs. Sharma had, it was not possible for Mrs. Sharma to conceive. Mr. Sharma could see the pain his wife was undergoing and so, in order to relieve Mrs. Sharma of the depression she was slowly slipping into,Mr. Sharma had adopted a girl and named her "Khushi" as she had brought about a sea change in the Sharma household. Her first words, faltering steps, innocent babble and charming smile meant the world to her mother and father.

Mrs. Agarwal tried to reason with Mr. Agarwal but it was of no use. He was arrogant,insistent and an orthodox man. She wept for days and night but her husband had a heart of stone. One day, the argument crossed all it's limits. "That's it, Savita! Let go of the child." screamed Mr. Sharma. " I will not get up every morning just to see this pathetic face. Look at her! Do you honestly think she will be any good? No! In fact, she'll just be another burden for us. Weren't three girls enough? Now, another one! This is a result of the sins you have commited in your past life and I'm suffering too, all because of you!". He snatched the child and in his mad fury, almost strangled the fragile 4 day old Pia. Mrs. Agarwal fell on her knees and begged her husband to not commit the grievous sin of killing a newborn infant. She pleaded and cried when Mr. Agarwal finally relented and warned Mrs. Agarwal that if he ever saw Pia's face again, he would file for divorce. Mrs. Agarwal knew that Pia was not at all welcome in the Agarwal household and so, with great difficulty, she kissed Pia the last time and left her in an orphanage.