Short Story - The Clairvoyant

Hey,

This is a short story written by me. It doesn't follow the characters of the serial, Jai and Bani but it's just a story with two characters who love each other, cherish each other and promise to be together.

It is a love story that hopefully will touch a chord. Do let me know. :)


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The Clairvoyant

He was holding her hand, making sure she crossed the road safely. It was something he did out of habit and had always been doing, without any complaints. The fact that he could help her, look out for her in whatever little way made him feel like he had a reason for his existence though she very rarely let him do that. It had been years since they first met but their love was always more the next day than the day before. No one could have any doubts that those two were made for each other, one look and you knew it.

'Love does not come with a particular date; you never know when it comes, takes over your life, if it ever ends and if it does, when and why it does. Love doesn't answer these questions, it grows with every passing day and to let it grow is the first sign and test of ever lasting love.'

It was almost four decades since he had first seen her. It was a meeting purely by chance. A young boy just out of his fun years at college, a thrill of becoming a 'man' in the true sense of the word in his heart and having the faith and belief of being able to achieve anything he desired in life, he sat at the cafeteria of his alma mater. It was always a good feeling coming back to his college, the place where many a stalwart had graduated from and where he now sat, with a vision in his eyes, reminiscing the old days with his friends. It was like coming home.

Time simply passed when his friends and he sat together, pulling each others leg and laughing at the silliest anecdotes. Today was different, suddenly he saw his eyes stop, they did not blink, did not move, did not flitter. Straight dark brown hair flowing below her shoulders, a tall and slender figure and a smile that played on her lips even when she spoke, that was the reason for him becoming oblivious to the world at large. He instinctively thought about how much it would light up her face when she actually did laugh. He could barely see her face but he had no doubts that she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, he was confident that she was as pretty as he envisioned her to be, maybe even more.

He excused himself from the table he was at and walked up to her. He was a bit nervous, a bit excited and a bit apprehensive. He went ahead nonetheless. He was always a confident person but today he felt his knees go weak and his legs waggle. He waited patiently while his heart raced for her to be the only one at the counter.

'Hi, I saw you standing here and I assumed you were doing some admission paper work, I was wondering if you needed any help' he offered

'No, I am fine, thank you so much for offering' she said with a polite smile

'So is this your first year here?' he enquired, trying very hard to make decent conversation

'No it's my final semester,' she answered.

'I am Jai by the way; we haven't introduced ourselves' he said, pulling out his hand for a handshake but not getting one in return.

'Bani' she said

He realized something was amiss when she did not look towards him or at him at any point during their conversation. Her eyes were always placed somewhere else, while he has is eyes only for her. He looked away not understanding completely what was going on and then he turned and looked searchingly, with a glint of innocence in his eyes.

'Do I look that bad that I am not worth even one look?' Jai joked

She just smiled at him and he was confused. What was she trying to tell him, he didn't understand such signals he wanted to say.

'People say I have nice eyes, you should look into them while we talk' he said, with a little hint of his flirtatious self.

'I can't see. I guess the colour and beauty of your eyes will always remain a mystery' Bani walked away saying that.

'There is something about the debate, the glass half full or the glass half empty. In reality it is a barometer of wants, needs, desires and what we actually get. Sometimes it's just a matter of perspective, sometimes it teaches you to look at the positives, at the others it is just a mirror image of what there is. Everything is about will and about determination, about what you take as a disability and about making things your ability.'

It took him a minute to understand what she had just said. Jai stood there. Motionless. He did not know how to react to something like that. He did not know whether he should just walk away from there or just stand stationed. He did not know what the right thing to do was. He just stood there.

Back in his senses the first thing that struck him was the confidence Bani oozed even with something that one would call a disability. He would never have guessed she couldn't se, that she was blind. He thought that for two reasons, one she was in an Ivy League University and as everyone he too had heard that people with such disabilities don't make it here very often and certainly not on academic scholarships as he had noticed in her form. The other reason being the way she conducted herself was so normal, just like he or any of his friends would.

Days passed and then weeks but he could not get her out of his head. They had barely spoken he thought to himself, then why such an effect, why such an influence, he frequently questioned. He realized he had to meet her again, he couldn't let go like this. There was a voice in his head telling him not to give up. He knew there was only one person who could make him feel better, who would understand. He immediately dialed the digits.

'I have to meet her' Jai said into the receiver.

'Meet who' Aditya asked.

'Bani, the girl we saw on campus a few weeks ago' he said with a certain rush in his voice.

'Why do you want to meet her? She can't see Jai' he questioned

'She is girl who hasn't left my mind since I first saw her, a girl who I wanted to talk to for a long time after only our first words were exchanged, a girl so pretty that everything else looks bland and colourless now. Can you get me her accommodation details?' Jai asked

'You're not going to listen to anyone on this; I'll just call you back with the details' he said before keeping the phone down.

In the mean while Jai did his own little enquiry and found out all he could about Bani. Her favorite food, her favorite colour, her favorite flowers, her schooling, about her family, everything he could lay his hands on.

A few days later he went to where she lived. He knocked on her door and her room mate opened.

'Hi! I am Jai, may I please meet Bani' he said with a touch of chivalry.

'Just one second, let me call her out' she went inside while Jai waited outside, as patiently as he could.

'Jai' Bani said coming out, surprised as to why he was here and how he had managed to lay his hands on her address.

'Bani, I am not going to waste any time here, not more than I already have, can I take you out for dinner' he asked her hurriedly and then waited in anticipation.

'Jai, what are you doing here and how did you get here' she asked cutting him short.

'All that is not important, can I take you out for dinner' he asked again. You could feel the nervousness in his voice.

'It isn't a good idea. You know I can't see, and even though it may not be a disability for me any longer, it will pose as one for you' she said.

'I disagree with that, please come out for dinner with me' he literally pleaded. Something inside said he had to convince her, like that was the only right thing to do. 'Once', he said.

'Think about it Jai. Sleep over what you are asking me. It isn't as simple as it looks. And you said you weren't bad looking, you'll get anyone you want' she said before turning back and going in.

Jai was not the one to get easily disillusioned. All he had done the past few weeks was sleep over it. He tried and then he tried some more. He realized there was something more he was feeling inside than what he wanted to admit to himself. He was captivated by this girl. When he saw her, thought about her, his tall, lean frame of 6'2 seemed small and fragile. His brown eyes shone when he spoke about her and his smile quivered when he thought about not having her, about losing her before she was even truly his.

Bani on the other hand knew she was attracted to this man. She had not seen him and maybe never would, but how much ever she understood of him; from his voice, she knew he was special. He had a certain conviction when he spoke and something in it said he was truthful and dependable. She had always had many guys pursuing her but she had never felt this way. She had never felt like reciprocating. Maybe none of them were so sure about themselves or about her. But she also realized going out with him was giving him encouragement and in turn probably involving him in something without him knowing the consequences of.

He pursued her and he tried reasoning with her. Finally he managed to get her to come out for a cup of coffee. That day changed everything for them. One meeting and it was clear that they were best suited for each other. They could have conversations about anything under the sun and more importantly be completely honest in their opinions. There was no faade, there was no awkwardness. He admitted it, she shied away from it.

A few weeks passed and then a month, soon it was three. They were meeting as friends, there was a strong physical tension between them but it was never brought up. All was going well, there were no hang ups and there was no commitment, though there was always an underlying promise of being together. One day it suddenly struck her that it was getting a little serious now and they could no longer run away from the realities. She sat him down and spoke to him.

'Jai I think we should end this, it has no future' she said.

'For me you are my future' was all he replied with.

'This is no time for jokes. Jai I cannot see and you know my medical history, it is a condition that will not change, not now, not ever. It is easy to go out on date, to be friends, to share opinions and stories but it is another thing to be with someone like me for the rest of your life. You are worth so much more, you deserve someone better than me' she said

'This is not about worth Bani; this is about us, about what we feel for each other. We care so deeply for each other Bani, we love each other. And you simply cannot deny that even if you try, You are such a beautiful person, never underestimate yourself and the value and place you hold in people's life. Don't underestimate the place you hold in my life, my heart. Think about what I said, sleep over it.' He dropped her at her doorstep and left without saying another word.

'People are never perfect but love can be. We waste time looking for the perfect lover, someone who matches us. What we forget is that there is nothing called perfect lover but we can instead create a perfect love.'

A few days passed and both did not contact another. Jai wanted her to believe what he believed and he wanted her to believe it herself. Bani on the other hand was scared, she would not be able to take life without him if she agreed to give them a chance and she was afraid that this was a passing phase for Jai. When Jai thought he had given her enough time to think and he had himself had enough chance to think about what he was about to do and to introspect his decision about their future or at least what he hoped to call their future, he made some arrangements.

He went over to her apartment and was not surprised to find her alone. He had planned it well. He rang the bell and waited patiently. His heart stopped beating for a moment, he looked at her and he was amazed at how beautiful she really was. She looked like an angel that had descended on earth, for him. In poetic words he would call her the shooting star that fell into his world and lit it up with its bright silver ray.

'I am on my knees, asking you to marry me. I know I am imperfect, I have faults, but I promise I will never leave you, I will never hurt you and I will never stop loving you. I will be there with you, for you at every step you take and hold your hand when we travel through life, as we walk on the smooth road and when we sail over troubled waters. Marry me Bani.' Jai said the minute she appeared, fearing he would lose the essence of what he wanted to say.

'How does a girl say no to such a proposal' she asked him, a lump in her throat. She was somewhere not surprised that he had said all that she wanted to hear.

'But have you really thought about it Jai' she asked him again.

'Bani you know what I am and you know every word I said is true and I know you truly love me. Spend the rest of your life with me Bani, be my wife, be my best friend for life,' he pleaded.

'Yes.' she said and soon was caught in a tight embrace.

That beautiful day they had embarked upon a beautiful journey called life, called love, called togetherness. Neither of them could express in words what they felt for each other. Words would do no justice. There was no need for words. They understood the feelings they felt for each without being spoken. Her lack of eyesight did not hinder their relationship, did not make their world negative in any way. It made it all the more special. They were just as normal a couple as the couple next to them. It had been four decades but nothing had broken their deep bond, they didn't let anything get in the way, affect the love they had for each other. There love was one for eternity.

'The best and the most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen nor even touched, but just felt in the heart'

-Helen Keller, 1891

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Shruti