Sanjivani

Birju was a young boy living in a small village in Koraput (Odisha). He was 19 years old. He lost his father within a few months of his birth, and for him, his mother was everything. Because of his acute poverty, Birju decided to go to the city to earn some money and have a better lifestyle. He contacted his paternal uncle's son (Bablu bhai) and decided to go to him. One fine morning, Birju left his village and moved to the city. It was his first journey out of his village. While the bus was moving towards the city, every memory he had of his village was gradually fading. It felt like they were all crying for him. The crop-filled land, the cattle, the ground there he used to play on, the village pond he used to swim in, the greenery, and the muddy curvy roads. As the bus moves forward, he feels his throat choking and his eyes filling with tears. He was feeling all alone.

The bus reached its destination after a whole night's run. It was early morning. The city awakes as usual, but for Birju, it was like a new world, which he is looking at for the first time in his life. There were so many lights in the street. At some places, there were some red and green lights that people were following and stopping their vehicles at. There was a rush going on in every passing hour. He had an address for Bablu Bhai, who is staying here, and had called him here to give him some work opportunities. He was sitting in a rocking chair under a tree. He caressed the chair and was looking everywhere very carefully. After some time, someone tapped him on the shoulder. He looked towards him, and he was Bablu Bhai. He went to Bublu Bhai's rented house by walking with him.

After one day, Bublu Bhai told him he had arranged a job for him. He has to work there, and on a monthly basis he will get paid a salary. The next day, Birju started working as a driver. At first, he misses his home, his village, and his mother. Likewise, he worked there for a few months. One day he came home by bus. He was not more than that same Birju. His looks, his way of talking, his habits, and his dressing style had all changed in these few months. He had also saved some money. He was happy to meet his mother after a few months. He had brought many things for his mother from the city. In the village, the respect of his mother had also increased to an upper level because her son is working in the city, and very soon they will have a pakka house and every household item in home.

While serving him food, his mother could see some marks on his hand and inquired about that injury. Birju told his mother that he had donated blood in a hospital and saved an old man's life. Birju's mother's eyes shone with pride as she realized that her son had saved one person's life. After staying a few days, he returned to his workplace and worked as usual.

One day, he received a sudden call from his village friend informing him that his mother is seriously ill and had been admitted to the nearest hospital. Two of her kidneys got damaged, and she needs an urgent transplant. After getting this news, without any delay he left to meet his mother. He reached at the hospital. He could not control his emotions while looking at his ill mother. She was in the ICU and fighting for every breathe. He cried his heart out. Cursing his fate for his situation. He met the doctor, and the doctor informed him that if he could not arrange kidneys on an urgent basis, he might lose his mother forever. He begged his friends, relatives, neighbors and the hospital management to arrange at least one kidney for his mother, but failed to arrange a kidney. His mother lost her life at last. 

His mother's face was dancing in his eyes. Birju became all alone. No one was there to console him. He had many sleepless nights, crying and crying all night. He broke into pieces. Days going on. He was thinner and weaker than before. He tried to recover from the situation. Because he needed to survive for himself, so he went back to work. After losing his mother, he could realize the value of a human organ. He thought he could save many people by donating his organs. He decided that as he had lost everything today, no one else should either.

Because of Birju's humble behaviour and helping nature, gradually the family of the car owner adopted him as a family member. Fortunately, that family was a social worker family. They used to help people. One day, they organized an organ donation camp in the city, collaborating with a big organization. For Birju it was a great opportunity to fulfill his wish. He donated all his organs there. That day he became so happy and could take a peaceful nap. Days going on.

There was a new year's celebration in the middle of the night. The whole city was lit up with colorful lights. Everywhere, people were enjoying and welcoming the new year. He was returning home after dropping someone off at the airport. It was already midnight, but still there was a rush because of the celebration and all. Suddenly, one car crossed his path and hit his car. He threw himself against a tree, and the darkness scattered everywhere.

Before he understands the situation, he had left the world. It was just a matter of minutes. That horrible road accident spread throughout the city within a couple of minutes. As he had donated the organs, all of his healthy organs had been donated to five people by that organization. Birju is no more. But still, Birju is alive in those five people who have transplanted Birju's organs. In the next day, the newspaper headline was,

"A man can be poor, but his heart can't be."