Principal of Delhi Public School Arunima Chakravorty (left) and an orphanage official (right) complete the adoption formalities in Bhagalpur on Friday. Picture by Amit Kumar

Friday would be memorable in the lives of Roshni Bharati (9), Moni Bharati (7) and Rani Bharati (7) forever.

With heavy hearts but sparkling eyes and smiles on their faces, the three inmates left Ramanandi Devi Hindu Anathalaya (orphanage) in the morning. They could feel the pain of separation but were more happy because Angika Development Society, a New Delhi-based non-government organisation and the parent body of Delhi Public School (DPS), adopted them on Friday.

Roshni said: “I will miss the bhaiyajis and behenjis (brothers and sisters) but now we have the opportunity of staying at the school hostel and live a life like others.”

The girls, along with seven other inmates of the orphanage, including two boys, have been studying in DPS, Bhagalpur for the past few years.

“But now the three have the privilege of enjoying free education, hostel and food facilities on the school campus,” said Arunima Chakravorty, the principal of DPS, Bhagalpur. “Earlier, we had selected 10 children from the orphanage to give them free education, learning materials, school uniforms and daily pick up and drop facilities by school bus,” she added.

The society, Chakravorty said, decided to adopt the three to mark the birthday of Rajesh Kumar Srivastava, the pro-vice-chairman of DPS, Bhagalpur. “Now, we have become the custodians of Roshni, Moni and Rani. We would take care of them till Class XII, bearing all expenditure related to their studies and other things. During the vacations, some of us would take their responsibility, they would accompany us to the places we go,” Chakravorty added.