I came to know her when my eldest son admitted in his first school and first grade.
She was then first principal of that newly opened school .
When i met her first during admission process of my son i found her very friendly ,intelligent and enthusiastic. She seemed to have a clear and positive vision for the future of her school.
We both liked each other in our first meeting .She was orphan young girl(twenty plus) responsible for her family 's living and care of young siblings . Knowing this made special place for her in my heart. May be i was envious that she was able to do that i dreamed of in past but could not make it happen.
When she knew that i belonged to another province near capital city she was curious to know more about me.
She said she had heard that education system of my province was far better than here. Then i had degree of matriculation only, still she offered me a teaching job in her school .
But i had to refuse because hubby did not want me to go for job then because my home needed me more. We were living in joint family .My younger sister was also living with us and her education was also on shoulders of my husband.
Anyway , years passed ,meanwhile my younger sister completed her secondary education and moved to Islamabad , where she worked for semi govt office for year and then got married and moved to America.
I went to Islamabad to stay with mother . After many years when i came back to Khairpur and went to her school to readmit my eldest son i was shocked when she not just recognized me immediately but stood up from her chair and hugged me with kind words .
She remembered even the name of me and my son. I knew that in her job meeting with so many people during office time was part of her job .Keeping someone particular in mind for years was impossible .I was stunned by her attentiveness and warm behavior.
She spent almost two hours with me that day and shared her progress In the time when i was in Islamabad .
With her active and sharp approach her school was now second biggest and most popular private school in the city. Number of students was increased swiftly so owner altered two more stories to building .
Her policies and her insight brought huge success to that school and not just owner but whole inhabitants of this small city knew it so well.
To pursue her passion and to make school most successful she nurtured her institute with all her love attention and truthfulness, like a mother does to her child to make him grow strong and prosperous.
She had gained an exceptional success and fame which was not achieved by any other girl in this city before. She achieved what others dream of . She supported her family with strength and money she earned by hard work.
Her sibling were studying in best academies and few of them were on good posts. She fulfilled duties which she felt on her shoulders . She was head of the family.
Time flew quickly , meanwhile we met many times and i realized that her eyes had started to show tiredness slowly and there were hidden complaints in her words .
She would sometimes share that she wants break and some peaceful times in her life when no hurry to reach in office where piles of responsibilities waiting for her.Working non stop from dawn to dusk made her feel and look old before time.
I advised her often that she has done enough for school and family . And that she should think of her life ahead as time is never going to wait until she feels that she need a partner and children to have happy ,stress free normal life.
Each time she would say " her family is very concerned that one whom i marry is loyal or after my bank balance" . I would reply that in such situations we have to take risk with faith and hope that f we are with honest intention God will help us.
Years passed and one day i heard from one of my colleague (in school) that she has left the home and living separate on rent with one of her female servant.
This was sad and surprising news because in our small city no girl lives alone though in big cities they do. I took time from busy routine and went to meet her . Her condition was not well. She looked ill and hear broken.
She told that people around her were never caring or acknowledging but since when she is sick (diabetes and other issues) they have become rude and criticizing . I wanted to hug her as my heart felt heavy and sinking .
But i did not want her to feel weak or torn as she was my ideal. I wanted her to stick firmly with her decisions without any regret as regrets are always invain and bring only disappointment.
She died almost two years back in age of fifty one. She devoted herself for her family and school and left without making her own family.
Still her family cannot forget her sacrifices. Until that school exist and all the students who gained education under her supervision ,she can never be forgotten.
She was an inspiration and i am happy i knew her.
Gone at such an early age, an admirable woman.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful tribute for your friend. Just 51. Time goes quickly.
ReplyDeleteso sorry for your sadness Baili, although this lady did not have children of her own, she clearly enriched many peoples lives and has left a legacy; thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tribute to your friend! She had a sad end, dying so young of illness. But she touched and changed many young lives for the better and that is a wonderful legacy for anyone to leave behind.
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful tribute Baili. It's hard to find such dedicated people, especially women in our society. Fifty one is too young to leave this world, she was doing so much good.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that she passed away so young. She sounds as if she was a truly admirable person. People like her touch so many lives in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteThis story about your friend leaves me feeling sad, Baili. Your friend died too young because of her dedication to her family and her students and because of always putting them ahead of herself. However, she left behind an amazing legacy of helping her family and many, many students. She likely accomplished more than the people who were criticizing her. I hope that she felt in her heart that her sacrifices and accomplishments were worth it. I am glad that her family remembers and appreciates her sacrifices and her dedication to them. You were a true friend to her, and I'm sure that she appreciated that deeply. I'm sending you a big hug!
ReplyDeleteShe accomplished much at a great cost to herself.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry you lost such a good friend. And she obviously valued your friendship to her. She had a hard life doing what she felt was her duty and she was successful in doing that.
ReplyDeleteShe was a wonderful girl. She had a sacred heart.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend, Baili!
Your friend would have been so touched with this lovely tribute to her:) I hope more people appreciate her sacrifices.
ReplyDeleteAM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOST .. YES THERE ARE FEW PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WHO ALWAYS THINK OF OTHERS BEFORE THEMSELVES
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day
Kinza Khushboo
Blog
Glamorous without the Guilt
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What a wonderful tribute for your friend.
ReplyDeleteMy good wishes.
All the best Jan
A beautiful tribute to your friend! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteGreat teachers are never forgotten, baili.
ReplyDeleteI had the fortune of finding some like this in my academic life.
Have a great week
She sounds like a truly wonderful woman, and one who was gone too soon. The world is richer for having had her in it, and diminished by her passing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tribute you wrote.
Muito bonito o tributo aqui prestado a uma pessoa que se dedicou aos outros esquecendo-se de si mesma…
ReplyDeleteUma boa semana.
Um beijo.
I think it is. We wonder how a woman sacrifice their life for their family. But it natural, and they are be great creatures in the universe.More stronger than men in innerself
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that your loved friend passed away so young. She must have given positive impact on her students’ life and emitted light on those around her. The light is missed solely when it is out, but Baili, whenever you think of her, she’s always with you. Perfectly lovely tribute to your late friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words on my blog, as always.
Yoko
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of this special friend. My heart goes out to you. She sounds like she contributed much to the world during her time here.
ReplyDeleteSuch a loving tribute to your dear friend, Baili. I am so sorry that she left this world so young, but in her short life she helped and had a positive impact on so many. It is sad that she died without a family of her own, but it sounds like her school and her students were her true family in this world and she devoted her life to them. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend, dear Baili. Sending hugs xo Karen
ReplyDeleteHow sad that your friend didn't have the support that would have allowed her to realize her dream of her own family and home . . . And yet she accomplished so much. All her students benefited from her hard work. In a way, they were her family. I hope she gained some comfort from that.
ReplyDeleteHello, a lovely tribute and post for your friend. So sorry for your loss. Wishing you a great day!
ReplyDeleteAs so many others have commented before me, Baili, this post was a loving tribute to your good friend. I was saddened to read of her early death. She was obviously a woman very devoted to her work with school children and sad that she didn’t make time for her own life before it was cut short.
ReplyDelete