There was once a girl named Mia.
Mia loved going to school.
Do you know why?
Because school meant meeting her friends! She could talk to them, laugh with them, play with them, and spend lots of time together. Mia loved school so much that she never skipped even a single day.
But there was one little problem.
Every day, when Mia came back from school, she would get scolded by her mother.
Do you know why?
Every morning, before sending Mia to school, her mother would say,
“Mia, eat properly, and make sure you drink plenty of water!”
“Yes, Mom!” Mia would promise.
But once Mia reached school, she would completely forget about it.
When the water break came, Mia would get so excited talking to her friends that she wouldn't drink any water at all.
“Hey, guess what happened yesterday?”
“Really? Tell me!”
And just like that, the entire water break would pass.
Her water bottle?
Still almost full!
During lunch break, Mia would eat her food and take only a few sips of water.
Then she would pack everything up and bring the bottle home.
The moment her mother saw that only a little water was missing, she would ask,
“Mia! Did you drink your water today?”
“Yes, Mom!”
Her mother would look at the bottle suspiciously.
“Then why is almost all the water still here?”
Mia would casually reply,
“Mom, I can drink water only when I feel thirsty!”
And before her mother could say anything else, Mia would run away.
This happened every day.
Again...
and again...
and again.
But slowly, Mia began to feel different.
She couldn't study properly.
She couldn't concentrate in class.
She felt tired all the time.
Then she started getting headaches frequently.
Her lips became so dry that even they showed how badly her body was lacking water.
Mia's mother was extremely worried.
She couldn't bear to see her daughter like this.
So she took Mia to the doctor.
After examining Mia carefully, the doctor said,
“Mia's body is very low on fluids. She isn't drinking enough water. She needs to drink plenty of water regularly. Once she starts drinking enough water, she should feel much better.”
Mia's mother looked at Mia.
“I've been telling you the exact same thing every single day!”
On the way home, her mother was upset.
“I keep telling you to drink enough water because I care about you. But you never listen! Now even the doctor has told you the same thing!”
The next morning, as Mia got ready for school, her mother reminded her again.
“Mia, you remember what the doctor said, right? During your water break, drink plenty of water. During lunch break too, drink enough water. Eat properly. Don't forget anything!”
Mia nodded.
“Okay, Mom.”
But once she reached school...
She forgot again.
When the water break came, she started chatting with her friends.
She barely touched her water bottle.
At the end of the day, she brought almost the entire bottle back home.
When her mother saw it, she couldn't take it anymore.
“Mia! I took you to the doctor! Even after the doctor told you to drink water, you still don't listen to me!
What exactly are you thinking?
I'm telling you this for your own good!
You're the one who needs to drink the water. Are you going to drink it for me?
You need to drink it to take care of your own body!”
Mia was shocked.
Her mother had never scolded her like this before.
Tears immediately filled her eyes.
Her mother, still angry, said,
“Take your lunch box and water bottle and put them in the kitchen.”
Mia carried them to the kitchen, crying quietly.
As she placed her water bottle down, she looked at it sadly.
“If only you were alive...
You could remind me to drink water.
Then Mom wouldn't have to scold me.
She scolded me so badly today. I feel like crying and crying.”
Mia went to her room and began to cry.
Her mother didn't immediately go and comfort her.
She thought,
“If I comfort her now, she may forget everything and make the same mistake again. Let her think about it for a while.”
So she waited.
The next morning, Mia got ready for school.
Her mother was still upset, and she silently packed everything for her.
Mia looked at her mother and said,
“Mom... I'll try my best to drink water today.”
Her mother didn't say anything.
Mia went to school feeling sad.
Classes began as usual.
Then came the water break.
But Mia didn't even remember that she was supposed to drink water.
As usual, she started chatting with her friends.
Suddenly...
“Mia!”
Mia froze.
She looked around.
Who had called her?
Nobody seemed to be there.
“Mia!”
She turned around again.
“Did you call me?”
“No!”
“You?”
“No!”
One by one, everyone said they hadn't called her.
Then the voice came again.
“Mia...”
Mia looked around nervously.
“Stop looking everywhere. Look down.”
Mia slowly looked down.
The voice was coming from...
her school bag!
“What?!”
She quickly opened her bag.
And there it was.
Her water bottle.
Mia stared at it.
Then the bottle spoke.
“I'm the one who called you!”
Mia's eyes became huge.
“My... water bottle?”
“Yes! I'm here to help you.”
“But... water bottles don't talk!”
“Well, this one does!”
Mia couldn't believe what she was hearing.
The bottle continued,
“It's water break, Mia. Why are you sitting here talking to your friends instead of drinking water?”
Mia looked at the bottle in complete shock.
Still, she picked it up and drank some water.
“Good girl,” the bottle said.
Mia quickly put the cap back on.
“Wait... who are you?”
“My name is Neeru.”
“Neeru?”
“Yes. I'm your water bottle, and from now on, I'll remind you whenever you need to drink water.”
Mia stared at her.
“Maybe this is just my imagination,” she thought.
“Yesterday I wished that my water bottle could come alive and remind me to drink water. Maybe that's why I'm imagining all this.”
But throughout the entire day, whenever it was time to drink water, Neeru reminded her.
“Mia, water break!”
“Drink your water!”
“Don't forget!”
And Mia listened.
For the first time, she actually drank enough water throughout the school day.
When school ended, Mia went home.
The first thing her mother checked was her water bottle.
It was completely empty.
Her mother looked at Mia suspiciously.
“Mia... what's this? Did you pour the water somewhere and bring back an empty bottle just because I scolded you yesterday?”
“No, Mom!”
Mia smiled.
“I really drank all the water today. Didn't I tell you this morning that I would definitely drink water? That's why I drank it!”
Her mother smiled.
“Oh... so you're telling me the truth?”
“Yes!”
“Okay. I believe you.”
“Now go inside and put everything away.”
Mia happily carried her lunch box and water bottle into the kitchen.
She put everything away and started walking toward her room.
“Mia!”
She stopped.
That voice again!
Mia turned around.
“Oh!”
She stared at her water bottle.
“So... what I thought was my imagination is actually real?
Did my water bottle really come alive?”
Neeru replied,
“Your suspicion is correct! You wished for it yesterday, didn't you? That's why I came alive.”
Mia smiled.
“Wow!”
Neeru continued,
“And what's so surprising about it? You drink water properly, and that's good for you!”
“Yes, yes! Okay. I'm going to my room.”
“Wait!”
“What?”
“Where are you going in such a hurry?”
“To my room.”
“Clean me before you go.”
Mia looked at her.
“My mom will clean you.”
“No! Look at this. I've been taking care of you all this time. Now it's your turn to take care of me. So clean me properly.”
Mia sighed.
“Okay!”
She picked up Neeru and started cleaning her.
Her mother happened to see this.
She was surprised.
“What's happening today? Mia came home from school, drank all her water, and now she's cleaning her own water bottle without me even asking!”
She smiled.
“Well done, Mia.”
Then she noticed Mia was tired.
“Never mind. You just came home from school. You must be tired. Go change your clothes and rest. I'll clean the bottle.”
Her mother went to heat some water.
Suddenly, Neeru panicked.
“Oh no! Mia! Please don't leave me! Stay here!”
“What happened?”
“Look at what your mother is doing!”
Mia looked toward the kitchen.
“She's heating water.”
“Yes! She's heating it so much! When she pours that hot water inside me, I'll feel like I'm melting from the inside!”
“Please ask your mother to stop! I can't take it anymore!”
“Wait, wait!”
Mia quickly called her mother.
“Mom!”
“What?”
“Why are you heating the water so much? If you pour this hot water into my water bottle, won't the bottle get damaged? Then you'll have to buy me a new one!”
“Oh! I heated it too much.”
Her mother cooled it down and mixed some water until it became lukewarm.
“Here. I'll use lukewarm water to clean the bottle.”
Mia took the water and cleaned Neeru properly.
When she finished, she was about to leave.
“Wait!”
“What now?”
“Is cleaning me enough? You know I'm alive, right?”
“Yes!”
“Then fill me with water and take me with you!”
Mia filled Neeru with fresh water and took her to her room.
Her mother noticed.
“Hey, this is your school water bottle. Why are you using it at home? Can't you use a separate bottle at home?”
“No, Mom. This is my favorite water bottle. I'm keeping this one.”
Mia took Neeru into her room.
And just like that, several days passed.
Then one day, Mia's school announced something wonderful.
Five continuous days of holidays!
Mia was thrilled.
“Wow! Five days of holidays!”
She couldn't stop smiling.
“I can stay at home, have fun, watch TV, and enjoy myself!”
She happily came home.
As usual, she took her lunch box and water bottle and put them in the kitchen.
Then she quickly started walking toward her room.
“Mia!”
Neeru called her.
“What?”
“You're leaving without cleaning me!”
“It's only for one day. Mom will clean you.”
“But who is going to take care of me?”
“You'll be fine! Mom will take care of you.”
“I have five days of holidays! Please leave me alone. I want to have fun!”
Mia was so excited about her holidays that she didn't listen to anything Neeru said.
She ran to her room.
A little later, her mother brought her some snacks and water.
“Mia, come here. I've kept some snacks for you. I've also kept some water.
Watch your favorite program on TV. I have some work to finish. I'll come back after I'm done.
Don't disturb me.”
Her mother went inside.
“Mia happily ate her snacks and drank all the water. She left the glass completely empty.”
She watched TV.
She had a wonderful time.
After a while, her mother came back.
“Mia, did you eat your snacks?”
“Yes, Mom!”
“Did you drink your water?”
“Yes!”
Her mother looked at the glass.
Then she looked at Mia.
“But how is the glass still full?”
“Mom, I drank it!”
“Did you drink it?”
“Yes!”
“Are you lying to me and saying you drank it when you didn't?
Your school has gone on holiday. Does that mean you've taken a holiday from drinking water too?”
“No, Mom...”
“Don't talk to me!
No matter what I tell you, you're not listening anymore.
Turn everything off and come inside.
Take everything and put it away.”
Mia became sad.
She picked up the plate, glass, and everything else and carried them to the kitchen.
Then she heard a familiar voice.
“Oh dear! Did your mother scold you?”
Mia froze.
“Can't you watch TV anymore?”
Mia immediately understood.
“Neeru!”
“Yes?”
“Was this your doing? Do you know magic too?”
“You filled my glass again!”
Neeru replied,
“Your glass was empty, wasn't it? So I filled it. That's not my fault!”
“I called you so many times today! But you didn't even listen.
You were so busy enjoying yourself that you completely forgot about me.
Didn't I have to remind you?
That's why I did it.”
Mia sighed.
“I'm sorry, Neeru. I was so excited about my holiday that I completely ignored you.”
Please forgive me.”
Neeru smiled.
“It's okay.
But remember—if you keep leaving me like this, I might have to do something like this again.”
Mia quickly said,
“Please don't! I've already been scolded so many times. I can't take it anymore!”
“Then take care of me.”
“Okay!”
Mia immediately cleaned Neeru, filled her with water, and took her to her mother.
“Mom, I'm sorry.
I won't make that mistake again.
Look, I've filled my water bottle.
I'll definitely drink water.
Please don't be angry with me.”
Her mother smiled.
“Okay. Go watch TV.
But from now on, be a little more careful.”
Mia happily went back.
She placed Neeru on the table.
Then she turned on the TV, played her favorite song at a very loud volume, and started dancing.
The music was so loud that the whole table was vibrating.
And poor Neeru...
She started jumping up and down!
“Mia!”
“Mia!”
“Please save me!”
But Mia was having so much fun dancing that she couldn't hear her.
Suddenly...
CRASH!
Neeru fell off the table.
Water spilled everywhere.
Mia heard the noise and immediately switched off the TV.
She came running.
“Oh no!”
She picked up the water bottle and closed it tightly.
Neeru was upset.
“How many times did I call you?”
“You were listening to music at such a loud volume!”
“You were dancing and jumping around!”
“You left me right at the edge of the table!”
“With all those vibrations, the table kept shaking. I was jumping up and down until I finally fell!”
“And you didn't even close my bottle properly. All my water spilled out!”
Mia looked guilty.
“Oh, Neeru! I'm sorry. Please forgive me.”
She put her back on the table.
Then she started walking toward the TV.
“Where are you going?”
“To watch TV.”
“Wait! Who's going to clean all this water?”
“Leave it. I'm in the mood to watch TV right now. I'll clean it later.”
Neeru sighed.
“Yes, yes. You're in the mood to watch TV.
“But what if someone comes along and slips on this water, just like I did?” Neeru asked.
Someone could get hurt.
So clean it properly.”
Mia realized she was right.
She went inside, brought a cloth, and cleaned the floor properly.
Then she closed Neeru tightly and placed her safely nearby.
Finally, Mia went back to watching TV.
That night, Mia's mother prepared Mia's favorite dinner.
Mia loved spicy food.
But today, the food was extra spicy!
Still, it was her favorite dish, so Mia happily started eating.
She took one bite.
“Wow!”
Another bite.
“Yummy!”
Another bite.
But slowly...
The spiciness started becoming too much.
Mia felt like smoke was coming out of her ears!
Still, she kept eating.
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.
She became extremely thirsty.
Mia grabbed her water bottle and started drinking.
She gulped...
and gulped...
and gulped!
Finally, she put the bottle down.
Neeru immediately asked,
“What are you doing?”
“What? I'm eating!”
“Why are you drinking water like that?”
“The food is too spicy! That's why I'm drinking water.”
“I know the food is spicy. But why are you drinking like that?”
“When you throw your head back and gulp water like that, do you know how it feels for me?”
Mia looked at her curiously.
Neeru said,
“When you gulp it down, I feel like a flood is rushing through your throat!”
“Please drink slowly.
Take small sips.
Don't throw your head back and gulp water like that.
Drink calmly.”
“Okay, okay! From now on, I'll drink slowly and take small sips.”
Mia continued eating.
After a while, she reached for her water bottle again.
“Stop! Stop!”
Mia stopped.
“What, Neeru? I need water!”
“First finish the food in your mouth.”
“But I'm thirsty.”
“Finish chewing your food first!
Are you really going to drink water while there is still food in your mouth?
The food will mix with the water.
That won't be good.”
“Okay.”
Mia slowly chewed her food properly.
Then she swallowed.
Only after that did she drink her water.
“Good girl!” Neeru said.
Finally, Mia finished her dinner.
She filled Neeru with fresh water and took her to her room.
Mia looked at her happily.
“Neeru, I'm really happy.
“That day, I was so upset, and I wished that you were alive. You heard my wish and came alive for me.”
You became my friend.
You remind me to drink water.
You teach me how to drink water properly and how not to drink it.
Thank you so much, Neeru.”
Neeru smiled.
Mia asked,
“Is there anything else I should do?”
“Oh, look at you!” Neeru said.
“You've become very responsible!”
“What can I do? You're my friend now!”
“Okay,” Neeru said. “Listen carefully.
“Suppose someone at school asks you for water. Pour some water into their cup or bottle and let them drink.
But don't simply hand over your water bottle and let them sip directly from it.
If someone drinks directly from your bottle, it isn't hygienic and could be harmful to you.”
“Okay. I'll remember that.”
“And one more thing.
Whenever you're going somewhere, always take your water bottle with you.
Don't think, ‘I won't feel thirsty. I'm only going out for ten minutes. I'll come back soon.’
You don't know when you might feel thirsty.
So always keep your water bottle with you.”
“Okay!”
“And if there is water left in your bottle, don't bring it home and simply pour it into the kitchen sink.
There are plants outside, aren't there?
Pour the leftover water onto the plants.
Don't waste it.”
“Okay! Done!
I'll definitely follow these three things.
And I'll follow everything else you've taught me too.”
Neeru smiled.
“Not bad!
You've understood everything so quickly.
I've finished the work I came here to do.”
“You're leaving already?”
“Yes.”
“But why?”
“I didn't come only for you.
I also came for your mother.”
Mia became quiet.
Neeru continued,
“Your mother takes such good care of you.
She notices even the smallest things.
She reminds you to drink water.
She reminds you to eat.
She reminds you to take care of yourself.
But sometimes, all those reminders feel like torture to you.”
Mia lowered her head.
Neeru asked,
“But have you ever stopped to think...
Who takes care of your mother?”
Mia remained silent.
“Have you ever asked her,
‘Mom, did you eat?’
‘Mom, did you drink enough water?’”
Mia slowly shook her head.
“You're right, Neeru.
I've never even asked my mother whether she ate or drank enough water.”
Neeru smiled.
“If you haven't asked until now, that's okay.
But from now on, ask her.
Your mother doesn't always have to be the only one taking care of you.
You can take care of your mother too.
Okay?”
“Definitely!
I'll follow everything you've taught me.
And I'll take good care of my mother too.”
Neeru smiled.
“Now it's time for me to leave.
There are many more children like you.
I have to go and teach them these good things too.”
And with that, Neeru left.
From the very next day, Mia kept the promise she had made to Neeru.
She drank plenty of water.
She shared water with her friends properly.
Whenever she went anywhere, she always carried her water bottle.
If there was water left in her bottle, she always poured it onto the plants.
She never wasted it.
Mia's mother noticed all the changes.
She was amazed.
“Mia has changed so much!”
But that wasn't all.
One day, Mia brought a glass of water to her mother.
“Mom, you drink some water too.”
Her mother looked at Mia in surprise.
“Oh my! Have you grown enough to take care of me too?”
She hugged Mia tightly.
Mia smiled.
“Just like you take care of me every day, I'll take good care of you too.”
“I promise.”
And that, little ones, is the story.
At home, when our parents tell us,
“Eat properly.”
“Drink enough water.”
“Put your things away.”
“Take care of yourself.”
Sometimes, we may feel like they're torturing us.
Sometimes, we may feel like they're always nagging us.
But do you know why they keep saying these things?
Because they care about us.
They say these things because they love us.
They want us to be healthy and happy.
But here's something to think about.
Have you ever, even once, looked at your mother or father and asked,
“Did you eat properly?”
“Did you drink enough water?”
If you haven't asked them until now, that's okay.
Start asking them from today.
Take care of yourself.
And take care of your parents too.
When you are healthy and happy, your parents will be healthy, happy, and peaceful too.
