Champaklal Speaks

Only Once

I had never known Sri Aurobindo ask for anything. He would always wait for things to come but never ask for them.

Once, however, I did see him ask for something. We used to give him a kerchief with which he would wipe the perspiration on his body during summer.

One day he called softly: “Champaklal!”

I was working outside his room and rushed in.

Slowly, hesitantly, he showed his kerchief and said, almost apologetically: “Too small!”

I was deeply moved and replaced it with a bigger one.