Part 4
The next morning he woke up early, his heart fluttering in happiness like a butterfly in spring. The day he had been awaiting since long has finally arrived. He will get to see the woman who dominated his thoughts every sleeping and waking moment. He knew he'll find her beautiful no matter what. He did not care much for physical beauty. If he did, he could have landed himself any number of beautiful and bright girls who were dying to latch on to a successful and handsome self-made businessman. He was never interested in any of them. Prachi, on the other hand, had a magnetism that drew him to her from the minute he heard her pleasant and gentle voice which soothed the excruciating pain he was in when he landed at the hospital. He had tried to shrug off the attraction as he was highly irritable and grumpy in the initial days. Losing his vision and mobility had made him feel that his life was more or less finished. He used to take out his frustration and anger at her as she was the only one who was constantly by his side. She took it all without a murmur or a rude word in retaliation. If anything, her kindness and patience only redoubled. Finally her translucent and pure soul won him over and he fell hopelessly in love with his guardian angel. He may not be eloquent with words; he may not know the first thing about romancing a woman but he knew that he loved this woman with all his heart, with every fibre of his being. He will do just about anything for her, maybe even sacrifice his life for her if it comes to that.
Yesterday when he came to know that she too reciprocated his feelings, his joy knew no bounds. Suddenly everything seemed to fall in place. His chaotic life seemed to have gained a purpose. He started making plans about when to meet her family and how to ask her hand in marriage. Since he did not want to mess up his lines when he meets his future mother-in-law, he started practicing them while he waited for his beloved's arrival.
Soon the hospital's ophthalmologist came in with a nurse. He explained to him that once his bandages are removed he will be gradually exposed to light with increasing intensity to enable his optic nerves to adjust and withstand the pressure. He warned against sudden exposure to bright light as it can exert undue pressure on the nerves and permanently damage them forever and he will never be able to see again. He then tried to remove the bandages but Milind held back his hand, requesting him to wait a little longer. He explained to him that he was expecting a special person to be there when he finally opens his eyes for he wanted her face to be the first he sees. The doctor looked at the nurse who whispered to him that he wants to wait for Sister Prachi. By now it was common knowledge amongst the hospital staff that Milind and Prachi were in love with each other. The doctor smiled and asked him to tell Sister Prachi to call him when she comes so that the bandages could be removed in her presence. The doctor and the nurse then left him alone. Milind kept waiting impatiently for Prachi but there was no sign of her. He wondered what could be delaying her.
In the meantime, Prachi was impatiently waiting for her bus. Of all days, the bus was inordinately late on the day she was in a hurry, she lamented to herself. She could have taken an auto rickshaw if only she had the money. It was the month-end and she was down to her last few rupees, just sufficient to take care of her bus fare to and from the hospital. She was about to go to the nearest phone booth to make a call and inform her colleagues at the hospital that she will be late when she finally spotted the bus and hurriedly got in.
Back at the hospital as he waited for Prachi, Milind suddenly heard an explosion. Soon he heard the fire alarm going off and the loud steps of people running helter-skelter. He felt somebody pull his arm and lift him off the bed. He was escorted out of the room and down the stairs, where he was joined by several panic stricken patients and staff who were hurriedly trying to make their getaway. The person who rescued him tried to shield his eyes from the flaying arms by protectively extending his own on either side of him. Once they reached the ground floor, he was taken to a safe distance from the burning wing. He was surrounded by several other patients who all stood huddled in a corner.
When Prachi reached the hospital and saw flames and smoke emanating from the wing that housed Milind, she froze for a second. "Milind," she screamed out his name for the first time in her life and ran as fast as she could into the burning building, her eyes frantically looking for him amongst the people still being evacuated from the building and pushing in her way through them when she could not spot him. As he stood amongst the crowd, his ears immediately picked up her call and he turned towards her voice but was dismayed to hear her footsteps recede.
'What was Prachi doing running away from me?' he wondered and it suddenly dawned on him where she was headed.
"Prachi, No... Prachi, Wait...Don't go in," he yelled out but his screams were lost in the din as the crowd continued to pour into the ground. He pushed the pressing crowd aside and tried to make his way through.
"Hey, Mister.. Stop... What are you trying to do?" shouted out a voice and came running behind him. Pulling his arm, the person who had earlier huddled him out of the hospital turned him around and bellowed, "Are you crazy? You'll get yourself killed if you go in there."
"I don't care. My love is in there. I need to save her," he yelled back trying to free his arm.
"How are you going to do that? You cannot even see your way through. The authorities have called for the fire fighters. They should be here any minute. They will save her," his savior tried to reason.
"It may be too late by then. I need to get to her before she is burnt to death. Without her, my life is worthless. Leave me," he jerked his arm and fled, all warnings falling on deaf ears.
Inside the building he stretched out his arm to feel the railing of the stair. Once he located it, he held on and climbed up the stairs as fast as he could. He realized from the heat around him that the flames, aided by the strong wind which was blowing through the open windows and corridor of the hospital, had spread everywhere. He could also smell the thick smoke which was engulfing him. Avoiding the heat he meandered his way through, straining his ears to catch her voice or her footstep. Amidst the crackling timber he feebly heard her voice calling out to him in one corner of the corridor. He hurried towards the sound and when he came closer to it, he felt extreme heat in front of him indicating there was a huge blaze ahead of him. There was no way he can circumvent it without seeing his way through. His hand went up to his bandage to rip it off. For a moment he was reminded of what the doctor had warned against. He was not to expose his eyes to intense light lest he exerts pressure on his optic nerves and ruin them for life. But he had no choice. It was his eyes or her life. To him clearly there was no contest. He can live without his sight but he cannot live without her.
He made up his mind and was about to rip his bandage off when Prachi realized what he was about to do.
"No, Milind. Don't remove it. You'll never be able to see again if you do," she screamed and broke into tears.
"Prachi, you are my life. Without you what good are my eyes?" he asked and without any further ado he tore the bandages away and opened his eyes. Seeing what he had done she screamed and passed out. His eyes took some time to adjust to the sudden brightness. At first the images were blurred before they became more focused. He saw a ball of fire before him and the faint image of his Prachi behind it in a heap on the floor. The thick smoke did not afford a clear view of her. Alarmed at seeing an unconscious Prachi, he dodged the fire and rushed to her side. Her long hair had fallen across her face so he could not see it. He picked her up quickly and meandered his way back. His head started pounding by now as the pressure on his nerves was enormous. Just as he stumbled his way out of the building, his woman in his arms, he saw sparks flashing before his eyes and then suddenly it was total darkness. He knew then that he had lost his sight for life without catching even a glimpse of her face.
Part 5
One year later
It was Milind's and Prachi's wedding night. After the customary ragging, Prachi's brother Alaap led him to the bedroom which was decorated for the big night. Prachi decked in all her bridal finery received Milind at the door. She held his arm, shut the door and led him to their bed which was strewn with flowers. Taking in the floral aroma, he turned his sightless eyes to her and took her hand to his lips, kissing it gently. She looked down shyly.
"Prachi, what are you wearing?" he asked out of the blue, feeling the material she was wearing.
She looked at him, startled by his question.
"I'm wearing a saree."
"What type of saree? Can you describe it for me?"
"Well, it is a crimson silk saree with intricate embroidery in zari and zardosi."
"Sounds beautiful."
"It is."
"Pity then that I'll be stripping you off it in a few minutes but I'm sure you'll be even more beautiful in your birth suit," he said mischievously.
She turned red at the thought. The guy never beat around the bush, was always direct in speaking his mind. His bluntness had its own charm.
"Your face must be the colour of your saree now," he said confidently, lifting his hand to her face and softly caressing her right cheek. "You look even more beautiful when you blush."
She looked at him inquiringly.
"Are you wondering how do I know? I don't have to see you with my naked eye to know that. In my mind's eye I can see you darling and you look simply ravishing, the most beautiful girl in the world."
"Milind, I am not beautiful. I am marred," she said tearfully and took his hand to her left cheek. His fingers encountered the huge scar on it. His thoughts flew to the day of the accident.
Milind's flashback
After he rescued Prachi from the burning hospital wing, he collapsed outside it. They were both taken to another hospital in the locality. Milind's optic nerves suffered irreparable damage due to the exposure to intense light and the doctors had given up all hopes of his ever seeing again in his life. Prachi suffered burns on her arms and on her face. While the burns in her arms were not very deep and healed relatively soon, the one on her left cheek was far deeper and took time healing. After the initial burn wounds healed Milind got the best plastic surgeons in the country to attempt a reconstructive burn surgery to improve both the function and cosmetic appearance of the scar on the face. However, doctors realised that Prachi's skin had a tendency to develop keloids which are tough heaped-up scars that rises quite abruptly above the rest of the skin. Hence they advised against plastic surgery, as any surgery would only leave more scars on her skin than remove the existing ones. Steroid medication was injected directly into the scar to reduce the redness, itching and burning but they couldn't do much to remove the ugly scar.
End of flashback
Milind leant forward, gently kissed her scar and licked the salty tears.
"Sh....Darling you are even more beautiful to me because of this, for it is a sign of the depth of your love for me. It is the price you paid trying to save me, sweet heart."
"The price I paid is too small in comparison to what you did. You sacrificed your eyes for my life, Milind." Her eyes welled up again and her hot tears wet his bearded cheeks as she repeatedly kissed his closed eyes.
He wiped her tears with the palm of his hand and kissed her entire face before capturing her lips in his voluptuous ones. Prachi kissed him back with the same intensity, holding his head between her hands and running her fingers through his mane. Even as his lips locked with hers, his fingers got busy, quickly dispensing the clothes that separated them. In the absence of his sight he put his other senses to full use to imprint her image in his mind. His nose took in her fragrance; his lips and tongue tasted her; his touch memorised all the lines and curves of her body; his ears picked up her crescendo of moans indicating the effect he was having on her. She closed her eyes and gave into the sensations he was evoking. When she could not bear his assault on her senses anymore, she gently guided him in. Although he was unable to see her face, he was quick to notice her initial discomfort. He prepared to withdraw but she embraced him tightly. Her fingers dug into his muscular back as their passion and yearning for each other took over. They finally became one in body and soul.
Three years later
"Prachi, where is my tie?" shouted out Milind as he rummaged through his cupboard drawers. Normally Prachi laid out his clothes for him on the bed while he had his bath but that day she seemed to have forgotten to lay out his tie.
Prachi came running in, two-year old Ishan on one hip and a sipper on the other hand. She quickly put Ishan down on the bed, gave him the sipper and rushed to search her husband's tie for him. Sensing her presence near him, Milind circled her waist and tried to kiss her.
"Sh...behave yourself, Milind. Ishan is there in the room."
As if to announce his presence, Ishan gurgled loudly while drinking his milk.
Milind quickly let go of his wife and slowly moved towards the sound of his baby son. He bent down and feeling his little shoulders he picked him up. He caressed his curls and kissed his chubby cheeks. Ishan reached up to his father's face and pulled at his moustache.
"Ouch...You want my moush? Don't worry, son. You too will get one when you grow up." He tried to pull his little son's hand away from his moustache.
Prachi had, in the meantime, located Milind's tie.
"Here you are," she said and taking their son from him, she thrust the tie in his hands.
Seeing Milind struggle with the tie for a few minutes, she put her son back on the bed and helped him with the tie.
"What would I do without you, my darling wife," Milind said when she finished and pecked her cheek. In the meantime Ishan got off the bed and ran out, leaving behind the sipper of milk half drunk.
Prachi's attention immediately went back to her son and she ran behind him before he could reach the stairs.
Back in his room Milind counted his steps and confidently walked out. He had no problem navigating around his house and his office as long as there were no unexpected obstacles on his path. His family made sure that Ishan's toys were not lying around the house when he was around so that he does not trip over them and fall. At work he was assisted by Prachi who never left his side and Alaap who became his business partner. Prachi had given up nursing and instead devoted all her time to her husband. She learnt all the business nuances and was his eyes. After Ishan's birth, she stayed at home for a year but realising that her husband needed her more, she left Ishan in her mother's care during the day. Alaap too was of great help. While Milind made all the business plans, Alaap faithfully executed them. His wife, Suyesha was away at her mother's for the delivery of their first child.
As Milind came down the stairs holding on to the rails his mother-in-law greeted him and invited him to have his breakfast. She asked Prachi, who had just managed to get Ishan finish his milk, to sit with her husband and took her grandson from her arms. Milind started picking things from Prachi's plate, helping himself to them. Prachi smiled and slapped his hands playfully. PL noticed the banter between her daughter and her son-in-law and smiled happily. They were all blessed to have Milind in their lives. He was like another son to her, very affectionate and caring.
That evening Prachi and Milind returned from work a little early. Alaap had gone to visit his wife in his mother-in-law's place. Milind was having a shower in their room while Prachi was playing with her son in the hall when the front door bell rang. On opening the door, Prachi was surprised to see a young girl who introduced herself as Pranati Roy, a journalist who worked for a youth magazine. Inviting her in, Prachi wondered what she would want with them.
The girl, who was initially shocked to see the huge scar on Prachi's cheek, recoverd to take her seat on the sofa. Sitting opposite her with Ishan on her lap, Prachi asked her what she wanted to know. Without much ado, Pranati came straight to the point. She was doing a feature on love between real life couple for the Valentine Day Special Issue. She remembered hearing her uncle narrate this amazing story of how a young nurse and a patient went to great lengths to save each other's lives during a fire in the hospital in which he worked. On further enquiry it came to light that the girl's uncle was the man who escorted Milind out of the hospital and tried preventing him from re-entering when Milind realised Prachi had run into the burning wing. Now she wanted to cover their entire love story in her magazine.
"When did you meet your husband?"
"I met him four and a half years back when he was admitted as an accident victim with serious eye and leg injuries."
Over the next fifteen minutes she gave a brief rundown of their life with the girl taking down notes.
"Wow, your husband sacrificed his eyes inorder to save you? He must really love you very much."
"Yes, he does," boomed Milind who had come down in the meantime and asked Prachi who it was she was conversing with. After being told about the journalist who wanted to cover their story, he smiled and extended his hand. He sat down next to his wife and took his son from her. Ishan jumped up and clung to him tightly, resting his little head on his shoulder.
Pranati turned to Prachi, "If you don't mind me asking, the scar on your face..was it the result of the fire accident?"
Prachi nodded her head.
"Don't you feel bad that it has marred an otherwise beautiful face?"
"No, because the only man whose opinion I care about cannot see me. I don't care what others think of my looks."
"To me she is the most beautiful woman in the world," said Milind proudly.
"And you Sir, how do you feel not being able to see forever?"
"Who said I cannot see? I see with her eyes. There are many who are blind even when they can see, blind to the pain and agony of the people they claim to love; blind to their needs; blind to their desires. I may be physically blind but I am more aware of my wife than maybe even she is of herself. And she, in turn, is more aware of me than I am of myself."
"That is true," said Prachi. "We compliment and complete each other."
Pranati's eyes widened in amazement.
"Wow. This is true love. By the way how do you plan to celebrate Valentine's Day which is two days from today?"
"We don't plan to celebrate it. In fact we have never celebrated a single Valentine's Day in the last four years."
"Why?" wondered Pranati.
"Because for us every day is a Valentine's Day. Our love for each other keeps growing with every passing day. We don't need to wait for one day in a year to express our love," said Milind.
Pranati was very impressed with the young couple. PL had come in with refreshments just then and told her how Milind has accepted Prachi's family as his own and she would always be grateful to him for that. Milind then had to assure her that he gained as much in having such a loving family around him after living his life in solitude for more than two years. Seeing the mutual love shared among the family members, Pranati's eyes filled up with emotional tears. She then took pictures of their beautiful family and before she left she wished that their love multiply manifold in the coming years.
With his son in one arm, Milind put his other arm around his wife's waist and drawing her close to him, he kissed the top of her head as she leant against his chest. They were after all inextricably tied to each other by the invisible bonds of love.
****The End *****
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