1899

"JANGBIR SINGH!"

The little boy laughed running down the golden wheat fields. He was caked in mud. His mother chased after him, holding her white veil in place as she did so. But even at the age of five, Jangbir was swift. Swifter than most children his age. But not wanting his mother to push herself too hard he slowed down to a jog. He hated having a bath.

The flaps of his little white kurta flowed about behind and his juura (top-knot) was lose. It was miracle that his flowing dark hair hadn't been set free yet. Finally his mother scooped him  and feigning anger she said.

"You little rascal!"

At this Jangbir started to wail.

"I don't want to take a bath!"

His mother grinned "If you don't take a bath little grubs are going to start growing in your hair (she ruffled his uncut hair), then in your eyes, then in your nose (she tapped his nose lightly) and finally in your stomach" at that that she started tickling his stomach.

Jangbir laughed harder.

"Do you want that to happen?" she asked.

"No! No! No! I'll take a bath!"

With that his mother carried him up to the small house and proceeded in giving him a bath. He did put a fight but finally his mother wrestled him into taking a bath. After a long arduous hour he was spotlessly clean. Not a trace of mud was visible.

His long flowing uncut hair was dried then brushed and redone in a Juura. It hurt his scalp. He hated having anything to do with cleanliness. Once he was all ready he went over to his older sister.

Sahiba was at the moment doing her work from school. Despite the circling ideas of their time her family felt that it was absolutely detrimental that she have an education. And despite the lack of money she managed to get it.

"What are you doing?" asked Jangbir.

"Work" she answered bluntly.

Jangbir frowned looking at the math's equation she was trying to solve. He couldn't make anything of it.

"What kind of work is that? You're not doing anything!"

"Oh Jangbir be quiet or I'll tell Father!"

"Tell me what?" asked Vir Singh as he limped into the room. His leg had been broken during the Second Boer War.

"Jangbir won't let me do my work!"

"Jangbir, come over here."

The sly grin slid off Jangbir's face as he made his way to his father. His face was so solemn that Vir Singh laughed, picked the little boy up and placed him on his lap as he sat down. Vir Singh enjoyed the little bantering between his two children, it reminded him of him and his sister when they were younger.

"Jangbir, she's you're older sister. You have to respect her."

"I don't like her. She's always getting me in trouble for no reason." Jangbir mumbled.

"Well I don't like you either." huffed Sahiba.

Vir Singh laughed once again. "You know one day when you and Sahiba will be seperated you'll miss each so much..."

"I'll never miss her!" cried Jangbir defiantly.

A soft chuckle came from the doorway. "That's what they all say" sighed Preet Kaur.

~~~~~

Alastair looked out the window forlornly, he saw his best friend Willy being taken away from him. Willy was being adopted. Willy was leaving him. A small tear slipped down Alastair's cheek.

They had both put up a fight both saying that if one was adopted the other would have to go as well. But here no one listens to children. Especially not orphans. Now Willy was leaving him. He fingered the bruise on his left cheek. The matron had given him a beating after that. It had hurt. But not as much as the pain of losing his best friend.

Sister Agatha came in to his little room and he instantly fell into her arms. Out of all the nuns he like Sister Agatha the best.

"What caused you and Willy to create such a ruckus?" she chastised yet she held him close.

Alastair didn't answer her question instead he asked "Why won't anyone adopt me?"

Sister Agatha sighed. "I don't know Alastair."

But she did. It wasn't that he was ugly for he was rather beautiful. Nor was it that he lacked brains. He was clever. It was his heritage. He was the son of bushranger. Even though people had started to let go of old traditions they still believed that any son of a bushranger was capable of evil.

One day she'll tell him but for now she comforted him and told him that he'd find a family very soon. But that was a lie and she knew it.

~~~~~

Second chapter. A bit longer than the last. But hopefully you have enjoyed the story so far. Please remember to vote an comment!