A 12-year-old girl killed herself so she could become an organ donor to her father and brother.
But Mumpy Sarkar from Jhorpara village, West Bengal died in vain, because it was not until the day after her traditional cremation that her father found a note on her bed.
Addressed to her mother, the girl requested that her eyes and kidneys be used for the treatment of her father and brother.
Their daughter's death and the reason for it have left the family inconsolable. Mumpy's mother has gone into shock.
Father Mridul said: 'We were too late in understanding the feelings of a very sensitive child.'
The high school student had listened as her parents had discussed how only eye surgery could restore her father's vision and a kidney transplant her brother's life, and became more and more anxious
Her brother Monojit was suffering with a damaged kidney and the other was becoming weaker.
Mridul, a poorly paid day labourer in the agricultural district of Nadia, was gradually losing his eyesight.
But the cost of the medical procedures were beyond the family's meagre means.
Mumpy, a student in class six at the Farmers' Association School in Baranberia hit upon a plan, which seemed to her to be the answer to their troubles.
She would kill herself and her organs would give her loved ones back their lives.
Tapas Tarafdar, the village council leader, said: 'The family had approached the local state councillor for help. We had decided to grant them some money for the boy's treatment.
'But the tragedy happened all of a sudden. The girl’s suicide unsettled everything.'
Mr Tarafdar said that, on the morning of June 27, Mumpy had taken elder sister Monica, a class eight student, into her confidence and had urged her to commit suicide as well for the 'cause'.
But Monica had laughed it off and left for school. Their father was away at work and mother Rita had gone to fetch rice.
He added: 'Finding herself alone at home, Mumpy consumed Thiodan, a pesticide. Then she ran to meet her father, who was about half a kilometre away.
'She told him that she had dreamt that someone had poured poison into her mouth and her stomach ached. Her alarmed father took her to a local pharmacy immediately where she was given some medicines.
'But her condition worsened soon and she had to be rushed to the local hospital. From there, she was referred to Anulia hospital, 40 miles away. But the doctors declared her dead."
This week Mr Samir Poddar, the local state council representative, visited Mr Sarkar at his home, 70 miles north of Calcutta, and promised financial help for his treatment and that of his son Manojit, who has been suffering from a stone in his kidney.
Mr Poddar said: 'We will be soon helping the family so that they could undertake necessary medical treatment.'
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