Description
There are some people who just need a tight hug. That is what I felt as I spoke to Asmath, one of the older boys at GLH. For all his carefree attitude and grown-up-ness, I felt he had much sadness within. He used to live with his younger Brother – who is also at GLH – in Modara, along with his Grandparents, Mother, Sister and baby Brother.
He spoke simple English precisely, and was conversant in both Sinhalese and Tamil. At school, his favorite subject is Mathematics he said, which I felt was apt since he was clearly a bright kid.
In the evenings, his mate is Irfan, and they play Chess, Volleyball and Cricket with the other children. ‘It’s good here’, he told me, and that he could study better here.
“So what’s your ambition for when you grow up?”, I asked him, and got no reply. Again I repeat and again he gives me his wide sad smile and says nothing. Maybe living in the present is what he is focusing all his energies on, but for now, he has no ambitions for the future.
