My Life Could See Again

It was a soft drizzle. All I could see from my window, having a smooth pattern on the windowpanes, those tiny droplets inviting me to that beautiful world of nostalgia. I heard Sunaina calling me from behind. I turned slowly. She had a mug of hot, steaming coffee for me. I took it from her hands and again turned towards those droplets, an invitation, so silent. Seemed as if it happened yesterday only, everything being crystal clear.

I had met Sunaina in the college. Yes, I remember, those days, we hadn't such strict norms for ragging. I was in my final year of graduation. I entered my college, as usual, saw a bunch of my classmates taking ragging of the freshers. They were three-four of them. What caught my attention was, a girl sobbing slowly as she was asked to sing a song. My classmates were at their teasing best, extracting fun out of everything. All of a sudden, that girl in a white suit, fainted. There was noise all around. My classmates got scared as if they had committed a crime. I reached the scene. Her classmates picked her up, tried to take her to the medical room.

I saw her face for the first time that moment. We all flocked the medical room and were standing beside her bed. She opened her eyes slowly. Should I say, love at first sight or what, I was in love with her instantly. Her eyes, I can never forget those looks, she had when she opened her eyes. She was scared to see us all around. I assured her not to worry about anything. She heaved a sigh of relief and appeared normal now.

Sunaina, yes, that was her name. It jingled in my ears a sweet symphony. After that, we started meeting each other frequently, became best of friends. She confided every minor and major detail in me and I, like a mentor, always sorted out her issues. Time flew past, and my exams were round the corner.

I remember the day, we met at the college canteen. She was sad, so sad as sad could be. I asked her if everything was alright. She started crying, this was when, I got worried. I asked her the reason that made her cry. That was the moment, she opened up. Opened up her heart. Yes, that was the day she confessed her love for me. She was afraid of losing me, once my exams got over. I just couldn't believe. Lady Luck was smiling at me. Sunaina was the one, my heart had always yearned for. It was just that I could never express it before her for the fear of losing her.

We started meeting each other, once my college got over. It was a real struggling period for me. I was trying my hands at all types of jobs. She became my pillar of strength, always encouraged me for a better tomorrow. It was the purest kind of love, without any yearning for physical intimacy. Finally, God listened to our prayers. I got a job in Mumbai, the city of dreams. I didn't want to go, leaving her behind. But then, she assured me, that she would wait for me. Career was important to have a good life, for both of us. She came to the railway station to see me off. That was the time, when I introduced her to my parents. My parents were quite liberal. They admired my choice. She belonged to the same community as ours. So, it was acceptable to my parents.

Six months passed. We used to speak to each other on phone, once a week. Then one day, I got a news that Sunaina had met with an accident. Destiny had punched me at a place where it hurts most. I was shocked. I came back by the next train. From station, I went straight to the hospital. My parents had been there, apart from a few college friends. I cried, seeing her on bed, bandages covering both her eyes. I reached near her, took her hand in my hands. She immediately recognized me. Her parents and other family members were also there. Sunaina had lost both her eyes in pursuit of saving a child from a speeding car.

I was shattered. We cried and cried and cried. Most presumably, it was time for decision. I could never afford to lose her. I asked her parents that I wanted to marry her. They were shocked to hear this. So were my parents too. But, I had decided, I won't be leaving my life behind this time. My father raised objection at me marrying a blind girl. But I finally managed to convince him. Within a month, we got married. I took her and my mother along with me to Mumbai. Life started moving, though crawling, but I was at least satisfied that I could take care of her. I took her to the biggest eye specialists to get her sight back. Only hope being, eye transplant.

It was again a time to take a decision. I decided to let her see this world again with my eye. Yes. I had decided. I had got to a respectable position in my company as well. Money had not been a constraint. I went to the doctor. He checked both my eyes and suggested that the left one would be more appropriate for the transplant. I became so happy as if I had got whole world's treasure. I came back home early that day. Sunaina had put on a pink suit that day, baby pink. Her face just glowed like a baby. I must tell we had been into marriage for two years now. My mother had gone back to her own home. We had a full time maid to assist Sunaina with household chores. At night, daily I used to tell her about my day to day activity. She used to lay her head on my shoulder and we would both sleep cozily in each other's arms.

I was a bit hesitant today. I wished to keep it a surprise for her. But then, I had to cook up a story for her. My voice stammered as I had never spoken any lie before her. Picking all my courage, I started. I told her that I've been able to find a donor for her, who would donate her one eye. She giggled like a child. Her biggest happiness would be able to see me again. She was excited. I told her that I won't be present at the time of her operation as I had to go for an important office assignment. Her face dimmed. But then, I encouraged her that I would be available on call after her operation got over. She smiled fadingly.

I assured her that I would be present at the time, when her bandages would open. She again smiled as if she had sensed my intrigue, but stayed silent. To divert her mind, I asked her, whom would she like to see first. Her reply, as I knew, she pointed a finger at my chest. I could feel the sleeve of my night shirt getting wet. I hug her tighter and we slept. Next day, I called her mother, asked her to come over for a month. I told her about the operation.

She arrived Mumbai after three days. I went to receive her at the station. I wanted her arrival to be a surprise for Sunaina as well. On the way back, I told her the truth that I would myself be donating my eye to Sunaina. She sobbed, wanted to touch my feet that I could never have let her. She said, even her real son couldn't have made such a sacrifice. I put a finger on her lips. I took a promise from her not to reveal anything till Sunaina herself sees everything with her own eye. It was difficult for her but she kept my word. Sunaina was on cloud nine. Her mother had visited her own house for the first time. I could see her jubilation in her gestures. Next day, we had an appointment with the eye surgeon. We reached the hospital at 10am. We were examined one by one, by the doctor. Then came the time, what I had been waiting for. I had always wanted my Sunaina to see this world through my eye. My wish had got granted and I was now under the knife. I had given the details of my cards to my mother in law. It wasn't long when I lost my consciousness. The operation may have taken two hours, till both of us were shifted to our wards. I was relieved when the doctor informed me that the transplant had been successful. Now, Sunaina would be able to see the world.

I used to call Sunaina daily, so that she may not feel all alone. But her voice clearly had a tinge of pain. She was missing me, for sure. I assured her every time that I would soon be with her. I had asked the doctor to discharge me a day before her bandages were supposed to be opened. I got discharged in the morning. Straightaway, I went to her room. Her mother was combing her hair. They had been talking about what all they would so, once her bandages got removed. I approached closer. Silently, her mother left us alone in the room. I slowly took her hand in my hands, and she giggled, hugged me tighter. She said, she won't speak to me. I knew she had been disappointed. I had never left her alone in these two years even for a single day. And now it was a gap of fifteen-day after which she could feel me near her. I asked her which saree would she like to put on when her bandages got removed. She said, the one I loved the most.

Next day, it had been drizzling since morning. With the raindrops making vivid patterns on the windowpanes. I called for a florist to decorate her ward. I wanted her to see smiling flowers, all around. Around 10am, the doctor arrived. I forgot to tell, I was still not very comfortable looking with one eye. But the happiness that my Sunaina would be able to see again, subdued every discomfort. I had put on dark sunglasses so that Sunaina couldn't get to know immediately. The doctor slowly started removing her bandages one by one. Then he asked Sunaina to open her eyes slowly. That was a real testing time for me. It was as if I was expecting the result of examination I had appeared for. Sunaina opened her eyes. The doctor was there giving here instructions, one after another. Sunaina saw me. She blinked her eyes, again and again. Then, she said, why I had been putting on dark glasses inside the room. I had passed the exam. My Sunaina could see again. She came closer, touched my feet. I embraced her in my arms. She urged me to remove the sunglasses. I was reluctant, but she was firm as she herself took them off. And then, nothing could really stop her from crying. She asked me why such a big lie. I had no answer to it.

She got discharged, the next day. Her mother left the following week. It has been 23 years now. We are blessed with 3 kids, all of them grown up now. And every time, it drizzles like this, I turn nostalgic, every frame of the past, still crystal clear. Those were the moments, I can never forget in my life, when my life could see again. My Sunaina could see again.