The Surprise Gift

It was my second school as principal in Tamilnadu, and I was determined to provide the children with what my school had failed to provide me throughout my school years. The staff and employees of Vidhya Sadhan School were as courteous and respectful as I had heard about them. We were preparing for the reopening day celebrations for a week. On Thursday, we had to go out to Salem to get a few supplies for the school's reopening. As I was new to the area, I got Vincent, the school peon, to accompany me in exploring locations where I could purchase the materials required for the classroom decorations. I noticed that he was ecstatic to accompany me. The school management had agreed to provide our school employees' children a special concession in the school fee. So, even Vincent, who earned a measly wage, was allowed to enroll his child in the UKG. As we entered the children's stores, where rooms brimming with colorful materials were on display, I was carried back to my childhood, and for a moment, I yearned to return to those days, when the scent of new books and the excitement of lugging a new school bag filled with colorful things to school had been a never-forgettable pleasure.

I caught a glimpse of Vincent, who was oddly staring at the kids' toys and school materials. I had the feeling he wanted them all for his little angel, Deena. Sadly, his financial status precluded him from letting his daughter enjoy them in his lifetime. Vincent purchased a box of crayons as well as a pack of sketch pens, which were the cheapest in the store. I could see him rummaging through his pockets. He earns a monthly remuneration of 5000 rupees for loyal service at school from dawn to dusk, and he never complains about anything. I used to wonder how people could exist on such a meager wage in a country like India, where political parties plunder even the pockets of slum beggars. I was riding the bike because he had a lot of stuff to carry, sitting in the back seat. It was a rough ride back to school, but I had no other choices. Instead of adequate funds, all I had was a lot of optimism and plans for the new academic year. We had to rely on our personal bikes to monitor our expenditure because the price of petrol was in a tight race to equal the number of days in a year.

We were returned to the school after purchasing everything essential for the school. It was around 7.30 p.m., and the roads were clogged with trucks, small cars, and bikes. At 8.30 p.m., he dropped me off at the school gate and was about to leave. I immediately stopped him and handed him a package of things. He inquired as to what it was, as he was confused as to why I had given it to him.

" Your daughter will like a few toys and other things in this package. I just purchased a few things for her, and she will be so delighted to see them. " I said as I gave it to him. 

He was hesitant at first, perhaps because he felt bad about his miserable situation, but I could sense his unspoken delight at receiving it from me. I forced the package into his hand and bid him good night before returning to my room. I was also curious to see how he would react to the unexpected present.

I peeked through the slit in my window to see what he was up to. I noticed him hurriedly looking through the package, making sure no one was around him. In the faint light at the gate, his eyes twinkled. He was elated, as was I. With a broad grin on his innocent face, he hurried out of the school. As he drove off campus, I was sure his eyes were welling up with tears of joy. I was elated at having accomplished a noble deed that day. That was one of the happiest days of my life, as well as one of the most delightful nights.

Someone repeatedly knocked on my door, interrupting my pleasant night. I switched on the light and glanced out the window to see the security guard standing at the door. The time was 3:00 a.m. He used to wake me up at night whenever he spotted a snake on campus. With partially-opened eyes, I shoved open the door. He gazed at me, and I had the impression he was trying to scare me at midnight.

"Ok, did you kill the snake or did you let it free as always?" I enquired, expecting a short narration of the incident.

"Sir, Vincent...," he started speaking in a hushed voice.

"What happened to Vincent?" I asked, taking a step closer to him.

 "Sir, Vincent…Vincent met with an accident on the way to the house... ….Someone from the Sacred Heart Hospital in Salem just phoned me."

For a few seconds, I felt numb, unable to ask him anything.

"How is he now?" I anxiously asked him.

He gazed at me for a few seconds, never saying anything, then turned away.

"Oh my God! What happened to him? Tell me what happened, Gopi. Why don't you speak up? " I insisted.

"Sir, he...." He broke into tears.

"No, I'm not going to believe it. Have you confirmed it, or are you simply... " I couldn't utter anything.

"Sir, he was brought to the hospital, but doctors were unable to rescue him. It was a truck... People on the scene say that he turned back to pick up a package that had fallen off his bike," looking down, he said.

"He must have rushed to present the surprise gift to his daughter."

I regretted my decision to give it away that night. He would have been a little more cautious otherwise. He was so excited that he must have been reckless when he fantasized about his daughter's reaction when she saw the gift.

"It's completely my fault." I cursed my decision and myself.

I couldn't endure the pain because I could still see him smiling as he opened the package I had gifted to his daughter.

"Oh my god! Why did you do this to him? " I screamed.

"It could have been one of the happiest days of his life, yet he walked away halfway through it."

I couldn't imagine how he must have felt when he was being taken to the hospital. I've heard that a "bad death" is defined as dying with unfulfilled joys and dreams of the moment, rather than by suicide or accident. It had been a sad death. He left the world unable to share his joy with his family that night.

Years passed, yet this episode remained a nightmare for the rest of my life. Even knocking on my door during the day evoked the same nightmare.

After twelve years, I was invited to the Vidhya Sadhan School for its reopening ceremony on June 3rd, 2021. As I slowly walked onto the school campus, memories came rushing back to me. At the school gate, those memories that I had resolved never to revisit in my life emerged from nowhere. To intentionally diverted my thoughts, I tried to gaze at the things around me. The school's management, staff, and students all extended a warm reception to me. During the function, I was requested to honor the prize winners. As the anchor invited me to do the honors, I stood up so proud and happy.

"Dear parents and students, first and foremost, let me welcome Deena Vincent to the stage to receive the proficiency award from our former Principal, Mr. Dev Mohan. She has made us all proud by securing the first rank with 498 out of 500 marks in the state's higher secondary board examination. Please put your hands together for Deena Vincent. " The girl on the podium made the announcement.

I instantly recognized that name when I heard it. I noticed the lovely girl approaching the stage, and she reminded me of him...of Vincent. I couldn't hold back my emotions, and all eyes were on me, as they had been anticipating such a surprising moment. I'm not sure who made the conscious decision to invite me to that event. I noticed the little angel...Deena Vincent...looking at my face with an innocent smile as I was adorning her with the medal. I believe she was aware of how much her father meant to me. I noticed the old security guard, Mr. Gopi, who always interrupted my sleep by banging on my door. I saw him waving his right hand at me from behind the stage, among the applauding audience.