What if? These two words have been troubling Sushma Kumari since March. She wonders what would have happened if she had made different choices that day – if she had asked her son Anand to stay, if she had kept her youngest Aditya at home, if she had never moved to Sindhi Basti six months ago.
Sushma, a 30-year-old single mother, now lives alone in her two-room house in Sindhi Basti. Her three sons – Ansh, 9, Anand, 7, and Aditya, 5 – had moved with her to this area. Tragedy struck on March 10 and 12, when her two younger sons passed away near their home.
Reflecting on her lost sons, Sushma recalls their favorite things and personalities. Anand was quiet and studious, while Aditya had a loud voice and a knack for remembering things. Sushma is still trying to understand why this happened to them.
While the autopsy reports mentioned canine bite injuries as the cause of death, Sushma believes there is more to the story. She feels that the CBI should investigate their deaths.
On March 10, Anand went missing after leaving to help his aunt. Despite a search, his body was found with bite and scratch marks. Two days later, Aditya was attacked by stray dogs while relieving himself in a nearby jungle area. He too succumbed to his injuries.
Since these tragic incidents, fear has gripped the residents of Sindhi Basti. Families are taking extra precautions with their children, and some have noticed a decrease in stray dogs in the area.
Sushma’s neighbors are also taking steps to ensure their children’s safety. Shiva and Nisha have instructed their kids not to go out alone, while Lakhan and Sandeep are cautious about potential danger spots in the neighborhood.
The community is still reeling from the loss of Sushma’s sons, and the memories of Anand and Aditya continue to haunt her each day.
