Is Jahan ki Noor

There is a little area in our office, which is the perfect spot to sit and talk loudly (i am talking about offices where you are discouraged of making "noises"). Taking the very advantage of the place, I called my mother and had a long hearty talk in Bengali. And listening intently to our conversation was this cleaning lady who understood every word I spoke. After I hung up and was ready to leave, she walked slowly towards me and asked me very carefully if I was a Bengali. I was shocked and felt decieved that this place did not provide any privacy to me. Anyway, I replied that I am a Bengali, waiting for her next reaction.

She started talking about herself. She comes from a small village near Malda, few Kms from Kolkata and has been working in Gurgaon since 2 months. I smiled and was about to leave, when she stopped me again. She took out a tissue paper, folded neatly, and a pen which had the lid missing. Not meeting my eyes, she spoke, "Can you please write my name on it". Before, I could ask her the reason, she said that she cannot read or write. She has been threatened for months on missing out on her wages because she is unable to sign her name in the entry registry book. So if she could practice what I will write, maybe she can start signing one day.

I took the tissue from her hand, unable to think or write. I asked her name. She replied "Noor Jahan". I took the paper and wrote on it in the biggest font possible, “NOOR JAHAN”.

I felt a wave of emotions, emotions that I could not understand. Was I feeling sorry for her or was I angry at the security person who threatens her? Anyway, I had to go back to my work bench. I started to walk out, I turned and looked back to see her standing and looking at the paper very intently. I doubted her ability of copying the name. I said "You have a beautiful name". She smiled and went back to the paper again.