Sowing A Seed Called Kindness

School life always has a special place inside a person's heart. And some memories rest in there forever. That memory maybe related to your school achievements, the history of your school, your first/last day...........anything.

But for me, it was my teachers. I was blessed to have extremely clever and kind teachers uptill now.

My teacher in Grade 5 was an enthusiastic and vivacious person and interests children with stories the best storytellers will not be able to tell you. These stories were taken from everyday hum-drum incidents that left a lasting impression.

We girls frequently fought in class. And sometimes they lasted for months.

On one such occasion the fight was left to Ma'am to decide upon.

The first thing she told us was not to fight and make peace, which almost all teachers would tell students. But then she also told us “You don’t know when your enemy may come to your need.”

I did not believe this sentence then. But after I heard her example, it became the motto of my life.

She said “As you all know, a curfew took place in our neighborhood a few days ago.”

She was correct as a curfew has taken place in Navi Mumbai in the year 2018.

She continued “I stay quite near to the school. So that morning I was coming to school as usual in an ‘autorickshaw’ when I noticed a teacher, with whom I was not on good terms. She seemed to be having difficulty finding an auto-rickshaw. I could have taken given her a lift in my vehicle but I preferred not doing so. I stared at the ground to avoid her gaze.

As luck would have it, disturbances started mid-morning and the police declared curfew . All students were immediately sent home. After the dispersal of the students, the teachers were asked to leave for their respective homes. All the teachers milled out of the school. We were all anxious to reach home fast. And this teacher (whom I saw in the morning) incidentally got an auto-rickshaw. As I was behind her she invited me to come with her. She said “Please join me. I am sure you will not get another auto-rickshaw easily in this curfew.”

I humbly accepted her offer. Throughout the whole journey I kept feeling guilty about what I did with her in the morning.

Children please do not repeat the mistake that I made. Make peace among yourselves and stay together for the last few days that we are going to be together.”

I was dumbstruck after hearing this story. It made a lasting impression in me.

Friendship and kindness lasts a lifetime and beyond that too. I am glad my teacher taught me this lesson early on in life.