SILENCE – NOT ALWAYS GOLDEN

“Have the children got into the right buses? Check once again---” was the repeated advice from the Principal of the school, Mrs. Rosalind. 

“Yes Madam, we checked and rechecked. All in the right buses. But why Madam, you seem to be very sensitive about this?” asked Hilda, the care taker.

“Yes, I have reasons for my over sensitivity in this matter”admitted Mrs. Rosalind. She recalled her own experience which could never be erased from her memory. Instead, it left an indelible lesson in her mind.

“ We…. “continued Mrs. Rosalind. “My husband and I had just then admitted our daughter Grace to L.K.G in a reputed school. Since our home was three kilometres away from the school, we asked for School Bus facility”. As Mrs. Rosalind was working elsewhere, she asked her maid to pick up the child from the bus stop every day. She had given her daughter a standing instruction to get into the bus Sujatha took. Sujatha was studying in V standard in the same school and lived in the same apartment just above them. Since Grace was too small to find the right bus , Rosalind thought that this instruction would help her. Of course, it did help her for some time.

But one day it so happened that Sujatha wanted to visit her friend’s house in another locality. So, she got into a differentschool bus taking the relevant route. Grace followed her and got into that bus. Sujatha saw her entering the bus but failed to tell her that she was taking a different route. The bus took the child everywhere except to her home.

Fortunately, Rosalind finished her job  for the day – her classes having been advanced. So, she came home earlier than usual. As she was nearing home, the maid came running to inform her that Grace had not returned from school. Rosalindflung her bag and left for her daughter’s school. At the school, she was searching classroom after classroom for her daughter. She did not miss checking even the toilets. The Principal and the teachers tried to console her saying “She is our child also. We shall wait for the last bus, which will return very shortly. If Grace is not there also, then we can lodge a complaint with the police. Are you sure you did not scold her today? Did anything go wrong at home?”

Rosalind could not ever compose herself to answer the questions! She knew something had gone wrong somewhere.

It was then the last bus came back to school. Right inside the bus on one of the seats in the corner sat Grace shivering in fear. The conductor of the bus informed the Principal that she got into the wrong bus and could not even tell them where her house was. Rosalind was thanking God profusely for bringing back her daughter safely. She shuddered to think what could have happened if the crew of the bus had not brought hersafely to the school campus.

Back at home , Rosalind asker her daughter, “ Honey, why did you get into the wrong bus? Haven’t I told you to get into the bus Sujatha gets in?”.

“Yes Mom, I got into the bus she got in” replied Grace .

“Did she see you get in?” was Rosalind’s next question. Grace’s reply was a firm yes. Rosalind wanted to check with Sujatha.  Pat came the reply, “I had to go to my friend’s place. Hence, took a different bus.” 

Rosalind explained to her the event of the day. There was not even an iota of remorse from her side. Thinking back, if only Sujatha had told Grace , these unpleasant things could have been avoided.  But Sujatha never regretted her behaviour and that made Rosalind always remember the event and warnparents to be very careful of their wards. And also the school bus staff to see the children entered the right bus. A right word said at the right time can avoid a dangerous situation and lot of heartburn.