The Birthday That Changed Me - Komal Kumari -Std 8 - 12

"I never liked going to a house like my grandfather's old mansion, but this time I had to go even though I didn't want to because of my friends' insistence. It was my birthday in two days., My friends wanted to celebrate my birthday in the village. I have lived in the city since childhood. I have come,That is why I had no attachment to my village. The last time I went to the village was when,when my Grandfather was breathing his last. I had almost forgotten my grandfather's village and mansion. It was a mistake. When I reached the village,I was shocked to see the situation there.,The people there and The environment was very dirty,I got very angry,I took out all my anger on my friends, Because it was because of him that I had to come to the village. My grandfather's mansion looked quite big and old. Had been,like talking to the air,Long corridors filled with silence where even the voices It used to resonate. There was a lot of dust and dirt accumulated inside the mansion,less than a maze in appearance It did not seem like a good night.

As it was evening, we cleaned the room and bathroom to sleep. And after eating something I went to sleep. That night I saw a room in my dream,my grandfather being one of them I was writing an old diary. By the next morning I had forgotten this dream,That day I and My friends had a lot of work. We cleaned the mansion and the next day was my birthday. Was,So my friends sent me out to prepare for the birthday. I stayed in the village. I started to feel sad,I found the condition of the village very bad. I had a hard time walking on the road there. I was thinking about when I would leave this dirty village.,Go,Suddenly I walk I started feeling dizzy. A woman came to me with water and was about to give it to me,that I In anger he threw the glass of water away and said angrily,how did you dare to me This dirty water is for drinking. And saying this I took out a bottle of water from my bag and drank it. She went to the mansion. It was 12 in the night.,00 I cut my birthday cake and played some games started playing,While playing I went into a room, it was the same room,who came in my dream, I remembered that dream,I thought the diary would also be somewhere,I got an old I found an old diary in the cupboard,On which was written “Journey of Service”,on that room I couldn't stay for long. I kept thinking about that diary all night. The next morning I woke up early and went to that room and started reading that diary. She The diary was written by Chandrodaya Singh in 1970,I mean it was written by my grandfather It was written in that diary.

There was an old writing in that diary. On every page there was a note of someone It had written about “helping someone”. I started reading the entire diary. Every page had the story of some unknown person,How he helped the poor in his city of,How to give a homeless person a home How to identify a dead body and connect it with his family Lamalaya”. Service had real importance in every diary entry,Don't share your happiness and peace with others I want to understand and help them and my life's purpose is to help them. I got very angry while reading that diary. I was lost in it. I did not even know when this diary was going to end. the last page of There was a thin diary of 5-6 pages. I was about to open the diary. Then my friends came to the room looking for me. I quickly hid the diary. My friends took me to visit the village. This time I saw this village for the first time. it was a pity to see,I saw some village children who were working as laborers. I told them called and gave some toffees,It seemed to him that when he saw her smile,as if they I have got first place in something. Moving forward,I saw that woman walking,who gave me water I had given her money. She was working as a labourer. I was feeling very sorry,why did I do that with them. I apologized to them and asked them to come to my house at night. villages some more I asked everyone to come on my birthday. This was my first birthday in which I celebrated my birthday with the villagers. I cut the cake and fed everyone Everyone was very happy. I asked an old lady about my grandfather.,He told that My grandfather was a very good man. His heart was full of compassion,which they have have also goes for help,He never returned empty handed,

Whether they have a give something to or not even then,They did not care about him. I feel a bit sad after hearing this. I also asked why the condition of the village is so bad? Is the government taking any action for this? Why don't you do it? He told me how many complaints we have filed with the government,But never e som He did not complete it. I had the same dream that night too. The next morning we had to return to the city. had to go,So I forgot that diary there,At that time, I did not feel like leaving that village.

About the Author:

Meet Komal Kumari :

Komal Kumari is a spirited and thoughtful Class 8 student from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Muzaffarpur. With a deep love for storytelling and a natural flair for expression, Komal found her voice through writing—and her talent was soon recognized when she secured the first position in story writing during Hindi Pakhwada at her school. Though she aspires to become a software developer one day, storytelling remains close to her heart, like a quiet companion through all her ambitions.

Komal finds great inspiration in the stories of Premchand, especially Karmabhoomi, and credits her school for helping her discover the artist within. Whether it’s spinning fictional worlds or playing a focused game of table tennis, Komal’s dedication and creativity shine through. She shares her stories with the hope of touching hearts and encouraging others to explore their own hidden talents.

About the Story

This story was submitted by the author as an entry for the BhashaLab Ultimate Story Writing Competition, 2025. We appreciate their creativity, thoughtful expression, and the courage to share their voice with a wider audience. Thank you!

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