Through Her Eyes....

"Dropping a cup of tea on my future mother-in-law’s lap is hardly going to make a good first impression” said Nethra in a deadpan voice. Suwani and Ragini looked shocked for a minute before bursting into laughter at the amused expression on Nethra’s face. Bedecked in a pink and gold salwar kameez, Nethra was a sight to behold and the girls admired their handiwork as they added finishing touches to Nethra’s coiffure.

Heeding to a cry of “They are here….”, they made their way to the living room where her parents were introducing themselves to Pawan and his family. Ragini carried the tea tray, a result of their earlier discussion and Suwani led Nethra and seated her on a couch facing Pawan.

As the initial preliminaries got underway, Nethra lost herself in a reverie, recalling the sequence of events that had led them to this point. Suwani, Ragini and Nethra.. “The Incredibles” as they liked to call themselves, had forged a friendship under difficult circumstances. Shunned by the society and over protected by their families, the deep bond had begun on the day they had realised much to their everlasting amusement that their parents may have been a little over ambitious while naming them. Nethra - ‘eyes’ , for one who could not see, Suwani - ‘beautiful voice’ whose voice no one had heard yet and Ragini - ‘a musical composition’ which she would never hear. An unbelievable combination, an unlikely friendship but an incredible one for sure.

Growing up they had followed their passion, shy Suwani, an ace hairstylist, Ragini, an instructor at the Speech and Hearing institute and Nethra a well known classical singer. Ragini was in a relationship with a fellow instructor, Suwani was on the lookout for a soul mate and Nethra, well Nethra had Pawan and her Pawan had come home today to ask for her hand in marriage.

Nethra had called the bank helpline one day and a deep voice on the other side who introduced himself as Pawan, had helped her with her credit card issues. After successfully completing the call, Nethra , lulled by the voice and with a smidgen of pride had told him that she was self sufficient, but blind. To her consternation she had heard only a loud crash and a click which had ended the call. Fifteen minutes later, he had called back to apologise and said, “You see M’am, I was so engrossed in listening to your voice that I dropped my cup of coffee, when I realised that the eyes that went with your voice, were as unseeing as mine… “. Many days and a hundred calls later, after having laughed together that “I don’t ever want to see your face” would never be an issue in their relationship, had spoken to their parents to take the things forward.

Nethra suddenly came to, as Suwani shifted uncomfortably next to her on the couch. She pressed Ragini’s hand, only to hear her whisper “Pawan has brought a friend who seems intent on making Suwani blush. She seems to be looking at him and at the floor in equal measures” . This was accompanied by a nudge nudge and a snicker snicker, Nethra and Ragini trying to stifle their giggles and Suwani shushing them both.

And so sat three friends, one with downcast eyes, one unseeing and the third twinkling, as they looked forward to a brand new adventure in their incredible lives.