Disabled Dream

“Today was her final exam day in the school. Till now, she had always come first in the class and our regional education minister had promised her to give her a job, when she finished her studies. Within another one month the result will come out and he had to take Basanti to the capital, ministry office, so she can show her certificate to her. For that he had to save some money. So, this was not the time to rest. It was already lunch time, as he was able to hear the sounds of many vehicles returning back from office towards the quarter colony. He had to keep ready the fresh cut fruits, so that some may have it in this hot summer." -thinking this Dibakara got up from his sitting place, took out his guava basket and started putting on the basket.

“When Basanti gets a job as a teacher, the first thing what I will ask her is to teach me. I will also be able to read and write, then there will be no need to sit on the road side and to sell the fruits. I will start some teaching."

“Uncle, two guavas, how much?” a little school boy might have asked and then he gave two guavas for five rupees and returned back the rest five rupees to the boy.

“No, I will not teach. I will be a cashier and manager in the Chota Bhai’s kirana shop. Why cannot I do? Now also I am able to mange everything without my eyes and that time, I will become more manageable, because my daughter will teach me how to read and write braille as she will become a braille teacher.” Dibakara was planning how everything will get changed when Basanti gets a job.

Dibakara was a born blind person and his daughter, Basanti was also blind. Due to poverty, Dibakara could not study, but he didn’t leave a single chance to educate his daughter Basanti.

This one month passed by like a flowing water and as per the promise given by the Education Minister, Basanti got a job in the same school where she was studying. Today, was her first day as a teacher and today evening Dibakara had to start learning from her. They had to start around 9 o’clock their studies. So, he was very excited, he had to finish early, go back to home and be ready to start his studies. For that Basanti’s mother had already arranged everything, she had arranged a nice dinner and bounty of dreams and plans how to celebrate their night.

It was almost 8 o’clock in the evening, a voice came from outside, “Dibakara, come out…”

“What happened…,” Dibakara and Basanti’s mother rushed towards outside of the house.

Basanti’s mother couldnot believe her eyes. Basanti was lying on a stretcher bed and a white bedsheet was covered over her as if she was dead. Yes, she was dead. While returning back from her school after her first day, she had gone to market to buy some sweets for her parents. A big car of a rich man had run over her while crossing the road. She was blind, even though she was using her sticks, still the car driver could not make out that a blind girl was about to cross the road. Had ran over her, even though the red light was on in the traffic signal. The driver had become blind and Basanti had to lose her life.

Dibakara's dream remained disabled.