Dusty roads ahead stretch infinitely into the abyss. We’ve been driving for hours across the Rajasthani desert. In all honesty, I have no idea where I am. I squint my eyes once in a while, looking out for any sign of life. 

In the distance, I can eventually make out a tiny village. The houses are made up of cow dung, mud, homemade cement, sticks, and stones. 
As our car comes to a stop, silhouettes of children against the harsh sun start appearing. 
Tentative and bashfully, they slowly make their way over to us. They exchange a lot of frowns, slight head tilts, various eye movements, and very few words in Hindi, – a full conversation between each other about the newcomers.

Finally, an older boy breaks the ice and offers me a smile. I reciprocate it, and suddenly we aren’t “strangers” anymore. He burst into laughter and the rest of the younger children follow. Some of them extend handshakes while other hands begin to touch my arms and blond hair – not gonna lie, there is definitely some innocent hair tugging. I’m guessing they aren’t very used to seeing such skin tones and hair colour. 

After a while, the kids start holding out their hands – a very common hand gesture you sadly get used to when traveling through India. Most of the time it’s the beggars’ pose, begging for food or money. In this case tho, the kids wanted pens. 

(I paraphrase)

– “Pens?” I ask my local driver, Jeet. “Why pens?”
– “Yes Satya-ji, pens.” – Jeet answers in the Indian accent I have come to love so much. – “The kite festival is next week, and all the children are preparing for it. Making their own kites from whatever old cloth, plastic, and string they can find. The string which is attached to the kite is then wrapped around these pens, for flying control.”
Unfortunately, I was unaware of this and was only able to give out a few pens. 
So if you are ever traveling through India, my advice to you; stack up on pens – you will make a child’s day 🙂

The people you encounter in the remote villages are those of the most welcoming, sharing, and selfless. I have been invited into multiple homes for chai, dhal, and roti. Offered by families made up of 10+ members, who barely have enough to feed their own, but never hesitate to invite you in for a quick bite. 
The mama’s of these families always insist on one more bite or one more cup of tea.
I always find it hard to take what is offered, because I know it could potentially mean a smaller portion of food for someone else that evening. But of course, you don’t want to be rude. And it’s hard to resist such a warm invitation. 

☀︎

Sound design: Joachim Lorck-Schierning @slugzondrug