She took exam, then bid mom goodbye

Surat: In a rare display of resilience, 22-year-old BEd student Harshidhhi Patel appeared for her second-semester exam just hours after losing her mother, and later returned home to perform her last rites, balancing personal grief with unwavering resolve.The only child of her parents, Harshidhhi lit the funeral pyre of her mother, Gayatri, a police head constable, on Saturday, standing firm in the face of loss while fulfilling both her academic and familial responsibilities.A student of R K Desai College of Education in Vapi, Harshidhhi had just completed her exam on Friday when she received news that her mother was critical in a Surat hospital. She rushed from her home in Kosamba with family members, but by the time she reached, Gayatri had passed away."I sat with her for some time before her body was sent for post-mortem. As police helped with the formalities, we returned to Kosamba to prepare for the last rites," she said.Reaching home around 4am, Harshidhhi initially chose to stay back for the cremation. However, her father Dharmesh and husband Karan urged her not to miss the exam she had prepared for all year. "They encouraged me to go ahead with the exam, so I appeared for it in the morning while my family made arrangements for the cremation," she said.After completing her paper, she returned home, joined the funeral procession and lit the pyre.Gayatri, posted at Althan police station in Surat and residing in Pandesara, had been battling health issues. Her condition deteriorated on Friday, and she passed away the same day.For Harshidhhi, her mother remains a lasting inspiration — a woman who lived independently while serving in the police force, often away from her family. A postgraduate in Botany, Harshidhhi now hopes to pursue a PhD and build a career in teaching.Her courage has drawn widespread admiration. College principal Priti Chauhan said, "Even in such a moment of loss, she remained composed and fulfilled both her responsibilities." VNSGU exam controller A V Dhaduk said her determination serves as an inspiration for other students.