Unit One 1.3 On Wings of Courage

                       Little hands, Great deeds

            In a far corner of Achalpur Village lived a happy family of four. A small field of maize was worked upon by the hardworking hands of Vilasrao More and his wife Sushobhana. They were blessed with a beautiful and intelligent daughter Sanyogita and an equally bright son, Sahil. Playing in the maize fields when the parents worked was the only past time for the children Ten year old Sanyogita, studied in grade 5 while Sahil was a grade 2 student. School being far, they had to be dropped and picked up. However, on days when Vilasrao couldn’t make it, the siblings walked their way home enjoying some freedom.
          On one such day, when Vilasrao had to go to the city market to sell his yield mother informed Sanyogita, “Take care of Sahil and do not loiter about. Come home straight. I shall be making your favourite Puranpolis today.” Sanyogita’s faceit up as she chuckled, Really Aai., You are the best Aai in the whole world.” “Okay, okay, I know that. You have to be the best sister and a very good girl today.” said Sushobhana.
         Off they went to school. By evening, they were tired of all the studies and play. Little feet dragged them home words, The pace fastened at the thought of hot Puran Polis served by mother. Sahil was too hungry to get home. He looked appallingly at the elder sister. He knew she had a 5 rupee coin in her pocket father had given her the day before. Sanyogita searched for the coin and taking Sahil by the hand bought some roasted peanuts. But as she turned her back, an acrid smell caught her attention. The air was heavy with it. Before she could think, cries of help from a hearby roadside house alarmed her.
        The brother – sister pair rushed to see a woman and her two year old lying unconscious while others wailed for help. The peanut seller fell numb. It was his wife and baby. Sanyogita had no time to think. She immediately handed over Sahil to the shopkeeper and leapt to see the source of fire. A four feet flame coming from an oil lamp engulfed the kitchen. She filled a bucket with mud and doused the fire by pouring mud over it. Next was the gas cylinder that had caught fire.
        She cried, “Pass that sack, Kaka.” The shopkeeper threw the sack at her and she could extinguish the fire before the cylinder had a chance to explode. Sahil stood their clapping and
motivating his elder sister. People were shocked to see a 10 year old put an end to a disaster with her presence of mind. After the woman and her baby gained consciousness, she took leave from the ever so grateful peanut seller. Happy at being helpful, Sanyogita was scared that mother would scold her for being late. She kept the incident from mother after reaching home. The excited Sahil was stopped by Sanyogita’s threatening glare. Both relished Puran Polis and went off to sleep.
      The next day the Sarpanch paid a visit to Vilasrao’s humble home and narrated the incident. Vilas and Sushobhana were worried and happy at the same time. When Sanyogita 
returned from school, they enquired about the incident. A happy and excited Sahil enacted the dare devilry of his elder sister.
      On 26th January, Sanyogita accompanied by her parents and brother went off to New Delhi. She was amongst the 24 children who posed with the Prime Minister. T.V. cameras surrounded her when her name was called out and so with tears of joy and pride the 10 year old Sanyogita More received the National Bravery Award from the Prime Minister.