Get-together of happy lots

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: One is left figuring out the appropriateness of quizzing the happy bunch of parents and children about the distant episode of adoption. Not when a father is feeding his four-year-old girl mouthfuls of fried rice and chicken that she obviously relished, or when the couple from Kottarakkara is introducing to the other parents their daughter who has scored an A+ for every subject in Standard X besides being a national level chess player. The get-together of adoptive families organised by the Missionaries of Charity, Thiruvananthapuram, at the St Joseph’s school compound on Saturday, had a festive air to it.   “It is better for the children grow up with the knowledge that they are adopted, which is why we organise such get-togethers,” said Sister Kusumam, putting things in perspective. “We cannot deal with the stress of the parents who live with a lie or the trauma of the children when truth is revealed to them,” she said. The degree student from Kochi, who spoke on behalf of the children, was quite at peace with the singularity of his life. “My Papa and Amma have not come down for the get-together this time. We have been here together countless times and this year, I am here more as a volunteer this year. So I reached the city one day before to help the sisters organise the event,” he said smiling warmly. The little girl had almost emptied the platter of fried rice. She shook her head in refusal when asked to say her name, looking at her father for help. When a few wrong names were hauled at her, she uttered in exasperation, “my name is Tessa Alex”. She looked on as her father told us how they had lost their first child and were saved from total dejection by Tessa’s arrival into their lives. “My wife has given birth to a baby boy and Tessa is a vary happy about it,” he said in tears. Sister Luicia, Regional Superior, introduced us to the young businessman who had tired himself with organising the event.  Owner of textile and jewellery shops in the city, he had started associating with the Missionaries of Charity about eight years back.  “There is no particular reason for me being here except that I am moved to tears at the sight of orphaned little ones. I am just being useful to the good cause in my own little way. It is in their best interest to know the truth about adoption at the earliest. So we make the get-togethers a jubilant occasion which would assure the parents and children of a support system,” he said.