A happy ending

THERE IS enough `masala' in this story to make a movie! A little dash of mystery, a lost boy, a grieving family and to top it all, a happy ending - a reunion. The story is about the first successful cross country rescue and rehabilitation mission of the Childline, the phone outreach programme for children.

Scene 1: (Night, June 17, 2001) A small room in the Indian Council of Child Welfare (ICCW) building. One person wearing a green Childline t-shirt is making entries in a register. The phone rings. The volunteer picks up the phone, ``Childline''.

``Calling from Nungambakkam Police Station. We have a child here from Malaysia. Can you pick him up?''

``We will be there soon, sir''.

An auto with two volunteers drives out.

Scene 2: Nungambakkam Police Station

A young boy is being questioned by a couple of policemen.

``My name is Ronaldo Lazar Rozario. I am 15 years old and I got lost in a shopping complex while on a visit to India with my parents. My parents are in Malaysia''.

The policemen seem unconvinced. The boy's papers are not in order. Childline volunteers leave with the boy.

Scene 3: ICCW

Mr.Bosco, co-ordinator of the ICCW Childline, and other volunteers are trying to convince Ronaldo to tell the truth: ``Unless you tell us where you are from and how you got here, we cannot send you home''.

Day fades into night. The pattern repeats for days.

Ronaldo breaks, finally.

Hesitantly, he tells his story. ``I am from Malaysia. My address is 58, Jalan Tun, Sambathan, Kiang, Selangor, Malaysia. In October 2000, I went to Singapore to work, without a valid visa and work permit. The police caught me and thinking I was Indian, sent me down to India, with a one-day visa. I wandered around till my money lasted and finally landed up at the police station''.

Scene 5: Malaysian High Commission Office, Chennai.

High Commission officials are busy checking the papers of Ronaldo and verifying his version.

Calls are made to Malaysia. One official calls Childline:

``We have checked his story and his IC number. His story is true. We will hand over the travel documents to him and arrange for a reunion with his family''.

Scene 6: ICCW office

It is jubilation time at ICCW and a minor celebration is in order. Childline volunteers are happy with their efforts. Ronaldo is delighted that he will be home at long last- nearly a year after he left it.

Scene 7: Anna International Airport, Chennai.

In the canopy outside, Childline volunteers wait with Ronaldo.

Ronaldo receives his papers from High Commission officials, profusely thanks the volunteers and officials and walks in to the baggage check-in area. And just before he disappears from view, he turns back and waves.

Curtains down.

By Ramya Kannan

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