Pawan, aged 16, has been staying with the deceased since he was five years old. Though the boy has his family at Bodh Gaya, Bihar he never visited his family since the age of five as his family could not afford to look after him. Anyway the deceased grandmother always looked after him like her own son. She sent him to a school close by so that the boy could have a brighter future. She even worked as a janitor at the school for the sake of the boy. But her sudden death has put a big question mark to his future.
The people in the neighborhood told me that she has left behind somewhere around Rs. Hundred Thousand in her account which they said will be first used for doing necessary pujas and rituals as is customary among the Tibetans. At the end of 49 days after expiry, whatever amount is left shall be given to the boy.
Secondly I was promised by Tonglen School that they would take him in after completion of some formalities. I was told that if he is capable enough, his further studies shall be taken care of as well. The boy of course is more than happy to hear this news.
The boy wishes to stay in the present house till the 49th day after expiry so that he could do all rituals and pujas associated with the death as per Tibetan custom for the deceased.