Irreplaceable Integrity and Love of Girls of VSSM Unnati Hostel

Mittal Patel talking to hostel girls

If you all are truly my girls find me Kinjaldidi’s watch within half-an-hour or else I will not eat my dinner!!!

This evening in the rush to go and pick up the girls from the school, Kinjal forgot her watch in the bathroom. Kinjal is a very polite and obedient child. Her mother Ramaben Chuvadiya Koli earns her living as a daily wage earning labour. The family doesn’t even have a pucca house to stay, “The house is bound to happen once my Kinjal finishes her education!!” she always says with a smile on her face. Ramaben saved some money from her daily earning to gift Kinjal a wrist watch worth Rs. 250. Don’t we all hold the gifts our parents give us as precious things ever? For Kinjal, this watch was the most precious thing ever, she would always wear it. Hell broke loose when Kinjal couldn’t trace her watch after she returned from picking up the girls from school.

I was in the office finishing my writing assignments. Kinjal came and stood behind my chair. This is a ritual. Whenever these girls have to tell or confess to  me they come and stand behind my chair so that we do not face each other, they speak up all they want to. While they are talking I am forbidden to turn around and look at them. I was waiting for Kinjal to speak up. Five minutes passed but there was no talking. Kinjal remained quiet. “What is the matter?” I inquired without turning my chair.

All the girls surrounded Mittal Patel to tell her about the watch

Kiara is always around the hostel, spending her time with the girls. She has made friends with a lot of girls her age hence she knew what was the matter. “Mumma, Kinjaldidi has lost her watch,” she let me know.

And Kinjal began crying profusely. “Didi, my mummy must have worked so hard to save money to buy me a watch. I consoled and assured her that we will find her watch.

At the hostel it was time for evening prayers. Everyone had gathered in the hall. I went and spoke about Kinjal’s watch, who had gifted it to her and quoted an instance when I had brought back a pen from a relative’s house without their knowledge and how I spent a sleepless night until I went there the next day and let them know that the pen was with me. They were so pleased with my honesty that I was gifted that pen.  They liked my truthfulness. Everyone likes honest people.

“I despise such behaviour from my girls. Hence, we need to find the watch within half-an-hour or else I will not eat my dinner. If you all love me find me the watch. If you fail to do that I will understand how much you all love me.” After the talk I returned to my office.

Within 10 minutes there was a sudden commotion in my office, all the girls rushed in  and gathered around my table (as seen in the picture), “Didi, didi we have found the watch.”

I was delighted to witness this honesty from my children.

The girl who found it was given an ovation. The rest were cautioned to not to point fingers at her.

I am glad these daughters of ours are learning to be honest humans first. I have decided to gift these 80 girls a wrist watch each for their honesty and truthfulness.

“Didi, now have your dinner. In fact eat twice as much today!” they joked.

These are precious moments I share with my girls. The clamour made Dashrath inquisitive, thank you for capturing these moments, Dashrath. And that is Kinjal in pink t-shirt.

How blessed I am to receive  such irreplaceable love and affection!! Thank you God for bestowing these opportunities!!

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