The Teddy Nobody Wanted…

I found him lying on the paved pathway of my housing society. On his back in dappled sunlight. Tiny arms and legs helplessly thrown in the air. A little brown-and-white bow fluttering in the breeze. Around him were dried leaves, cigarette butts, paan stains, bird droppings and other litter. The path was still damp from the morning’s pre-monsoon shower.

“Help me up,” the pocket-sized teddy bear seemed to be saying. His face wore a bemused expression. A crooked smile beneath a button nose and slightly twisted snout, as though he found the whole situation both unbelievable and faintly amusing. If a teddy bear could be gobsmacked, this one was. I wondered what he was doing there.

Ahead of me, the society sweeper was hurrying to catch the municipal garbage van growling impatiently at the kerb. His mobile trash bin was overflowing and bouncing as he pushed it. Had the little bear fallen out of it? If so, somebody had thrown him away. Perhaps a child had outgrown him. And he had sat forgotten on a shelf gathering dust. Till nobody wanted him anymore. I felt unexpectedly sad.

My mother, who passed away at 92 after dementia stole her memories, would not sleep without her teddy bear. In her final years she clung to it like a little girl. To her, the teddy was not a toy but a companion. She would have loved this little fellow. He seemed to still have some affection to give. So I picked him up and brought him home. He now sits beside my mother’s pillow. Not bad for a teddy nobody wanted. Rescued from the garbage bin and promoted to a place of honour.

About Mark Manuel 

The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.

With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.

Further

His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.

Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.

About Story of Souls

Leave your comments on how you like this story. If you love it, share it to bring that change we wish to see in the world.

You can also share your inspiring story with us at submitstories.storyofsouls@gmail.com. Story of Souls is an initiative where we invite people to bring their stories to us. We want people to “write to heal.” The idea of Storyofsouls is appreciated by ALL INDIA RADIO. An Online Platform where you can share your real-life stories. The impact of our stories has reached the UN and Harvard University. For some real-life stories, web series are also planned. You can also visit our YouTube channel. You can follow us on Facebook  LinkedIn   Instagram. 

Storyofsouls is glad to inform you that we are now a Google News-verified platform.

We are proud to inform you all that storyofsouls.com is the official TEDx MotiJheel Kanpur Partner for their upcoming event. 

I found him lying on the paved pathway of my housing society. On his back in dappled sunlight. Tiny arms and legs helplessly thrown in the air. A little brown-and-white bow fluttering in the breeze. Around him were dried leaves, cigarette butts, paan stains, bird droppings and other litter. The path was still damp from the morning’s pre-monsoon shower.

“Help me up,” the pocket-sized teddy bear seemed to be saying. His face wore a bemused expression. A crooked smile beneath a button nose and slightly twisted snout, as though he found the whole situation both unbelievable and faintly amusing. If a teddy bear could be gobsmacked, this one was. I wondered what he was doing there.

Ahead of me, the society sweeper was hurrying to catch the municipal garbage van growling impatiently at the kerb. His mobile trash bin was overflowing and bouncing as he pushed it. Had the little bear fallen out of it? If so, somebody had thrown him away. Perhaps a child had outgrown him. And he had sat forgotten on a shelf gathering dust. Till nobody wanted him anymore. I felt unexpectedly sad.

My mother, who passed away at 92 after dementia stole her memories, would not sleep without her teddy bear. In her final years she clung to it like a little girl. To her, the teddy was not a toy but a companion. She would have loved this little fellow. He seemed to still have some affection to give. So I picked him up and brought him home. He now sits beside my mother’s pillow. Not bad for a teddy nobody wanted. Rescued from the garbage bin and promoted to a place of honour.

About Mark Manuel 

The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.

With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.

Further

His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.

Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.

About Story of Souls

Leave your comments on how you like this story. If you love it, share it to bring that change we wish to see in the world.

You can also share your inspiring story with us at submitstories.storyofsouls@gmail.com. Story of Souls is an initiative where we invite people to bring their stories to us. We want people to “write to heal.” The idea of Storyofsouls is appreciated by ALL INDIA RADIO. An Online Platform where you can share your real-life stories. The impact of our stories has reached the UN and Harvard University. For some real-life stories, web series are also planned. You can also visit our YouTube channel. You can follow us on Facebook  LinkedIn   Instagram. 

Storyofsouls is glad to inform you that we are now a Google News-verified platform.

We are proud to inform you all that storyofsouls.com is the official TEDx MotiJheel Kanpur Partner for their upcoming event.