Doing good comes back to you
Mrs Leela was a retired teacher now. Was she happy now or not? It was difficult to judge, as she was an introvert. She was a kind and loving lady and a good teacher. She was a strict teacher but loved her students.
In a class of around sixty students, not every student felt a connection with their teacher. This happens with all teachers. The children
came from different family circumstances and behaved differently with some teachers. Leela was one of the teachers.
The farewell given by the school and the students was painful for Leela, as she was a devoted teacher and loved her work and the students.
Her last day at the school was unforgettable. The Principal said, “ We will all miss the hardworking and intelligent teacher. We wish her good luck in her future life.”
Many teachers also spoke highly of their colleagues. Many of her students also spoke highly about her kindness and teaching.
Leela folded her hands before taking leave. Controlling her tears, she looked at her pride, the institution she had been associated with for thirty years. She looked at the helping staff who were standing far away in the corridor. She saw Rani, a lady in that group, trying to hide her tears.
Rani came near Leela with folded hands and tears in her eyes and said, Madam, thank you so much for all the help you have showered upon me. I am grateful and hope to return your kindness in future, if we happen to meet again.”
Leela patted Rani and waved to all and left.
As they say, “Life moves on.”
True words. One has to live their life till the last breath.
Leela moved to her house, which, with the help of her husband Murthy, was built on the outskirts of Chennai. It was a small house with a small garden in the front. They had planted a coconut tree and some flowering trees. Her husband, Murthy, was also a retired person from a bank. Both of them loved gardening, reading books and travelling. They relaxed for a month and enjoyed sitting on the verandah, which faced a park. They enjoyed their evening tea, watching the children playing in the park. The birds were returning to their nests on the tall trees outside their house. Their son and daughter were married and were in Mumbai and Delhi. They were married early in their lives. They were happy. They wanted to enjoy life leisurely, visiting different places in India.
After a few years, they wanted to visit their children staying in Mumbai and Delhi, for some months. They were looking for a good caretaker to guard their house. They contacted different agencies, some known to their neighbours. To leave the house in the care of any person, they had to find a trustworthy couple. They had constructed a small one-room with a washroom and a kitchen space in a corner at the back of their house. They thought they might appoint them as the house help also when they grew old. They interviewed some couples before finalising on a couple in their mid-forties. They were from the place where they worked as a banker and near her school. Raghav was a peon in that bank. Rani was the school’s helping staff. They got a police verification of the couple and fixed them. The couple had no children. They made an agreement about their salary and the other benefits. They could not
recognise them, but Rani and Raghav were happy to get a chance to be grateful.
They introduced them to their neighbours and shared their mobile numbers. Both were humble and told them, “You both do not worry, Sir and Madam; we will look after the house.”
They got them a cab and helped them with the luggage. They were feeling sad to see them off for two months.
They locked the main gate and sadly went to their room. The lady, Rani, said, “ Are we not lucky to get a job at Madam’s house?”
Raghav said, “I am also happy to be with them.”
Good that they could not recognise us after so many years.”
It was good luck in disguise; they felt they could serve the people who helped them when they needed them. They were happy that Leela and her husband did not recognise them. They thanked God for bringing them to Leela and Murthy’s house.
