QA話題：你做過沒人知道的最好的事情是什么？

At age 10, I stood in front of my new class, my new classmates looking at me with mild interest as my teacher introduced me. I had joined in the middle of the school year. There were 41 students in my new class. I was the 42nd.
All my classmates sat in pairs except for this one girl, K. I went and sat down next to her and gave her a small, uncertain smile. She smiled in return. The class started and we didn't talk until lunch time. At lunchtime, I pulled out my lunch box, packed by my mother. It had aloo parantha with home made pickle and a small box of fruits. Clearly my mom had spent time packing this yummy lunch. So while I stuffed my face, this girl took out a small box with bread butter inside. In India, it's pretty rare for kids to just get bread butter for lunch. The only time I had bread butter for lunch was if my mom was unwell. So I thought that's what the problem here was. I offered her a small portion of my lunch and forgot all about it. The next day, she again had bread butter. Well, I thought, her mother probably has flu. So she's taking time to recover. I again offered her a part of my lunch. This went on for a week. Then one day, I asked the one question that I shouldn't have.
“Is your mom not well?”
10 year old Ananya wasn't prepared for the answer. Her mother had died of cancer a few weeks ago. I didn't know what to do. So I did the most obvious thing. I went home and told my mom that my lunch wasn't enough and I still felt hungry after eating it. My mom started packing a bigger lunch. And in school, I'd tell K that my mom had packed me a lunch too big so could she please help me finish it? Then I asked her what her favourite dish was. I went home and told my mom that I was craving that dish, so could she please pack that for the next day? This went on for a few days but my mother's instincts were too strong. Her daughter's diet had suddenly doubled in one day and all of a sudden she wanted to eat things she didn't even like earlier. My mom asked me what was up. By then I was running out of lies so I just told her the truth. I remember her being really sad. For that whole year, she packed me a huge lunch, sometimes making things that K liked and then asking eagerly when I returned if K liked the food.
Of course I never told anyone about it. But I really hope that we brought her some joy in that tough time.

在我10歲的時(shí)候，我站在新班級(jí)的前面，老師在介紹我，我的新同學(xué)們對我表現(xiàn)出了一絲興趣。我是在學(xué)期插班進(jìn)的這個(gè)班級(jí)。當(dāng)時(shí)班上有41名學(xué)生，我是第42個(gè)。所有的同學(xué)都成對坐著，除了一個(gè)叫K的女孩。我走過去，坐在她旁邊，給了她一個(gè)小小的不確定的微笑。她也笑了回我。上課開始了，我們直到午餐時(shí)間才說話。
午餐時(shí)間到了，我拿出媽媽給我準(zhǔn)備的午餐盒，里面有土豆餡餅、自制的泡菜和一小盒水果。顯然，我媽媽花了不少心思準(zhǔn)備這頓美味的午餐。當(dāng)我大口吃著午餐時(shí)，這個(gè)女孩拿出一個(gè)小盒子，里面只有抹了黃油的面包。在印度，孩子們午餐只吃黃油面包是很罕見的。我只有在媽媽生病時(shí)才會(huì)吃到這樣的午餐。所以我以為她的媽媽可能也是生病了。我給她分了一小部分我的午餐，然后就忘記了這件事。第二天，她又帶了黃油面包。我想，她的媽媽可能得了流感，正在康復(fù)中。我再次給她分了一部分我的午餐。這種情況持續(xù)了一周。
然后有一天，我問了一個(gè)不該問的問題。
“你媽媽不舒服嗎？”
10歲的我對她的回答完全沒有準(zhǔn)備。她的媽媽幾周前因癌癥去世了。我不知道該怎么辦。所以我做了最明顯的事情。我回家告訴媽媽，我的午餐不夠吃，吃完后還是覺得餓。媽媽開始給我準(zhǔn)備更多的午餐。在學(xué)校里，我告訴K，我媽媽給我準(zhǔn)備的午餐太多了，能不能請她幫我吃完。然后我問她最喜歡的菜是什么。我回家告訴媽媽我很想吃那個(gè)菜，能不能第二天給我準(zhǔn)備。這樣的情況持續(xù)了幾天，但我媽媽的直覺太強(qiáng)了。
女兒的飲食量突然翻倍，而且突然想吃以前不喜歡的東西。媽媽問我怎么回事。那時(shí)我已經(jīng)編不出更多的謊言了，所以我告訴了她真相。我記得她當(dāng)時(shí)非常傷心。整整一年，她給我準(zhǔn)備了大量的午餐，有時(shí)還做K喜歡的菜，然后急切地問我回家后K喜不喜歡那些食物。
當(dāng)然，我從未告訴過別人這件事。但我真的希望我們在那個(gè)艱難的時(shí)期給她帶來了一些快樂。

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When I was 20, I saw the most gorgeous white woolen peacoat for sale. It was too expensive, but it was divine. It was so classic, that even now, looking back on it, I wish I would see another like it for sale. I just had to have it, but it was so expensive. It was for sale for nearly $200, and nothing in my wardrobe even came remotely close to that amount, combined. I saved, and saved my money and by the time I had enough, it had dropped in price to about $150.
I bought that coat, and wore it every single day. I was positively smitten with it. Then, one day at work I was walking past the transport van and got black soot and dirt on the sleeve. It was a large dark mark, and would need to be cleaned specially. I took it to the dry cleaner, who told me it could be cleaned without damaging it, but that would cost more than I was currently able to pay, as I was between checks. I kept it folded in my trunk until such a time as I could afford to get it cleaned, and dug out an old coat I had lying around.
One night, on my way home from work, I stopped for gas. As I was pulling in, there was a young female attendant sweeping the parking lot in her short sleeved uniform, with no protection from the positively bone chilling temperatures outside. She went in when I pulled up, and I parked and went inside to prepay for my gas. I sparked up a conversation, and when I asked, she told me she had no coat, as she was freshly on her own and unable to afford one. I told her to wait, and I walked out to my car and got my beautiful white coat. I brought it to her, and told her I thought it would be gorgeous on her, if only she would get the stain cleaned. I told her I hoped she could still get some use out of it in the meanwhile, and that the dry cleaner said it could be cleaned.
The look on her face went from this unspoken depression, to that of pure joy. I didn’t wait around, because I didn’t want her to feel badly, or feel obligated to act in any certain way on my behalf. I pumped my gas, and left, but as I was pulling out I caught a glimpse of her inside the store wearing it, and twirling.
It really made my day, hell I think even my year, that she might have as much love for it as I had, and I hope she wore the hell out of it.

當(dāng)我20歲的時(shí)候，我看到一件最漂亮的白色羊毛呢大衣在售。太貴了，但那大衣真是太美了，那么的經(jīng)典，即使現(xiàn)在回想起來，我都希望能再看到類似的東西在賣。我就是必須要得到它，但實(shí)在太貴了。價(jià)格接近200美元，而我的衣柜里所有東西的總價(jià)都遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)不到這個(gè)數(shù)。我省了又省，最終攢夠了錢，它的價(jià)格也降到了大約150美元。
我買了那件大衣，每天都穿著它，愛不釋手。然后，有一天在工作時(shí)，我經(jīng)過一輛運(yùn)輸車，不小心在袖子上弄上了黑色的煙灰和污垢。那是一塊大大的黑斑，需要特別的清洗方式。我把它送到干洗店，干洗店告訴我可以清洗而不損壞，但費(fèi)用超過了我目前能支付的，因?yàn)槲艺迷诎l(fā)薪之間。我把它折好放在后備箱里，直到我能負(fù)擔(dān)得起清洗費(fèi)用，并找出一件舊外套穿上。
有一天晚上，我下班回家的路上，在一個(gè)加油站停下來加油。當(dāng)我開進(jìn)加油站時(shí)，有一個(gè)年輕的女服務(wù)員在停車場里掃地，穿著短袖制服，沒有任何防寒的衣物，外面可是冷得刺骨。她在我停下時(shí)進(jìn)了店里，我也進(jìn)店預(yù)付我的油費(fèi)。
我們聊了起來，當(dāng)我問她時(shí)，她告訴我她沒有外套，因?yàn)樗齽倓偑?dú)立生活，負(fù)擔(dān)不起。我告訴她等一下，然后走到車?yán)锬贸瞿羌利惖陌咨笠隆Ｎ野汛笠履媒o她，告訴她我覺得這件大衣穿在她身上一定很漂亮，只要她能把污漬洗干凈。我告訴她希望她在此期間仍然能穿上它，而且干洗店說可以清洗。
她臉上的表情從一種無言的沮喪變成了單純的喜悅。我沒有多待，因?yàn)槲也幌胱屗械讲缓靡馑?，或者覺得有義務(wù)為了我而表現(xiàn)得某種特定的樣子。我加完油就離開了，但在我開車離開時(shí)，我瞥見她在店里穿著那件大衣，開心地旋轉(zhuǎn)著。
這真的讓我很開心，甚至可以說是這一年中最開心的事情，希望她能像我一樣熱愛這件大衣，希望她能好好利用它。

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Standing in a crowded bus-stand waiting for my bus , I once spotted a blind man .
This man was pestering everybody asking whether a certain bus has arrived . It was evening and people were busy boarding their own buses to get back home . They were also frustrated with him and kept pushing him back abusing and swearing at him . I was 21 at that time and it wasn’t a very safe place for girls like me to travel alone once it is dark . I felt sad for this man (was also doubtful whether if he was in disguise to pickpocket , the place was famous for it) and decided to help him.
You know in my state , if a girl is seen out alone at dark ,either she will be followed by locals or frowned by many adults . I asked him where he wanted to go . He was so happy to hear a friendly voice amongst all the abusive language he had been hearing. He told me the place . When his bus arrived I boarded along with him ( it was not my bus and boarding this will take me another 2 hours to reach my house which otherwise would take only half an hour )
Once we got down in his stop ,some adults who were watching us throughout the journey came to us and asked us how we were related . I said “Nobody” in a stern voice . By that word, he gave me the most beautiful toothless smile I have ever seen . It was getting dark so I had to quickly board the next bus back to my stop . As I was giving him some quick instructions as to where to stand to catch an auto , he held my hand tightly and said “ Thank you” with a tear that fell on the back of my hand. I broke.
Every now and then , I think of him . He reminds me of every under privileged person who are constantly being neglected by us. He reminds me how lucky we are to be physically normal.

在一個(gè)人滿為患的公交車站等車時(shí)，我偶然看到了一個(gè)盲人。這個(gè)人不停地問每個(gè)人某輛車是否已經(jīng)到了。那是傍晚，人們都忙著上自己的車回家，對他很不耐煩，不停地推搡他，甚至對他謾罵。我那時(shí)21歲，天黑后對于像我這樣的女孩來說，那地方并不太安全。我覺得這個(gè)人很可憐（也懷疑他是不是偽裝成盲人來偷東西，因?yàn)槟莻€(gè)地方偷竊事件很多），于是決定幫助他。
你知道，在我所在的州，如果一個(gè)女孩天黑后獨(dú)自外出，不是會(huì)被當(dāng)?shù)厝烁?，就是?huì)被許多成年人責(zé)怪。我問他想去哪里。他聽到友善的聲音，很高興，因?yàn)橹八恢北恢櫫R。他告訴了我他要去的地方。當(dāng)他的車來了，我和他一起上了車（那不是我的車，上這輛車會(huì)讓我多花兩個(gè)小時(shí)才能到家，否則只需半小時(shí)）。
我們在他的站下車后，一些在旅途中一直在看著我們的成年人走過來，問我們是什么關(guān)系。我堅(jiān)定地說：“沒有關(guān)系?！甭牭竭@句話，他給了我一生中見過最美的笑容。天快黑了，所以我得趕緊上下一班車回我的站。在我給他一些簡短指示，告訴他在哪里等車時(shí)，他緊握我的手說：“謝謝”，一滴淚落在我手背上。我心碎了。
時(shí)不時(shí)地，我會(huì)想起他。他讓我想起那些不斷被我們忽視的弱勢群體。他讓我意識(shí)到我們身體健全是多么幸運(yùn)。

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My little sister was terribly bullied in middle school. She often came home in tears; her grades were low and she had no friends. Although she was still young, it was not difficult to see that she was really depressed.
It was an expensive, sextive, all-girl, private school. Our family considered it an achievement that she got accepted, and brushed off her struggles, saying it was only an adjustment period.
They were wrong. She spent two years in total misery. Her time in the counselor’s office told me that she would never adapt. It broke my heart seeing her unhappy and there was nothing I could do about it.
We relocated and she started at another school, where she prospered. It was the fresh start she needed. She had a great circle of friends and her academic performance improved.
My sister grew into a beautiful confident young lady. She managed to overcome all her insecurities and learned to socialize. Her old school troubles became distant memories that we avoided talking about.
Until we had to move back. My family wanted her to go to her old school and her old “friends”. She was devastated, because she was leaving her real ones, but mostly about having to live through the nightmare school once again.
We went there to re-enroll, after spending the night unsuccessfully trying to convince everyone against it. My sister recognized a group of girls from her old class at the gate. She said hello, they ignored her and started snickering.
She just sat there helplessly as the re-admission forms were being filled out. But I was fuming. We will process your paperwork and call you next week to pay the tuition fees so she can start, said the registrar.
It was not too late and I was going to act quietly. The next morning I phoned the school and asked to speak to her then counselor. I reminded her of all the difficulties my sister had when she attended that school.
I told her how well she’s doing in her new one and offered to send progress reports for proof. I asked her to keep our conversation confidential and finally begged her to decline the re-admission request.
“I will review her file and do my best. But please remember that I am only part of the admission panel and I do not have the final say in her acceptance” said her counselor. I hung up and prayed.
A few days later, my dad announced that he had bad news. The school rejected my sister’s application and we will be looking at other options. They did not provide a reason for their rejection.
No one knew about my meddling until she graduated high school. Ten years later, she is still very grateful about it.

我妹妹在初中的時(shí)候遭受了嚴(yán)重的欺凌。她經(jīng)?？拗丶?，成績很差，也沒有朋友。雖然她還很年輕，但不難看出她真的很抑郁。
那是一所昂貴、挑剔的全女生私立學(xué)校。我們的家庭認(rèn)為她能被錄取是一種成就，并且忽視了她的掙扎，認(rèn)為這只是一個(gè)適應(yīng)期。
他們錯(cuò)了。她在痛苦中度過了兩年。她在輔導(dǎo)員辦公室的時(shí)間告訴我，她永遠(yuǎn)不可能適應(yīng)這種環(huán)境?？吹剿婚_心，而我卻無能為力，這讓我很難受。
后來我們搬家了，她去了另一所學(xué)校，在那里她健康成長。這是她需要的新開始。她有了一群好朋友，學(xué)業(yè)成績也有所提高。
我妹妹長成了一個(gè)自信漂亮的年輕女孩。她克服了所有的不安全感，學(xué)會(huì)了社交。她舊學(xué)校的煩惱成了我們不會(huì)談?wù)摰倪b遠(yuǎn)回憶。
直到我們不得不搬回去。我的家人希望她回到舊學(xué)校和她的舊“朋友”那里。她很沮喪，因?yàn)樗x開真正的朋友，但更主要的是她不得不再次經(jīng)歷那個(gè)噩夢般的學(xué)校。
我們?nèi)マk理重新入學(xué)手續(xù)，前一天晚上我們試圖說服家人不要這樣做，但沒有成功。我的妹妹在校門口認(rèn)出了她以前班級(jí)的一群女孩。她打了個(gè)招呼，但那些女孩無視她，還開始竊竊私語。
當(dāng)填好重新入學(xué)表格時(shí)，她只是無助地坐在那里。但我非常憤怒。登記員說：“我們會(huì)處理你的文件，下周會(huì)打電話通知你繳納學(xué)費(fèi)，以便她可以開始上學(xué)?！?br /> 還不算太晚，我決定悄悄地行動(dòng)。第二天早上，我打電話到學(xué)校，要求與她以前的輔導(dǎo)員通話。我提醒她我妹妹在那所學(xué)校上學(xué)時(shí)的所有困難。
我告訴她我妹妹在新學(xué)校表現(xiàn)得多么好，并提出寄送進(jìn)度報(bào)告作為證明。我請求她保密我們的對話，并最終懇求她拒絕重新入學(xué)申請。
輔導(dǎo)員說：“我會(huì)審查她的檔案并盡力處理。但請記住，我只是招生小組的一部分，我沒有最終決定權(quán)?！蔽覓炝穗娫?，然后祈禱。
幾天后，我爸爸宣布了壞消息。學(xué)校拒絕了我妹妹的申請，我們要考慮其他選擇。他們沒有提供拒絕的理由。
直到她高中畢業(yè)，沒有人知道我的干預(yù)。十年后，她仍然非常感激這件事。

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