The cottage had red bricks and a roof with a chimney.  There was thick mist around. The sound of silence. The peace. Chandrika had seen this cottage before.  It was the same one she had imagined in the Enid Blyton books she loved as a child.
Two teenaged children ran out of the car and rushed towards the cottage. Their parents followed them.
âWow! This is awesome!â
âThis is like a fairytale!â
âIt has a fireplace!!â
Mr. Shamlal, the manager of the property was excited to see what seemed like a large group. âHow many people Sir?â
âEight adults. And five kids.â Chandrikaâs husband, Sanjeev replied.
âKids love our property Sir! You all related?â
Sanjeev ignored him. He hated random questions from random strangers. Chandrika nodded politely.
âYes. My husband and I, our daughter. His two sisters, their husbands and kids. The rest of the family is still in the car. We will check out the first place.â
âLovely madam⌠Please come!â
âDonât touch anything! We have still not checked in. We are just deciding where to stay!â
Chandrika could hear her sister-in-law, Sameera yelling at the top of her voice at her kids.
Chandrika took a round of the cottage with her husband. They looked at each other and exchanged a look of disappointment.
âThere is no ramp?â Chandrika asked Mr. Shyamlal.
âWhat Madam?â
âRamp! There are four steps to the cottage. Â It is elevated. And the steps are very big!â
Mr. Shyamlal took a moment to process what she said.
âOh that madam! Where you will find here!! None of the cottages will have. But why you need? Any elderly people?â
âOur daughter is on a wheelchair.â Sanjeev replied.
âNo problem Sir. Our staff will pick up her wheelchair. Carry her inside. Just four steps Sir.â
âNo that is not the pointâ. Chandrika snapped. âMy daughter is very independent. She does everything herself. She does not like to be carried around. How can you not have a ramp!â
âWe never needed it Madam! 99 percent people â Normal. One percent â handicapped! Â So nobody ever complained.â
Handicapped. The words pierced through Chandrikaâs heart. Her soul. Her entire being.
She remembered the first time she had held her daughter. She was so tiny. Her little fingers and toes. Her barely visible eyebrows. She was so perfect. Â Was it possible to love something you have seen few minutes ago so much?
âSameera, there is no ramp here.â Sanjiv yelled to his sister who was inside the cottage with her husband and kids. Sameera came running outside.
âYes Bhaiya. I noticed too. Iâll get them out. They are not willing to listenâ.
âNo no Sir. No need. We have regular rooms on the other side of the property. One person with the handicapped child can stay on that side. Rest all this sideâ.
 âNo! We are on vacation. We will stay together.â Sameera told Mr. Shyamlal sternly. She went inside to talk to her kids who were already comfortable on the bed.
âIt is so nice here! Let Chandrika Mami, Sanjiv Mama and Summi Didi stay on the other side. We will stay here,â replied her daughter.
âBeta! Those rooms are very far. Other side of the property. Even their restaurant is separate. All you kids will be this side. Summi will be alone. She will feel like she is missing out.â
âSameera, I think you are being over sensitive.â Sameeraâs husband said. âChandrika Bhabhi and Sanjiv Bhaiya can stay that side. Why should our kids suffer!â
âSuffer! Not being able to stay in a 15K cottage is not suffering Sunil! They are charging so much. They should understand that this is not acceptable. They have to be well equipped with all the amenities. They are in the service industry. It is only when we start boycotting such places, they will understand how poorly prepared they are!â
âMiss Sameera! Queen Victoria! She will walk out with her family! And change the landscape of Indian hotel industry.â Sunil started clapping his hands. The kids laughed in admiration of their fatherâs sarcasm.
Before Sameera could respond, there was a knock on the door. Chandrika entered the cottage and looked around with sad eyes. Sunil looked embarrassed, afraid that she might have heard her.
Sameeraâs daughter ran to her aunt.
âChandrika Mami!! We love this cottage! It is the best! Can we stay here. Please! Please! You and Mama and Summi Didi can stay on the other side. We will come there to play with Summi Di so that she doesnât get bored!!
âAashi! Keep quiet. We are not staying here!â Sameera gave a dirty look to her daughter. She looked at Chandrika apologetically.
âOf course, Beta. You all can stay here. It is really very nice. Summi would have loved it to.â Chandrika went outside to speak to her husband. But she broke down.
âI want Summi to be able to stay in the cottage. Not me. I want to switch places with her.â
âIt is just a cottage Chandrika. Big deal. Donât get so upset. Please donât cry!â Sanjiv tried to console her.
âThen let me cry for the big deal. I am crying because my daughter cannot walk. Is that good enough reason for you to let me cry? She cannot do the things other kids do without even realizing they can do it. I am crying because I did everything right for my child. I gave her all the vaccinations on time. I protected her from the rain, the heat, the cold, the mosquitoes, the strangers. You name it. I did it. But then one day, she had an accident. And God is so cruel that he took away her legs! Even bad people get to live with their limbs. Criminals. Murderers. Rapists. But my Summi!! The kindest, sweetest child! She had to be punished.”
Sameera came outside and saw Chandrika crying. Â She watched her brother look at his wife helplessly. In the past five years she had seen this sight so many times.
She stormed back inside the cottage.
âGet up now. All of you. We are not staying here. How many times do I have to tell you the same thing! Look outside. Chandrika Mami is crying!â
âShe always cries!â replied her son.
âWe should not go on vacation with them again. Why does Summi Di get all the attention!  We canât do so many things because of her.â her daughter added.
âYou are not paying for this vacation. Your father and I are. When you start earning, you can live wherever you want, with whoever you want. For now, get up. We are leaving. No more arguments.â
The kids followed her reluctantly.
âThis vacation sucks!â
âI hate this. Want to go backâ.
âMadam!â Mr Shyamlal came running after.
âOnly one problem child right! Rest all normal! They will enjoy Madam. Â My promise! Please stay for them.â
âActually, there are two problematic children.â Sameera turned back to reply. âAnd one problematic husband. But you donât worry about them. You worry about your services. It is not differently abled friendly, or elderly friendly. You will miss out on business if you are not mindful of their needs.  Good luck.â
And the families drove away. The red cottage still stood there. Unoccupied. Untouched. Like a fairytale.
âJustice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.â â Benjamin Franklin.
Every change begins with a small step, whether itâs a change within your family, or the whole country! Indiaâs hero, Padman, had its digital premiere on ZEE5, on 11th May. Donât miss this inspiring true-life story, only on ZEE5. Download the app and subscribe now. For every subscription, ZEE5 will donate Rs. 5 towards the personal hygiene needs of underprivileged women.