Let's Speak Softly!

Kannagi Amma, the office attendant, stood at the classroom door, holding a student by the hand. The girl was not wearing the school's regular uniform. Yes! New admission!

The attention of the whole class turned towards the girl standing near the door of the classroom. Not just the children! But also, the teacher, Manju!

Kannagi Amma entered the class and gave the teacher an information note. All the students clapped their hands and welcomed the newcomer.

She was given a seat in the first row.

“What is your name? Can you tell the class a few words about yourself ?” the teacher asked, and the girl stood up.

“My name is ….” As she began, the school bell started ringing. It was time for the next period.

The entire class screamed ‘Oh!’.

“Be quiet, everyone be quiet. This is very wrong.” said the teacher Manju in a stern voice, “Vanshika, come here.”

“What is the next period ? Who is the teacher?”

“Devika ma’am” everyone shouted again.

“Shh… Quiet! Everyone be quiet, Vanshi, take care of the class. List down the names of the students who speak and hand it over to Devika Madam" Manju madam ordered Vanshika. Then, the teacher left the class.

The moment the teacher left, a girl shouted, "Hey, what's your name?"

"Janvi, don't make noise!" Vanshika shouted.

Sushma, who was sitting next to the new girl, spoke to her in a low voice, "I'm Sushma, what's your name?"

By then, Vanshika came closer and tapped the bench with her stick, saying, “Don’t talk, don’t talk.”

“Raji, sit in your place! Divyashri, don’t talk! Kavya don’t talk,” Vanshika said.

She knocked on the table and benches several times with her stick. She was going on shouting to bring the class to a state of silence.

“Friends, let us ask the new girl to our class… what is your name?” Vanshika asked.

“Megha”

“Nice name, Megha, could you to talk to us now?”

“Hey! Thenga, managa, Megha,” the students shouted.

“Be quiet! Otherwise, I will tell Devaki Madam,” Vanshika said.

The students became silent as Vanshika started shouting harshly!

Megha didn’t like to get up and talk about herself. She did not like the noise that the students created and also Vanshika’s shouting and scolding,

“Why is that everyone here shouting so much?” Megha thought.

Sushma, who was nearby, said, “Go Megha,” and she pushed Megha off the bench.

Megha’s face and legs were bruised! A small nail had pierced her elbow and blood was oozing out.

Vanshika ran towards Megha. She rebuked Sushma for pushing Megha.

Vanshika was soft towards Megha.

“Don’t worry, Megha, it’s just a small injury!” Vanshi said.

Many students dashed towards Megha’s seat. Vanshi drove them away saying, “Don’t gather around,”. She ordered Sushma, “Bring that first aid kit.”

Vanshika wiped out the blood dots that had pooled on Megha's hand very neatly. She soaked a cotton ball in water, pressed it, and when the bleeding stopped, wiped the bruises and dust with another cotton ball. Then she wiped it again with water mixed with a drop of Dettol.

"It's nothing, Megha, don't cry," Vanshika said.

"Raji, you told me you brought lemon juice today, give a little to our Megha."

"Divyashri, wipe the sweat on Megha's face."

“Vanshika, what’s wrong? Why are you taking the first aid kit?” It was the voice of Devaki madam.

After hearing the details of what had happened, Devaki madam praised Vanshika for her quick and right action.

Then, madam called Megha, enquired about her well-being, asked about her details, and introduced her to the class.

Megha thanked Vanshika. She could understand the capability of Vanshi. However, she did not like the noise. All the students always shouted. And the leader also shouted at them to keep them calm!

During the subsequent breaks, Megha didn’t like the way Vanshika had loudly and authoritatively scolded everyone.

Lunch break.

“What, Megha, you seem to be tight-lipped. Smile and talk. If you talk well, it will be lively. Don’t be afraid. Be normal.” Vanshika.

“No, I am not afraid. I just wonder why you are very loud always, shouting at the top of your voice! Why?”

“The leader should speak like that only” Vanshika said with a shrug. “If I speak a little louder only all will get controlled!”.

“Once in a while if you shout…, it is okay. Always making noise and shouting wildly is a disgrace to our class.” Megha.

Vanshika nodded her head in understanding.

“Not just the leader… why not everyone? If everyone speaks softly…”.

Megha continued, “Why do you make so much noise during the breaks in class?” She looked at everyone and asked.

“Didn’t anyone shout in your old class?” Sushma asked.

“I was the leader of my class there. At first, everyone was shouting. One day, I was talking to my grandfather about this. He taught me a wonderful way.”

"What is that? What way?" Many voices shouted loudly!

"First, all of you go to your seat and sit! Be quiet!" Megha told in a normal voice.

The students responded. All the students sat and were ready to listen to Megha.

They were silent! Without being shouted!

"Wow! How quiet you are now! Vanshika! From now on, instead of writing down the names of those who shout, write down the names of those who speak quietly and softly! Praise those who are quiet! That's what my grandfather told me,” Said Megha.

Within a few days, there was a positive change among the students!

During the breaks, the class behaved gently. No wild cries and shouts!

The change over was well observed by the teachers. The Principal appreciated the class in the school prayer and declared it as the model class of the school.

“Let’s talk softly” became the magic mantra of the school.