A dazzling
flame extinguished suddenly! A young life lost… dreams, hopes and aspirations dashed
before they could taste maturity and fruition! Yet another defeat at the hands
of time, or is it the deadly disease all of us loathe today?
Late
October, I experienced such an incident — an incident
which I wish no one (not even my enemies) ever faces in their worst of
nightmares! Coming back to her story… she is a lively, beautiful and boisterous
young girl with large and lovely eyes. She loves to wear good clothes, dress
and apply make-up and look glamorous. A girl who strikes you with her sharp speech and witty repartees at
once. I met her in November 2010 and as I write about her today she is …no more. She is with God, free of all the pain and suffering she battled all through her illness. Yes it was a long drawn battle that lasted for a year and a half.
I had already known about her ailment when I first met her. Yet somehow I was unsure whether I should talk about it, or even mention that she will get well soon, fearing whether she knows what she is afflicted with. Whether her parents have disclosed that she has a duel with a deadly disease. As our bond grew stronger, she revealed her pain, her sufferings and agony that she bore during her treatment. To my utter surprise, I found her to be immensely strong at such an age. Nerves of steel she has or she is made of steel itself, I suppose.
Then came a fateful day, when a major portion of her limb had to be removed. It was extremely difficult for all of us, an acid test that we all passed eventually. We forced her into the operation theatre against her will, for the operation that was to be a life-saving one. After the operation, I could not brace myself to ask her – How are you? I often wondered - ‘what would a girl with a limb removed answer?’ I could not meet her, or make eye-to-eye contact with her, lest she is hurt.
I took care not to wear capris or short skirts, lest she is reminded of her leg that was. I knew how fond she is of capris and shorts. Before her operation, I had carefully observed her, as she was painting the nails of her left leg and secretly wished that she walks properly again. Alas… she was painting her left toe nails for the last time indeed.
The doctors advised a prosthetic leg for her to be able to walk properly. She is glad now that she has the prosthetic leg. Noting a glimmer of hope and with renewed energy, she looks forward to her training sessions now, where the trainer teaches her how to walk with the prosthetic leg on. Once she could walk, she never let anyone help her to walk. She argued and urged to be left alone while walking and in no time, she learnt. Now she is convinced that she can dance again and set the stage on fire and win contests. By the way, she is a wonderful dancer and has already won many contests for her school. Dancing is her passion.
She celebrates each festival with great fervor. Christmas and Holi was celebrated with great fanfare, only because she loves to. Her birthday in March 2011 was a memorable one. We had dined and drank with great joy and wished her love, health, luck and joy and many more happy years. We did not know she would bid us goodbye, never to celebrate her birthday with us again.
I salute her endurance, grit and immense mental strength. Like a warrior, she fought hard, hoping to overcome her illness. I wish and pray that she meets us next time again, only if she has no painful life to endure. May the benevolent Lord grant peace to her departed soul and may she be joyful wherever she is.
I can still hear her chants, her chidings and screams, her effervescence and her witty comments. What I cannot see is her beautiful face. Still am glad, am glad for her, now that she is completely free of pain, agony and despair.
Yours truly,
Bhabhi.. (no one calls me like that any more, since
you are not here). Will you
not scream saying the same? Only Time will tell.
