It was a week after New Year’s. Malini stood in front of the open refrigerator trying to pick something nice for her classmates. Her problem was the fridge looked like a Great Wall of goodies, loaded with gift-boxes and bags of sweets, chocolates, dry fruits and fresh fruit. If she pulled out one item, three would very likely fall off.
Malini let out a sigh. It was the same every year after the festive season. Something would have to be done this year, she decided. That evening, she pulled her grandmother to the kitchen. “Look, Paatti,” she said, opening the fridge door, “We can’t possibly eat all this food ourselves, can we? Wouldn’t it be nice to share some of it with persons who can’t buy such things for themselves?”
Feeling generous
Paatti wasn’t too thrilled. She was diabetic and not supposed to eat sweets or high-calorie food. A packed fridge meant she could have these without anyone noticing. So she said, “Good idea, but let's ask your mother first.”
Amma liked the idea. And so the three of them inspected the goodies, helped by Malini’s little brother, Chinnu. A list was made of persons to whom they could give the delicacies.
When he got back from work, Malini’s father was duly informed. “Tomorrow is Saturday. I can drive you around to these places,” Appa said. So calls and appointments were made for their goodwill visits.
The next afternoon, they were off to deliver the parcels with Paatti, who insisted on accompanying them. The family was welcomed warmly at each place they visited. Their pujari offered them murukkus and hot cardamom milk. At the Meenakshi Home for the Aged, Paatti was a big hit. She sang a Meera bhajan for them. Then they happily showed her the work-room where they made small craft items for sale.
When Malini’s family were leaving, everyone at the old-age home said, “Please come often. No one comes to visit us.” Paatti assured them that they would. They delivered the rest of the parcels and drove home.
Amma laughed when she came out of the house and saw what they were unloading from the car — a big bunch of hill-bananas given by the pujari’s wife, a bright patchwork bag from Paatti’s new friends, a bag of red roses given by Nagamma, the elderly flower-seller, a nice pumpkin from their watchman Amin’s village and some lovely hibiscus flowers and curry leaves plucked by the kids of Shishu Mandir, the Children’s Home, from their tiny garden. They were simple, useful, and love-filled gifts.
Soon, a lot of changes had taken place in Malini’s home. Paatti no longer had a craze for sweets and television serials. She visited the Meenakshi Home often. Her creative ideas helped the ladies make their craft items prettier and more likely to sell. She set up a craft bazaar and also a weekly bhajan session for them.
Amma, who worked as a dietician, helped both the Home and the Shishu Mandir to draw up healthy meal-plans. She also gave them tips on running their kitchens better. But the big surprise was from Appa. He now spent most of his spare time coaching the Shishu Mandir kids in Mathematics, English, chess and tennis. His friends soon joined him, wanting to help.
Malini had wanted to share things. Now the adults around her had begun to share their abilities, skills, and time. They were bringing sunshine into others’ lives.
