By Akshina Bhargava, Class XII A
Sitting amidst the innumerable emotions of the world – hope, despair, love, joy, fear and anxiety, I was at utmost peace. Even the cool breeze in the hospital could not diminish the warmth I felt in my heart. Here, to bless my granddaughter on her 18thbirthday I had finally found a reason for my existence.
Thoughts of the sorrowful past engulfed me as I sat outside the ICU. The very same ICU where the love of my life, had counted her last breaths years ago. Walking out of the hospital, I had waited for the lights to turn green. Even the screeching and honking of the cars could not help me escape my state of despair till a palm the size of a half grown pea pod had clutched my hand tightly. I could distinctly hear my baby boy whispering, “Will you leave me too?” I had replied in the negative. He had hugged me tightly and with tears streaming down, he had sobbed, “Nor will I papa, nor will I.”
Twenty five years later, the same ICU had witnessed me as a patient of paraplegia. Each day was swallowing a part of me. I was elated when I learnt that I was being discharged. As the nurse got the wheelchair, my son waved her off and picked me in his arms and carried me into the car.
My heart swelled with pride! As the door opened, freedom welcomed me with a shower of raindrops. Oh, how I missed my legs!
Our SUV sped like a racehorse. I felt at ease. Suddenly, we halted in front of the train station. Before I could express my inquisitiveness to my son, he picked me up and dumped me on the lower berth of the nearest waiting train.
I was dumbfounded as realization dawned upon me. He had left…
My heart cried but no words came out. I fumbled, stuttered in utter shock. What had I done to deserve this? It would have been better if my heart had got paralysed instead of my legs.
I was distracted by the squeaky chirp of a little angel, entering the compartment and simultaneously my broken heart, “Can I sit with you?” she asked and planted herself on my lap before I could react. Her constant chattering made me forget all my troubles till a voice intruded, “Ticket please.” Again the tension mounted within me and I broke down.
To my surprise, the father of the young girl, very generously took out his wallet and paid for me. I opened my mouth but I was cut off, “You don’t need to thank me sir, for you are the age of my father, and for me just the same.”
A conversation bloomed. I narrated my heart breaking truth to him, “Why don’t you stay with us?” he interrupted while I was playing peek-a-boo with the angel.
“Pa-rdon me?”
“Yes, you should stay with us. My family would be lucky to have you in.”
“Have me in? Lucky? Why would anybody want a rugged and torn piece of furniture in their house?”
But, where was I to go? I wasn’t even capable of jumping off a building. I was a waste to the world, the unwanted disgraceful pest to my son. I had no choice. I agreed to go to his house.
To my surprise, a wide smile welcomed me as I entered their house, no… our house. It was unbelievable. A decade has gone by. I was respected no less than a father. Loved, more than I deserved.
It was my princess’ birthday, she was turning 18. I couldn’t be happier. My heart was full of love, but my hands empty. For I had nothing to give her. Guilty, I remembered all her birthdays when she used to come to me and I… just lay there, on the bed with nothing to give her.
A couple of days before the big event, she collapsed.
I could hear the resonating siren of the ambulance fading with every breath I took. A cardiac failure, the doctors diagnosed. 72 hours to live. The only chance of survival was a heart transplant.
My thought process was broken by the voice of my son. Realizing it was time for my medicine, he had got a glass of water for me. The air in the waiting room had got warmer. I took the glass of water with my sweaty palms and exchanged it with an envelope.
I could see my son shaking with fear as I popped the pills in my mouth. His tired eyes were swollen with crying. They watched me with care as I blacked out.
My dearest son,
You have not only given me a dignified life, but immense love and joy. There is nothing more I can ask god for.
Today I would like to give you what we all desire the most.
The day I first met my lil angel was the very day I gave my heart to her, but today I show it to her in the truest sense.
God bless you all and bless my princess with a speedy recovery.
With love
From me to you.
