From Dark To Light

Tu na jaane aas pass hai khuda

Tu na jaane aas pass hai khuda…

Diya's favourite Sufi song was playing on her mobile. Sitting on her comfy chair, she felt nostalgic while relishing on it. Her heartbeat accelerated recollecting the memories of the life-changing incident happened with her on that fateful day. That was the day from which her life completely turned around 360 degrees.

A year before…

Clenching the bag tightly in her left hand, Diya trotted off for work wearing black glasses and with white cane, the solitary companion in her dark world after her father’s demise two weeks before. Born with infantile glaucoma, Diya’s life was full of darkness. A rare developmental defect in her eyes resulted in complete blindness. Her only support was her father, who tried every possible way to keep her happy and normal. Whenever she would find herself in despair, the lines from her favourite song used to flash in her mind earnestly asking the almighty about her condition, ‘Noor- e- Khuda, Noor- e- Khuda, Tu kahan chhupa hai hume yeh bata’. Her father would handle these delicate moments by inspiring her with motivational lines, “You are the designer of your own destiny. The pen is in your hand, write your own story.

Dhundhla jaayein jo manzilein, Ik pal ko tu nazar jhuka

Jhuk jaaye sar jahan wahi, Milta hai rab ka raasta.”

Completely traumatized and exhausted with the horrifying memories of past two weeks, it was the time to move on. She had to resume her work for living. The long leave from her work was shaking her confidence of going out. Determined yet tensed she reached the railway station in an hour which was overflowing with countless people rushing chaotically all over. She slowly made her way scanning the surrounding with her cane through the chaos while attentively taking note of the announcements of train arrivals.

The penetrating loud noises around her were becoming distinct. Her feet were trembling with unknown fear. Feeling lightheaded, she held her stick tightly with both her hands. Suddenly the noise around her started approaching towards her. Somebody from the crowd pushed her back in panic. “Madam, stay back, the train is arriving.” Diya froze there like a statue petrified with the thought of boarding the train. She couldn’t move an inch as if her body was not ready to take any step further. She felt terribly helpless at that moment. Her senses could no longer recognize the present moment to act upon. The noises, roars and the random but struggling actions of people were panicking.

Exhausted and tired she froze there with protruding fear about the subsequent consequences. Just at that moment, unexpectedly her sequence of thoughts was shattered by her mobile's ringing. Diya almost missed a heartbeat. Hurriedly she searched for the mobile in her giant bag. “Where the hell is my mobile?’’ muttered Diya. She picked out her water bottle, napkin and her wallet in an attempt to locate the mobile. Her fingers touched the vibrating mobile lying in the corner. Hastily she dragged it from the bag, but it escaped from her hand and slid down. The buzzing mobile became silent now.

Diya started looking for it helplessly in jam packed crowd. She bent down to locate her mobile with shaking hands. Her fingers started moving randomly to locate the mobile; and all of a sudden touched something warm. A touch which struck a tender chord in her heart. A gentle hand handed over the mobile to her. “Thanks”, Diya uttered the words with utmost gratitude and paused for a second to hear a reply from the kind soul, but nothing except the noise of the crowd was only that she could hear. She spread her hands to find if there was someone still standing, but her hands could find nothing. She felt strange. “Who was that kind person? How could he or she just leave without uttering a single word? And the touch, why it seemed so close to me, so familiar?” She stood still thinking about it for some time and sensed a deep contentment within.

The train arriving on the platform was slowly making its way through the crowd pouring on both the platforms. People hurriedly started gathering in front of the handicapped compartment to grab the seat. Diya was jostled by the people who were messily rushing inside. All of a sudden she lost her balance and was about to fall down. Her cane left her in the process and she almost collapsed. Passengers watched her in awe contemplating the imminent danger.

The train was about to leave the platform when unexpectedly she was pushed inside the train without realizing how she managed to pull through this. The passengers standing near the door were still in shock to perceive what had happened. Somebody helped her in getting inside. Everybody was concerned about her asking for any help they could offer. Somebody even asked for water. Diya regained her consciousness to utter thanks to all. The lady sitting near the window offered her seat to Diya. “You had a narrow escape, but you are very lucky. God is with you for sure. He only saved you.” she exclaimed while still shaking with terror.

Diya could imagine the gravity of the event while she shivered with nasty fear. Her neck and left shoulder were screaming with intensifying pain. Holding her left shoulder tightly, she searched for her support; her white cane but it was not there. “You also left me like my Pa.” Diya broke down. Uninterrupted tears started rolling down from her pale cheeks. Her throat went dry and her head started aching so hard that she closed her eyes and leaned to the window. “Why am I suffering through this? Wish Pa was with me now; he would have consoled me just with his presence. Oh God, why all this is happening with me?” and the lines floated in her mind,

Noor- e- Khuda, Noor- e- Khuda, Tu kahan chhupa hai hume yeh bata…

Cold breeze flowing inside through the window refreshed her tired face. Her damp hair relieved for a moment while balancing with the wind. Her mind struggling to find peace was now feeling calm. Few minutes later she felt relieved and lighter. After which something unusual happened. The incident which occurred few minutes before; started playing in Diya’s mind again. She saw her mobile falling down and somebody from the crowd giving it to her. Diya’s face was delighted memorizing that incident. At that moment her mobile buzzed playing a tune. Diya woke up in panic and her hand touched something similar to her white cane. Yes, it was lying on her laps. Diya jumped back with surprise finding her cane. “How’s this possible? Who has kept it?” She asked the people around her, but nobody responded.

Diya was confused yet happy inside. She quickly touched the buzzing mobile but it felt different to her hands. “It’s not my mobile, whose mobile am I carrying then?” She tried to recall the recent events and all of a sudden stumbled upon one of them. She remembered her mobile falling down and somebody from the crowd giving it to her. Diya’s face was delighted recalling that incident.

The buzzing mobile was playing the same ringtone of the song which her beloved Pa used to sing to keep her motivated. She felt deep satisfaction within as she got the answer to all her questions. The train was moving rapidly towards the light through the long tunnel leaving behind all the darkness and so was Diya. She closed her eyes with a divine feeling while humming those beautiful lines…

Dhundhla jaayein jo manzilein, Ik pal ko tu nazar jhuka

Jhuk jaaye sar jahan wahi, Milta hai rab ka raasta

Teri kismat tu badal de

Rakh himmat bas chal de

Tere saathi mere kadmon ke hain nishaan

Tu na jaane aas pass hai khuda

Tu na jaane aas pass hai khuda