Title: The True Essence of Life Depends on How You Look at It
Author: Priya Pallavi
“As long as you feel pain, you are still alive. As long as you make mistakes, you are still human. And as long as you keep trying, there is still hope.” – Susan Gale
Human is one of God’s divine creations. God formed you and gave you a special dignity among all HIS works of creation. The most beautiful thing he gifted to you is your life. Life is like a sea full of surprising waves and sometimes unwanted too. And how you successfully sail through it is your gratitude for such a beautiful gift.
I planned a trip to Pune for celebrating New Year 2019. My train for Pune was scheduled to board from Delhi at 11:45 PM. I started from home 3 hours before the train timing. As it took only 35 minutes for me to reach the station, I had ample of time to sit and wait for the train. I searched for the vacant chairs and settled down. My chair was facing the display T.V where the train number, name, platform number, departure and arrival time were displaying.
After some time, a family came and stood near my place because there were still some vacant chairs left. The lady of the family requested me to shift a little. I looked at her, we both exchanged smile. She told me that her son Shiv wanted to sit there and pointed her finger to a chair just close to me. I saw a boy standing with the lady and holding her hands. His eyes were fixed on display T.V. as he tried to figure out something. He was a simple looking boy with high power glasses on his eyes. His head was trembling and mouth was open. I stood near her and made a place for him to seat comfortably. Shiv looked at me and smiled. I got a feeling that the darkest hour of that night shined because of his smile. There was some magic in his smile. His round shaking face had the most beautiful curves I ever saw. Shiv hurried and sat on my chair. I insisted her mother to sit near him she smiled gently and took her place. I settled next to the lady. I had lots of questions running in my mind as I was still thinking about Shiv. I wanted to ask her but I couldn’t. Then suddenly I heard her voice. I turned to her in no time as I really wanted my questions to be answered.
She said that before two years only, he was diagnosed with a rare medical condition Acoustic neuroma, a disease which causes tumor to grow directly on the nerve responsible for hearing and balance. I wanted to know more about him, so I was looking curiously at her face.
“In the early phase of his medical condition, I didn’t know that a time will come when Shiv will completely loose his hearing,” she added. Her mother told that she came to know about his complete deafness in the recent past days. And that’s why she was going to Bangalore for his check up. I completely felt her nervousness in the last statement that she made. I turned to Shiv he was looking at the display T.V. Later, he turned his face down and looked at the blue watch he wore. He counted something on his shaking fingers. Her mother softly moves her hand to his trembling face, Shiv turned to her with the same powerful smile. She kissed his forehead and placed his head on her lap. Shiv removed his glasses, gave to his mother and closed his eyes.
“Shiv loved reading books and going school. My son was a very bright student but he was dropped from his old school because he was no more a normal child for his school authority. I tried to convince his teachers but I failed,” she sobbed. There was complete darkness in front of me. “One day, Shiv came to me and told that he searched a school for special children on the internet. He wanted me to go there with him. He noted the address and contact number of that school in his old class notebook. That day I found that even this adverse condition didn’t break my son. My son not only accepted his reality with open heart but also he was comfortable with that. I saw his sparkled eyes and that lightened the darkness which was in front of me. I was happy, very happy. I took my purse and headed to his new school with him,” she smiled and completed.
She wiped tears from the corner of her eyes and put her head on his son head and too closed her eyes.
I was still looking at them. I got all my answers. Behind his magical smile, there was a story of his personnel struggle. His smile was unique because his life was unique. His life didn’t treat him well, but he greeted his life with his beautiful smile. Shiv was completely enjoying his incomplete life. He inspired me to be like him. He left me with so many memories which I will cherish throughout my life. He was the strongest soul I ever met. His will power was harder than the rock.
I took my eyes off from them but my soul was still looking at them. I was happy as I found the best beginning of my coming year. I smiled and thanked God for arranging an accidental meeting with one of his strongest creations. And then I heard the announcement of my train. I looked at display T.V. My train details were displaying at the top. It was already 11:20 PM. I stood up, collected my luggage. I saw Shiv and his mother. They were sleeping. I didn’t want to awake them. I started from there and suddenly stopped. I wanted to see Shiv again. I turned back and again looked at him. Finally, I stepped towards my train.
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