The Lost Earring: A Story of Compassion and Unexpected Kindness.

                           

A Small Manner

Image Credit: Microsoft Designer
Image of Indian woman with earrings.

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"A  Small Manner" is a story of quiet moments, shared burdens and unexpected kindnesses that connect people. The story revolves around a lost earring at a sombre family gathering, bringing with it a message of love and compassion.

A meeting was going on at the Dandam family's Dharmashala. It was a sweet-bitter affair - a ritual after the death of the head of the family, Jagam, who had passed away a few days earlier. 

Relatives and friends flocked to the spot to pay their tributes, but there was an unspoken grief in the atmosphere. 

Jagam's two sons, Maan and Ajit, were busy making arrangements, their faces showing a sense of duty rather than sadness. They had been waiting for this day for a long time, ever since their father's health started deteriorating.

Jagam's wife died of cancer several years ago, a loss that devastated him. Despite his best efforts to save her, she passed away, leaving him to grapple with a life that was becoming increasingly empty. 

In his loneliness, Jagam turned to alcohol – a solace that deepened his despair. His sons tried to mediate, but Jagam remained stuck on his downward path. 

He continued his job, participated in life's activities, but the emptiness inside him grew. His last days were spent in a small temple near his house, where he sought solace in solitude.

On the day of his funeral, the brothers felt a strange uneasiness. There was no overwhelming grief, no unstoppable tears. Instead, they had accepted the inevitability of their father's passing, they had prepared themselves for this moment long before it arrived. 

Those present at the funeral whispered amongst themselves, noting that the brothers seemed almost aloof. But everyone understood - Jagam had moved on from them long before his physical death.

lost earring

As the rituals progressed, the sky threatened rain, but the weather held its own, as if respecting the solemnity of the day. Guests streamed in and out of the dharamshala, offering their condolences, while Man's wife did her best to ensure that everyone was comfortable. 

Meanwhile she suddenly remembered something—an earring that belonged to her cousin Chitra was missing. It was no ordinary earring; it was a precious thing that she had borrowed for the occasion. 

Panic began to rise in her chest, but she forced herself to keep calm. Surely, he must be somewhere nearby, she thought.

He sent his nephew to quietly search the dining area where the women were eating. He returned empty-handed. Becoming more worried, he began searching himself, retracing his steps, looking in every corner where the earring might have fallen. 

But his efforts were in vain – the earring was nowhere to be found.

As time passed, the weight of the situation began to weigh on her. How could she have lost something so important? She knew she would have to tell her husband, but the thought frightened her. 

Man was not understanding; he was strict, even harsh, and she feared his reaction. She imagined his anger, his disappointment, and the punishment that would follow. The thought of it made her feel sick.

Waiter

As she walked through the hospice, her mind racing, she heard a soft voice behind her. The voice called out politely but insistently, "Didi."

She turned to see a waiter, a serious-faced young man. She glared at him, her panic rising. “What happened? Go back to your work.”

The waiter approached her cautiously, holding something small in his hand. He said, "Madame, I've got something for you."

His heart started pounding, “What is it? If it is something important, give it to Mann sahab.”

“No, sister,” the waiter replied. “I thought it might belong to a lady, so I brought it to you first.”

She looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat. “Show me.”

The waiter took an earring out of his pocket and extended it to her. She immediately recognized it - it was the same lost earring. She felt a sigh of relief, so deep that she almost cried.

"Thank you," she whispered, taking the earring from him. "You have no idea what trouble you've saved me from."

The waiter nodded, a slight smile on his face. “I’m glad I could help you, sister. I found this while washing the dishes. I thought it might be important.”

She stood there for a moment, amazed at the young man's kindness. He was just a waiter doing a hard job on a hard day, but he showed her a respect she hadn't expected. When he turned to leave, she called after him.

“What is your name?” he asked.

“Vijay, didi,” he replied.

“Thank you, Vijay,” he said softly. “You have done more than I could have imagined.”

As he left, she watched him go, her mind reeling over the day's events. In the midst of grief and duty, a small act of kindness had reminded her of something important - that compassion and respect can come from the most unexpected places.

Vijay might be working as a waiter today, but she could see that he had a bright future. She was sure that he would go far in life.

And as for the earring, it wasn't just a piece of jewelry — it was a reminder that in the toughest of times, a small gesture can make a huge difference. 

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