In Conversation With Goodness

When exams got over much before than the expected schedule, I decided to spend a few days at my relatives’ place with cousins so that they no longer complain about my absence in almost every family gathering. It was my first morning in their house. Aunt and uncle had headed off to their respective workplaces. Both my cousins had two more working days left in school before a long summer vacation so they too left the house after a quick breakfast. After everyone was gone I sat in the lawn with my cup of milk and newspaper. However, observing that little blue bird was much more fascinating than that bunch of words in the paper. That bird sat beside that big container of water looking here and there, up and down swiftly. The morning sunshine was making her blue texture shine even more and when she dipped her beak into the vessel to sip in water; an automatic smile appeared on my face on seeing nature at its best.

After sometime the doorbell rang. I went and opened the main gate. It was the helper lady who used to do cleaning of the house. Aunt had told me about her coming and she was pretty much on time, very punctual. She came on her well-maintained bicycle. She smiled at me and I smiled back. She started her work and I was just looking all over the place because I had no idea what to say. “It’s unbelievably hot for past few days, no?” she said. “Yes, actually very hot. I hope it rains soon”, I replied. The conversation had finally started. She was surely a very talkative woman. And I also liked it all as I got a nice company, and more than that I got some astonishing real life stories to listen to. She told me about her family. Her husband was not much of help to her and her children. He was very much into drinking, wasted money and thereby had put the family into many unwanted situations. I was really shocked at that. She had three kids; two sons and a daughter. I had a smiling and surprised expression throughout the interaction.

She: So, do you study?

Me: Yes, I am doing post graduation.

She: Oh that’s very good. Education is very important. I also loved studying but I couldn’t because my family was not financially stable. I gave up studying and started working in people’s houses at a very early age. I was the eldest so I had a responsibility towards my siblings. And now, I’m glad that my youngest son is doing really well in studies. You know, he is among toppers in his class.

Me: Really? That’s amazing.

She: Yeah! He is a gem of a person. He wanted to study further so I told him to continue and study as much as he wanted to. Other two also went to school but started working after that to help me. My eldest son owns an auto-rickshaw and earns quite decent. My daughter got married recently. She arranged everything for her marriage by herself, be it dresses for her, her in-laws, and most of the other necessary stuff. She did overtime at her job so that I am not troubled and I had no idea about it.

Me: How’s she doing? Is she happy at the new place?

She: Yes, she is very happy. Her husband is a very gentle person. Thank God for that.

Me: You have very sensible kids.

She: I have always taught them to earn for themselves and never beg anyone for anything. God is there to watch over us. My kids are so wise that they haven’t ever asked me for a single penny. When they were small I used to take them to the village fair, one would hold my dupatta from one side; second would hold it from the other side and third would hold my finger. They would never cry like other kids for toys or eatables. We didn’t have any T.V, when they started earning; they bought it with ‘their’ money. These three never want to bother me.

She continued: My youngest son is very caring. He knows that I loved studying so keeps asking me to join his new batch for women that he will start next month.

Me: New batch for women? What batch?

She: He teaches old people who want to study.

Me: Really? That’s so great!!!!

She (smiling): He has been teaching old men for a very long time. Now he wants to start a batch for ladies too so asks me to join. You know, some of them could not even hold pencil in the beginning but now they are doing well. Now he is planning to take their final test. He teaches them for free and buys books and necessary things for them from his own money.

Me: His own money? But you said he studies.

She: Yes he studies and does part time job. He earns Rs.4000 of which he uses Rs.1000 to give instalment of his college fees and rest of the money is spent on his ‘students’. He doesn’t spend a single rupee on himself.

Me (with dumbstruck looks): That is so incredible. He is doing a great work. This is all your goodness that you have passed on to them.

She: No no, nothing like that. I am just glad that we work hard and earn each and everything and never beg anybody. My kids are far away from all the bad habits. I am proud of my children.

Me (smiling): Wow. I am so amazed. Would you like to have a cup of tea?

I brought her a cup of tea and biscuits. She smiled at me and tasted it. “Very tasty”, she said. I took her water bottle to fill it with fresh water. She said a polite ‘Thank you’ to me and left with a broad smile. And I was left with so many thoughts in my head; perplexed, amazed and enthused.

Our conversations continued for next 3-4 days that I spent there. She told me about her childhood and so much that she suffered after marriage. She was a very hard-working lady, loved her kids, was damn proud of them and loved sharing her stories with me. I am not sure if she used to talk this much to others as well. She came across like a blend of toughness and goodness.

After returning home I kept recalling her words. Story of her youngest son is a big inspiration for our generation. I felt good that humanity is still alive. I know we keep hearing such stirring stories in films, TV shows etc and I agree they are even more surprising and inspiring but I was hearing something like that in person for the first time and it was surely a thought-provoking conversation. Some of us keep boasting ‘When, in future, I have this much money I’ll do this charity, that social work etc etc’ and some others who complain that ‘If I had enough money, I would have done this or that’. But after talking to her, I realized that all we need to do something is a willing heart and purpose. Yes, money is important but not more than our determination. After all, “where there is a will, there is a way”.

We have just one life in our account so let’s use it for something that’s worth it. Let’s do at least one thing for which we can be proud of ourselves. I bet nothing is more cool than that-kind-of-satisfaction that comes on making somebody feel genuinely good. So let’s make someone smile. Let’s bring goodness and humanity back to life.

P.S. It was an impressive experience. I also realized that I am a pretty good listener. Hahaha. Anyway, she talks of her children in high spirits. Let’s we too make our parents proud the same way by doing something that can bring a good change in someone’s life.