"When is the next Seva Cafe?" someone asked me in Pune and I blurted out, "23rd Jan 2013" and then I looked around to see who said that...realising it was some voice- from the heart or head- not sure which, had made that commitment. So the fairy tale started.

 

The usual group of friends got together and started thinking. We had the initial pool of resource from the generous contribution of Alissa, which we decided to use for feeding the hungry -- not exactly the pay-forward spirit of Seva Cafe but the same spirit of service.

 

We started our search of place for the venue. Options kept getting negated as availability was an issue or the cost.  Then we started making plan B (which eventually become plan A), which was to spend a day with people who had abundance (or the lack of it) in a different form. made enquires and suddenly came up the name of this place "Saujatya" - meaning "good by birth" first bell rang!  We went to meet this amazing person Arup who left a corporate job in finance to pursue his passion for service- simple, dynamic with amazingly positive will. He was quite unwell but still came to the office only because we were to visit him!  We were then introduced to the spirit of the place -- Mr Harendranath Ghosh "kaku" , a 77 years young, ever smiling founder of the home. He started "Saujatya" - 35 years ago, a home for 65 young bright boys, between the age of 6-17, who are mostly alone in the world or have single mothers who can’t afford their education. This residential school focuses on their education till class 12.

 

When we spoke to Kaku as to what sort of a contribution we could do, he smiles and replies, "You have thought about coming here and doing something, thats enough! Its your home, this place and we all are yours for that day, do what your heart wants"!  Such openess, love and welcoming feeling that we got connected to him and his passion "Saujatya" instantly.

 

We decided to buy provisions and supplies, friends were gathered, invites were sent, teams were made for cooking, helping and entertainment. activities finalized, menu decided, provisions ordered- all just seemed to have happened like MAGIC! between giggles, smiles, teasing amongst friends, arguments over quantity and recipes- the most amazing dish popped out - SHARING WITH LOVE!

On the D day, we reached there with our battalion of friends- some completely new faces, some old timers, all ready to ROCK! when we reached the venue, we had taken cleaning equipment, thinking we would need it - but lo! the superintendent, care taker and his wife had kept the place spic and span with every thing we needed all ready!! They were standing there - waiting for us,with broad smiles and open arms!

 

All the children went for a flag hoisting ceremony at their school and their locality so we used that time for decorations and starting to cook! Kaku, with his amazing thoughtfulness, had arranged for 2 huge gas stoves!! They cook everyday with coal as LPG is too expensive for their limited means. He so thoughtfully arranged for this, as he didn’t want us to spend our time in smoke and heat! like how a father would think of his dear sons and daughters- he silently arranged for everything!

 

The decorations were put up, full action in the kitchen started , with huge utensils on the stoves and our champ cooks, brainstorming and inventing new recipes while cooking!!

 

Once the children came back, action shifted to the room upstairs where from drawing contest to dancing, to group activities, to poetry recitation and games were happening in full flow! The group expanded when 26 women from the destitute home next door (affiliate of Saujatya) and their entire staff of 10-15 people joined in! The whole building was filled with laughter, children running around, music, shy smiling women clapping as the children entertained us and themselves!

 

Then came the Bagpiper- puchka (pani puri wala) with his grandson and set table for puchkas and churmur! excitement reached even more heights as contest for highest eater of puchkas started!

 

In the entertainment area- the women, who were shy initially, started participating in group songs, poetry and prose recitation. it was amazing to just sit there and listen to them- when someone would poke us out and say, kitchen needs attention!! so some of us were like ping pong balls, all over the place! That was such FUN!!

 

Food was served, in batches, and in 3 different rooms, with buckets of food exchanging smiles and rooms! The children, amazingly disciplined and sorted, would patiently wait fro their turn, the older ones were organizing the sequences to avoid confusion! peace with happiness was their mantra. once we finished with the lunch part, the children were sent for a story telling session. As the occasion was of Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses birthday, one of our family, an

exponent in the subject matter had sweetly come over, inspite of his busy schedule to share stories! This also ensured some quiet time for the kids , after all the hullaballu that had been happening since morning!

 

The women and entire staff sat to eat only when we pushed them to , as they wanted us to eat with them! all so appreciative of the food and accepted it with so much love.... the simplest of meals, rice and curry with sweets. All the staff members had sacrificed their holiday time to spend the day with us, for us! what a beautiful gift of togetherness they gave us! in the background, all each one of them was helping us, in cleaning, washing, organizing, just about everything.

 

The entire set of people, led by kaku , was waiting for us in their office to see us off at 4pm , with hearts full of love and broad smiles- which made us feel - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

 

The youngest of our volunteer was 6 years old and the oldest, 66 years! what a beautiful mix of friends in good karma! a friend who couldn’t come, sent across his part of the supplies, 2 lovely friends came over with lovely packs of chocolates for the kids, inspite of the fact that they had office, 2 sisters had made personal hygiene bags for the women in the home as a small token love,one volunteers parents had sent books&pens, someone got the puchka wala, one

couple sent fruits for the kids, one sweet soul brought sweets and someone made an extra curry from home!!! unbelievable amount of abundance, of not just gifts - but love, smiles, gratitude, contentment and open arms!!!

 

just soaking in the amazing positive vibrancy of the place, as if the building was the universe, with every corner loaded with smiles, love, good will, hope, dreams and just open arms - for each other. wish we could make the whole world into this open building , with the same sentiment in each ones heart.

 

Our prayer collectively, when we ended the day was - Oh lord, grant us all an understanding heart, equal vision, balanced mind, faith, devotion and wisdom!

 

Thank you God, for giving us an opportunity to serve.

 

God bless everyone!