The Moment My Small Kindness Changed Her Day | by Shrushti Mehta | Readers Club | Jul, 2025

Meet Sanjana,

She was in third grade when I first met her at Samakhyali Girls’ School, Kutch, in 2021.

A group of 6 members was sent there by our college for an internship to promote “Covid vaccination” and “Girl child education” in collaboration with UNICEF.

In that group, one was me, an overly enthusiastic, always clicking pictures, recording stuff for our project, taking surveys, talking with people, and having snacks during important group discussions.

Now, let me get into how I met her.

As it was a rural internship program, we decided to visit a school to inspect the facilities and also to present a skit, solely prepared to raise awareness.

We reached a bit early. Even the morning prayer hadn’t begun yet. So one of my friends and I decided to review the conditions of classes.

While walking, I found a group of girls trying to console one of their classmates as she was crying.

I paused for a while and asked her the reason. The answer was “She hasn’t completed her homework”.

We all have been there. Isn’t it?

When not completing homework felt like the end of the world. We did not want to go to school, but our mother forced us to leave home. Ah! Those days..disturbing yet memorable.

I sat there and asked her to give me her notebook. She looked at me with awe. But finally handed it to me.

There were only a few minutes left for morning prayer. So I took her pencil and began to finish her homework. I did it in minutes. But also asked her to repeat it once she returns home.

She obediently nodded her head. Her face changed. She became relaxed.

Then I asked, “What’s your name?”. In a slow whispering voice, she replied, “Sanjana”. I told her to drink some water.

Finally, a mild smile rolled over her face. I requested, “Shall I take a selfie with you?”, to which she said yes. And I captured the moment in the tiny screen of my mobile.