Gaurav Kanthwal
Tribune News Service
Mohali, November 18
This Diwali, the only light for Tania (8) and Badal (6) was the hope of making it to a good orphanage.
Their father had already deserted them, and their mother, the breadwinner of the family, was killed in a hit-and-run on November 12.
Tribune photo: Vicky
Meenu Chauhan (25) suffered a fatal head injury while cycling back home after finishing her job when a motorcyclist hit her at the Sector 69-70 intersection around 8 pm and fled the spot. She was taken to Mayo Hospital and later to the Civil Hospital, Phase 6. She was then taken to the GMSH-16 in Chandigarh, and finally to the PGI where she breathed her last the next morning.
Her last rites were performed by her neighbours in Sohana village.
Tania and Badal are now the children of God. Oblivious to the tragedy that has fallen on them, they play with the four kids of an acquaintance, Ravinder, who has promised them a feast in two days' time. "There is a marriage in the locality. The kids will have good food once before leaving for an orphanage. The Mohali SDM has made arrangements for them at Prabh Aasra in Kharar for the time being," said the daily wager.
Unrealised dream
Meenu died with an unrealised dream of having a happy family. The Agra girl was set to marry again in 10 days to bring her life back on track. Dheeraj, her prospective husband, and his mother Anita are in a quandary over the fate of the children. Anita, 70, said, "I want to take care of these children till I am alive but who knows what happens after I am no more."
Besides the uncertainty over the kids' future, their education too is set to get interrupted. "Before the lockdown, Tania and Badal were enrolled in a government primary school in Mataur. No one knows what lies in future for them," said the septuagenarian with her eyes brimming with helplessness.
Deserted by employer
Meenu was employed as a peon in a private company at Bestech Business Towers in Mohali. The deceased and her children have been deserted by her employer too. "Except for sending a Diwali gift, the company has promised only to pay her 15-day salary," said Rajender.
Financial security of the kids is a big worry as there is a little hope of receiving compensation from an insurance firm. The police suspect that the motorcycle did not have an insurance cover and the person against whose name it was registered worked as a security guard.
An eyewitness had noted down the registration number of the offending vehicle and informed the Phase 8 police station. The police have, however, not been able to arrest the suspect till now. Investigating officer Bhupinder Singh said, "The motorcyclist will be arrested soon."
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