"Where are you going dear?" Minakshi's mother-in-law asked her as she picked up the keys for her two-wheeler.  "To my mom's place," she answered.  "But you'd been there just two days ago, isn't it?" "Yes, but daddy is not keeping well.  I need to take him to the doctor." "Oh my God, now this has become a daily affair.  Every now and then you are coming up with some excuse to go to your parents' house," her mother-in-law remarked sarcastically.  "We are now repenting getting our son married to a single girl child of her parents.  We had assumed an only child of her parents would be an asset and anybody would be ready to marry such a girl."  "When they cannot manage without their daughter, why did they got her married in the first place?"  This infuriated Minakshi to no end.  "You all knew that I am the only child of my parents.  You think you have done a favor on me by getting your son married to me? Haven't you got an educated daughter-in-law in your house now?"  "Oh my God, now she's showing off her smartness of being an earning member of the family," the elderly lady remarked.

Her mother-in-law called out her husband who was on his way to the courtyard where the argument was going on.  Minakshi turned towards her father-in-law, "Papa, I never meant to say any such thing.  I just replied to Mummy."  He just looked at them, sat in a chair and continued with newspaper reading.  But the mother-in-law continued cribbing, "Now, he won't even reply.  Did I give birth to a son, reared and educated him, and got him married only to hear such things from my daughter-in-law? Is there no respect for elders?" saying this she started sobbing.

Suddenly, Bharat entered the courtyard and questioned his mother, "what's happening?" to which she replied, "why don't you ask this to your dear wife, why me?" He almost pulled Minakshi into the bedroom.  "What's this Minakshi? It has become an almost daily affair."  "What have I done Bharat, your mom started the argument.  I haven't done anything.  Isn't she aware I have no brothers or sisters and I'm the only child of my parents?," said she sobbingly.  "Agreed, agreed, but after all they are my parents and we must respect them.  I owe my life to them."  "Okay... so when did I disrespect them? How can you say I disrespected them? It's not necessary that the way we talk is liked by everyone.  Moreover, all the sacrifices done by them were for you not for me.  If they expect respect from me, they in turn should respect me too." saying this Minakshi walked out of the room with purse in her hand.  "Now where are you going?" Bharat asked.  "To return the favors and sacrifices done by my parents for me."

(Translated from Hindi short story by another author)

In a small town govt school, there was a teacher named Arpita.  She used to teach for class V in addition to other classes.  It was her habit to declare 'love you all' as soon as she entered her classroom, though she very well knew she never really meant it.  It's not that she did not like kids, in fact the love for them made her a school teacher and not any financial constraints.

But there was this boy whom she just detested.  His name was Manish who was always shabbily dressed, disheveled with an unclean uniform which perhaps was not washed for days on end.  He always seemed lost somewhere and he was never attentive in class.  He never concentrated on his studies nor was up to date with his homework.  When madam used to call out his name, he used to get startled.  Whenever she scolded him for not being attentive, he used to give her an empty look.  It was quite evident that though he was physically present in the room, but mentally he was somewhere else.  Over time madam started hating him and began making a fun of him in the class.  Manish had become a target of all the bad deeds and madam used to give his example to the class to which all the students laughed and poked fun at him, but he used to remain quiet with absolutely no reaction.

She always thought him to be a non-emotional boy having no feelings at all.  For any scolding, taunt, or punishment, he used to just stare with blank eyes and then would  bend down his gaze giving no reaction.  It was as if he was trying to digest whatever sarcastic remarks were made at him due to which Arpita had developed intense hatred for him.

At the end of first semester, Madame wrote all the negatives about Manish in his report card.  In the school, it was a rule that all progress reports were scrutinized by the Principal before being sent off the parents of the students.  When the Principal saw Raju's progress report, he immediately called her in his office.  "Madame, you should have written at least some positives about Manish.  Going through such a report, Raju's parents will get disappointed."  Arpita said, "I don't think he has any positives in him.  Manish is an absolute no-gooder, so there is no chance of writing anything good about him.  I am really sorry for that."  Saying this, she got up and left.

The next day the Principal after giving a deep thought sent Manish's report card of the previous years.  When the madame entered the classroom, she noticed Manish's report card lying on her table and picked the one from 3rd standard.  She guessed that it might also contain the same old story.  But she was taken aback when she read that the teacher had showered all praises on Manish.  'Never seen a child as brilliant as Manish.  He is always very friendly with his classmates and is a very likeable boy by the teachers.'  On top that, he had achieved the top rank in the class in the final semester that year.

With her hands shaking she picked up the report of class 4.  'Manish has been deeply affected by his mother's illness.  His mother is seriously ill with last stage cancer due to which he is not able to concentrate on his studies and there is no one to look after him.'  In the same report the principal had mentioned 'Manish has lost his mother.  If something is not done, we may lose a very intelligent student.'  With tears in her eyes, madam closed the report and felt extremely ashamed of herself.

The next day, as usual madam entered the class and declared, 'love you all.'  Though she knew she never meant it really, there was one unkempt and disheveled boy for whom she had all the love in her heart.  As the studies progressed, as the daily routine she posed one question to Manish and as usual Manish lowered his head.  After a few moments when he didn't hear the teacher's rant and his classmates taunts, he raised his head only to find that madam was smiling and had no grudge against him.  She called Manish near her and asked him to repeat the answer that she had told him.  After coaxing him three to four times, at last Manish repeated the answer.  Madam clapped her hands excitedly and even asked the rest of the class to do the same.

Slowly this became a routine.  Madam used to answer the question she posed to Manish and would compel him to repeat it and then would praise it.  All good examples were now being mentioned by taking Manish's name.  Slowly and surely Manish was coming out of his cocoon.  Now Manish was able to answer even before madam finished her question and in fact by asking some out of the world questions, he was surprising the whole class.

Now, he was getting a little bit tidier.  HIs hairs were a little more neat and clothes were also less dirty, perhaps he was washing them himself.  Soon enough the academic year drew to a close.  Manish had stood second among his peers and it was time for him to leave the school and move onto another where higher classes were conducted.

On the farewell day of class 5, everyone had brought some or other gift for the madam and there was a heap of them, but there was one which was covered in an old newspaper and very clumsily packed.  All the children were laughing at the way the gift was wrapped and knew that such a gift can only be brought by none other than Manish.  When Madam noticed it, she immediately picked it up.  Inside the wrapper was a large bangle with several of its stones fallen off and a used perfume bottle.  Madam slid the bangle on her wrist and sprayed the perfume on herself.  Manish very hesitatingly went near her and with a lot of effort remarked, "Madam, today I am getting the fragrance of my mother from you."  Hearing this, with tears in her eyes she tightly hugged Manish.  All those around witnessed this unseen act of Arpita with wetted eyes.

Manish had taken admission in another school.  Days passed into months and months into years.  Every year Manish would send a letter to his madam, 'this year met many new teachers, but no one was as amazing as you are.'

As Manish finished his studies, so did the sequence of letters.  Over time, Madam too retired.  One fine day, Madam received a letter from Manish.  "I am getting married this month end and I just can't imagine it taking place without your presence.  Until this day, I have met several persons, but never found anyone like you."  The letter was signed by Dr Manish.  Enclosed in the letter were two to and fro flight tickets.  She took permission of her husband and reached the city where wedding was to take place.

She was a bit late in reaching the venue.  She thought the function may have got over, but she was surprised to see that many prominent personalities like politicians, businessmen, and high ranking officials were present so much so that even the priest was tired of waiting.  They were all eager to know why the function is not getting held and whom are we waiting for.  But Manish was standing by the gates and in no hurry to return to the wedding pandal.  After a few anxious minutes, everyone noticed an old woman entering the gate and seeing her Manish instantly ran towards her and held her hand to get her inside.  She was wearing the broken bangle which Manish had gifted her.

Manish straightaway led her to the podium and got hold of a mike began announcing, "Ladies and gentleman, I know you were all always eager to know about my mother and I had promised you that I will introduce her to you very soon.  Look at her now, she is my mother, the best mother in the world..." 

(Translated from a Hindi short story of another author)