The Gift

Parvati’s day typically started at 5am, when she would wake up and cook for her family. An hour later she would wake up the kids, get them ready for school and cook breakfast for them. She would then head off for work- She worked as a house maid.

At 30, she was mother to 4 kids, the eldest one was 15-years-old and the youngest was 8-years-old. She was petite and less than 5 feet in height but possessed the energy of a dynamite. Even after doing household chores for 5 houses, she would have the energy to cook for her family and manage her house. May be, it wasn’t the energy but the fact that she had no option. Her house was like many other houses in India where ‘Men’ didn’t help in household work.

Her earning was only Rs 10000 per month. Her husband worked as a labourer on construction sites. He didn’t have any fixed earning; it could be Rs 400 per day or nothing if he didn’t have work. Resources were scarce for this family but Parvati put in her best to ensure her kids got good education and upbringing.

Vedika got to know Parvati through her cook Anita. She desperately needed someone who would take care of dusting and cleaning her house. Anita introduced her to Parvati. She started with the cleaning job at her place in May 2017. She was taking care of the house like it was hers. In no time she felt like family.

For a woman, the maids are more important than the husband. A day without the maid is like hell.

A few days later, a little girl accompanied Parvati.

“Iski chhuttiyan chal rahi hain to le aai ki madad kara degi.(Her vacations are on, so I thought she can help me here.)” Parvati said as she introduced Babita, her daughter.

Babita was a bubbly 14-year-old, a regular teenage girl who loved spending time in her school and with her friends. Her friends fondly called her bak-bak, for she would speak for hours at a stretch. A little short in height for her age, but a lot more wise, that’s Babita for you.

She was a highly pampered kid at home, being the only sister to three brothers. With this pampering came some ground rules too, for they wanted to remind her that she was a girl. She was also her mother’s favourite kid as she was the only helping hand both at home and at work.

Vedika greeted Babita and got the best smile in response. Vedika asked her how old she was and she told her she was 14.

“Arre, ye to bilkul 14 ki nahi lalagti. Khelti nahi hai? (Oh, She doesn’t look like she is 14-year-old. Don’t you play?” Vedika asked.

“Khelti hun na meri friendon ke saath. (I play with my friends.)” She responded with a smile on her face. Vedika couldn’t stop smiling as she heard her say -friendon.

They talked for some more time, she told her that she loved Mathematics but was not too fond of Science and English. Vedika told her that she could come over to study Science and English from me. She was excited and told her that she would come to study.

Babita started coming regularly, along with studying she helped her in the kitchen and soon they became friends. She used to eat lunch at her place. One day Vedika had made pumpkin for lunch.

“Didi, main ye nahi khati. (Didi, I don’t eat this.)” She said as she looked disapprovingly at the pumkin.

“Oh, so what do you eat Ms Babita?” Vedika asked her in English, to see if she was getting better at it.

“I eat Maggi and Pasta, they are my favourite. Mummy tiffin mein deti hain. (Mummy packs these for lunch in school.) She replied innocently, clearly getting better at her spoken English.

Vedika felt happy and smiled. It is such a beautiful bond that a mother and child share. Parvati worked more than 14 hours a day and didn’t earn too well. She still managed to save enough to make her child feel loved and pamper her with her favourite food at times. Vedika cooked Maggi for her as she relished it.

A few days later, Parvati told her that Babita loved coming to her place. What she didn’t know was, Vedika loved Babita’s company equally. She didn’t know that Vedika was reliving her childhood with her and that she taught her one of the best lessons that somewhere we all forget as we grow up and start earning.

It was 22^nd May 2017 and Vedika’s brother’s birthday. She had spoken to him in advance about what he wanted for his birthday. He had given her a list of things to order from Amazon and Vedika had ordered them so that they reach him before his birthday.

“Babita, mere bhai ka birthday hai. (Babita, it’s my brother’s birthday.)” Vedika said as she offered her sweets.

“Arre waah, aaj to mere bhai bhi birthday hai, bade vale ka.(Oh nice! It is my brother’s birthday as well, my big brother.)” She responded as she stuffed her mouth with the ladoos.

Suddenly Babita became sad. Her brother had gone to the village with their mother and was returning only after 2 days. She told her about the birthday party she was planning for him, but he wasn’t there.

“It’s ok. Kya gift de rahi hai bhai ko? (What are you gifting him?”

“Geometry box!” Her big eyes were bright and filled with excitement.

Vedika asked her why she was giving him that. She told her that he didn’t have one and they had to share. As a result, he would leave it for her and get scolded in his class.

It took Vedika back to her childhood, when her brother and she would do things for each other. It took her to the care and love hidden amidst the fights that only a brother and sister can understand. Vedika asked her if she had bought that already.

“Aaj lungi, 1 month se paise jod rahi hun. (No, I’ll buy it today. I was saving since a month.)” She replied with the same brightness in her eyes. Vedika asked her the price of the Geometry box.

“100 rupees!” She sounded proud of herself. When Vedika asked her more, she told her that she didn’t get any pocket money. Parvati gave her money as and when it was required. She saved this because of the small jobs she would do by helping her mother and earn 10 or 20 rupees.

This 14-year-old girl taught her the meaning of life. Someone’s necessity is luxury for someone else. Vedika gave her 100 rupees and told her to buy the Geometry box as a gift from her and not keep the 100 rupees with her-forever. She will cherish them when she will grow up.

Sometimes we forget who we are and how small things in life give us happiness. Happiness is not in luxury but in being what you are. Babita became an inseparable part of Vedika’s life for she sees herself in Babita.