Rainbow

She was a little girl when they first took her to a hospital. It did not look any different to her. The same old darkness, the same pitch black whether she opened her eyes or closed them. Yes, Shweta was born blind. Her parents had grieved much at their daughter’s misfortune. With time, they got used to her disability and she got used to this darkness.

 Shweta made many friends at her braille school. The teachers were kind too. Shweta was intelligent. She read braille faster than most kids. Her teacher had taught her letters by tracing them on Shweta’s palm. She still remembered Mrs. Martha’s touch –rough and coarse. 

Now, she was twenty two, educated, beautiful and young. She had read many books, felt each word sink into her heart. Those stories inspired her and filled her days with hope. She smiled when the characters laughed and cried when they went through pain. The two things she loved the most were books and her pet dog, Casper .Her parents loved her much, though they were constantly worried about her future. 

What would happen to her after they died? Who would care for their blind daughter?

But for Shweta, the real world which others could see held no charm. She heard them talk of a beautiful red rose or a colourful bird or the blue green ocean.The more people talked about these beautiful colours the more she wanted to see them. Knowing it was not possible, often made her sad. 

Of all the things she wanted to see, she wanted to see the rainbow the most. Beautiful seven colours between forming an arc, they said. She wished to see it at least once in her life. She imagined how it would be when she would see a rainbow. 

As a child she thought only lucky people saw a rainbow. Perhaps she was not lucky enough. When she grew up, she learned that rainbows appeared when there is sunshine in the middle of rain.

It must be a fascinating thing to look at, she guessed.

Her dog, Casper was her constant companion, her silent friend. Casper followed her wherever she went. She felt happy when she stroked him, his fur was like a soft toy’s .

 She talked to her dog but he couldn’t talk back Just like people could see him but she couldn’t see them and yet she was capable of all emotions, no less than any other normal human being. She did not like it when people showed her too much sympathy. Like her next door neighbour, an old lady in her sixties. She would always tell Shweta to take care of herself and worry about her future. Shweta hated it when the old lady expressed her concern over Shweta’s marriage unnecessarily. Accepting someone who couldn’t see was difficult. It needed courage, it needed love. 

Her neighbour’s words brought out Shweta’s deepest fear. Somewhere in her heart, she knew the old lady was right. Her parents couldn’t support her forever. She knew she couldn’t do much about it. Therefore, she left it to her destiny and focused on her studies. She hoped to earn enough to support herself, in case no one ever married her. 

Also she didn’t want to be married for support. She didn’t need a crutch to live. All she needed was love. But she knew it was a rare possibility that someone would accept her with her inability.

 One day, she and Casper went for a walk nearby. Casper took complete care of his master, often guarding her from danger. He was an alsatian specially trained to be a guide dog. So her parents didn’t worry much, when Casper was with her.

While she was walking she heard Casper barking violently. She wondered why the dog was behaving in that manner.

Is there a thief? 

Casper never barked on people he knew. She went closer to the spot where Casper was barking loudly. Next she heard a boy’s voice.

 “Get lost you, mad dog,” he shouted.

 The boy was panicking.

 “Casper! Casper !stop,” Shweta said.

Casper went away with his tale swinging in the air.

“Stupid dog almost attacked me. If he barked one more time I would got him killed,” the boy mumbled. 

Shweta frowned at the thought of Casper dying. She felt angry but said nothing. 

She heard the noise of heavy trunks from the house nearby and then she remembered that the old lady had told her that she would be going to her son’s house permanently. So they must have given that house on rent. Perhaps this boy had come to live in that house.

He sounded so rude and arrogant. Her mind was occupied with these thoughts when she accidently stepped on his suitcase. It opened and all his cloths fell out as his suitcase was nearly full. 

“Oh damn! Are you blind lady? First your dog and now you! Where have I come to live?” the guy yelled.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t do it purposely,” said a hurt Shweta.

Why should she tell him she actually couldn’t see. She left with a tear in her eye.

* * *

Arun , the boy who had come to live next to them, was an engineering student. He had taken an immediate dislike to Shweta’s dog Casper. Undoubtedly, Casper felt the same. Whenever Casper saw him, he would start barking madly. 

Shweta’s parents were sympathetic people, more so because they had seen their daughter struggle for little things. They helped Arun by arranging a good tiffin service and domestic help for him. In fact, Arun had made friends with Mr. Verma, Shweta’s father. They would often discuss politics and cricket over a cup of tea. 

The season was changing and winter was approaching. Viral fever was spreading quickly .Arun had persistent coughing, so he decided to go to hospital. Diseases shouldn’t be ignored, he thought.

As he was coming out of the hospital, he saw Mr.Verma and Shweta coming. He waved at them and Mr. Verma stopped seeing him there.

“What happened to you?” asked Mr. Verma.

“Nothing much, viral fever. Some antibiotics and I will be fine,” Arun replied.

“Oh! take proper care,” said Mr.Verma

“Yes I will. What about you? Did you catch this cold too? ” Arun asked.

“No son, we came for Shweta’s routine check up. Who knows someday we may find an eye donor for her,” Mr. Verma said.

Arun couldn’t believe what he heard. He had never realised that she was blind. She was always so confident, never showing any dependence on others. At once, his words came hurling back at him. He had called her blind. He was full of shame. Unknowingly, he had hurt her.

Just then, Shweta walked up to him.

“How are you?” she asked.

He couldn’t answer her. What Shweta’s father said still echoed in his mind.

Abruptly he started off.

“ I hope you have forgiven me... that day.. I didn’t say it purposely. I really didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t know you were...,” he said.

“ That I can’t see . Oh ! I have forgotten that incident long back. You don’t have to be sorry about it. It is not written on my face that I’m blind,” she said. 

He felt bad for her but the fact that she didn’t expect anyone to feel sorry for her only showed her desire to be treated as an equal.

He had liked Shweta for her simplicity and wit. She was so straight forward that one could not help being attracted to her strength. 

A year passed. By then, Shweta and Arun had become good friends. At first it was Arun’s attempt to make up for his bad behaviour but he soon realised Shweta was the girl he wanted to spend his life with. Being with her, he forgot all the worries of this world. 

He had met pretty girls before, but none like Shweta. They couldn’t see beauty in everything, they couldn’t accept life as it came to them. Arun saw them looking at wonderful things but never appreciating any of them. But this girl, who couldn’t see was better than them. She lived life on her terms, never seeking sympathy or support. She was like a pillar of strength, patience and love.

If she could care for a dog like Casper, a menacing devil with a hairy tail, how much would she love her man? Such thoughts often came to Arun but he rarely expressed them. Shweta was his friend, her sweet tender face was becoming his reason to survive in this tough world. He would wait for the correct time. 

On most days, Shweta listened to him in silence. In Arun, she found a friend she could trust. He would tell her about his day, his fun loving friends in college and his eccentric professors. All those funny stories filled her days with laughter. When she would speak, she would speak of the latest book she read or about Casper. Arun knew she really loved her dog . So he tried befriending him by bribing him with eatables. It took two packets of pedigree tasty bone meaty biscuits to get Casper on his side. 

Shweta also told him about certain places she wanted to go to, if she got a chance. Arun wanted to make all her wishes come true. Arun wanted to be with her always. Arun wanted her for life.

Shweta liked him too. She liked that she could be herself when she was with him. She did not feel withdrawn from the world anymore. He never showed excessive sympathy, she liked that he treated her the way she wanted to be treated. Just like any other guy treats her girl- with love, with affection. His acceptance seemed to compensate for all her inability. 

Arun got selected in a reputed MNC. Everyone was happy for him. That day, he came with a box of sweets to Shweta’s home.

“Congratulations, my son. We are so proud of you, your hard work has finally paid off,” Mr. Verma said.

“Thank you ,sir, ”said Arun.

“When are you shifting to Bangalore?”Mr Verma asked.

“In a month, but not alone. I want to take Shweta with me. I want to marry her,” Arun said.

Arun’s parents though hesitant for the marriage, finally agreed after they met Shweta. Her innocence and simplicity charmed everyone. All the arrangements were done. 

It was the day of her marriage, the most important day in her life. She was dressed in a shiny lehanga(traditional dress). As per the ritual, she placed her hand in Arun’s hand. Her heart was full of light. Now there was no darkness. A new life awaited her. God had granted her wish. In him; she saw a rainbow of love.