Posted:
TS : "AANKHEN"
Character sketch:
Rishab Kundra / RK- 30 yrs, Doctor (Opthalmologist)
Madhubala Malik / Madhu - 26 yrs, Teacher for visually impaired students
Bittu sharma - Principal ( of "vision high school, Cunnoor, Nilgiri district, Tamil Nadu)
& also madhu's maternal uncle.
Malik & padmini Malik - Madhu's parents
Mohan Kundra & Radha kundra - Rk's parents
Trishna & Sultan - Important characters, u'll know more when u read the story.
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(Vision high school for visually challenged)
(Principal office)
Madhu - May I come in Sir?
Principal - yes, please.
Madhu entered his cabin with a polite smile & he gestured her to have a seat & she obliged.
Principal - Miss. Madhu, I hope u have seen the notice from "RK Eye foundation"
Madhu - yes, Sir. I came to have a word with you regarding that only. They are really generous to help our school kids in regaining their vision. I wish even we could be a part of this good cause.
Principal - we could Miss. Madhu.
Madhu - How Sir?
Principal - Miss. Madhu, dont forget your father is the founder of this school & he is the trustee... So...
Madhu - so we can fund for our students?? Oh God! Why i didnt think about it? Of course we will fund for the treatments.
Principal - So we will discuss about this with Mr. Mohan kundra, founder of Rk Eye foundation & Dr. Rishab kundra & his team are going to conduct an eye camp in our school for the next five days to take preliminary tests, so please make arrangement for that too.
Madhu - sure, Sir.
(Bell ringing sound)
Principal - Miss Madhu...
Madhu - Princi... Bas!! Enough of our discussion... Its lunch break so lets fill our tummy.
Bittuji - Madhu, i have work. U eat... I will have later...
Madhu (shocked) - What? My golgappa mota uncle is not hungry?? First things first... Later u can do ur work. (Madhu said in a chiding tone & closed the file bittuji was going through. Then bittuji & madhu started eating their lunch.)
Bittuji - Madhu, today morning I & ur Dad were jogging & he told me about his worries & he asked me to talk with u about it...
Madhu - Uncle, please. Not that topic again. Mama & Papa are behind my life not u too... *sigh*
Bittuji - Madhu...
Madhu - No means No... I m not going to get married in my life EVER!! U know me what I WAS... then how could u talk about marriage??
Bittuji - there u said it "What I WAS"!! mind it madhu, that's ur past...please dont jeopardize it with ur present & spoil ur life.
Bittuji - Madhu, darling... Why da?? Tell ur uncle whats bothering u & why u don't want to get married?? Please forget ur past??
Madhu - Uncle, i don't want any commitments in my life... I love teaching... I want to bring all my students to heights & show the world that vision is not a hindrance to excel.
(She smiled proudly)
Bittuji - but baby u have a whole life & u need someone to hold your hand & walk by ur side & love u & care u...
Madhu - i buried all those marriage... Love... Babies... Happy life thoughts long back... I don't deserve to be happy... I ... I lost... ( she remember the dreadful day & started crying)
Bittuji - Madhu, calm down. Sorry, i really wish to see u happy... We all wish... but why u r not coming out of ur shell... Its not ur fault dear. ( bittuji said with tears in his eyes too seeing his little girl crying & he hugged her & patted her head to calm her down)
Madhu - sorry, uncle... I got carried away... Well, i have class... See u in the evening.
(Madhu wiped her tears away & walked out)
(Next day morning at school)
Madhu - Miss. Dipali, is auditorium all set for the Doctors to conduct their camp??
Dipali - yes. Even all the necessary equipment are arranged. We will send students batch by batch. 2 batches before lunch & another 2 after lunch.
Madhu nodded her head in agreement.
Principal - hello Doctor...
Rk - Rishab kundra ( he introduced with a smile)
Principal - glad to meet u, Dr.Rishab. I m Bittu sharma, Principal. I have met ur father yesterday & we had a brief. Isn't he here??
Rk - Dad is held up with an emergency case so he couldnt make it. But he told me about ur willingness to fund for the surgeries & other sort of treatments. We are so glad. Thank u so much.
Principal - oh come on Doctor. U r doing such a noble cause & we are honored to be a part of ur "Mission Vision"
Rk smiled & suddenly bittuji noticed Madhu walking by that side.
Principal - Miss.Madhu, Please come here for a moment.
He called madhu from quite a distance & she noticed he was talking to someone but couldnt face him as his back was towards her so she slowly walked & stood beside him.
Madhu - Sir.
Principal - Meet Dr. Kundra. Head of Mission Vision.
Rk & Madhu turned to look at each other. Madhu smiled at Rk politely but Rk's smile slipped from his face & he kept staring at Madhu.
Principal - this is Madhubala Malik, head teaching staff. Her father is the founder of this school.
(His voice brought back Rk's attention. Rk just looked at bittuji then averted his gaze back to Madhu. Madhu smiled politely again wondering why he was not returning her smile or saying something but just staring at her eyes.)
Madhu - hello, Doctor. ( she stretched her hand for a shake & after a beat Rk took her hand & felt a strange pull towards her but he ignored it as he was so drown in her eyes)
Then madhu guided Rk to the auditorium where the arrangements were made. Along with his team Rk started conducting various tests.
__0__
"Hey, You are here?" Rk asked Madhu who was standing in the mid of highway. "Is there a problem?"
"Hi, Dr.Kundra. My car broke down so waiting for a mechanic. You please carry on" she smiled.
"I can drop u home if u so wish?" he offered. She looked around & it was a deserted road & the climate seems rainy.
"Um...Thank you" she said & he opened the passenger side to let her in & after getting settled he started the car & they remained silent for a while not bothering to initiate a conversation but occasionally they kept glancing each other.
"Er..would u like to have a cup of coffee with me before I drop u at ur house?" Rk asked hesitantly.
"Yeah... yes of course. Thanks" she smiled
(Coffee shop)
"So what you are doing? I know you are a teacher but which subject?" Rk asked sipping his latte.
"All. I teach Braille scripts for all subjects, senior grade." she said looking down at her coffee cup as his gaze was constantly on her & she felt awkward to look back at him.
"Oh. Nice." he said not taking his eyes of hers.
"I think its late, we should keep going" she breathes.
"Please. Stay for a little longer. I wanna see u" he said with a hint of tears & she looked up at him surprised. She could feel a strange pain for him. He seemed hurt & it hurts her.
"Will you please stop staring at my eyes??" she asked feeling conscious.
"Its not your eyes" he seethed at her. She gets startled.
"Yes. It's not mine. I was a visually impaired infant with glaucoma." she cried & walked out of the coffee shop roughly dashing away her tears. Rk quickly followed her & held her arm to stop her from running away.
"Please let me go" she tried to pries her hand from his grip.
"Trishna" Rk said cupping Madhu's face & he gazed her eyes with pain. Hearing him say Trishna's name Madhu's world stopped. She felt the pain she was enduring all these years intensified. Her knees gave up & she fell on the ground crying her heart out. "I killed Trishna... I killed Trishna... I was responsible for my friend's death" she screamed in agony. Rk stood rooted not able to make sense of what she is blabbering.
"I was happy when I was blind...but now I lost all my happiness... I lost my peace... My life is miserable. I...I couldn't see myself in mirror. I hate myself." she cried, a cathartic release. Rain showed some mercy on her & helped her in hiding her tears. They both got drenched in rain, then Rk gently knelt down in front of her & took her in his embrace. Mechanically he made her stand & took her to his car & drove off to her house. Without saying anything she climbed out of his car & walked straight to her room ignoring her parents call.
__0__
Madhu was sitting alone on a swing in a park. She turned her head to see an empty swing & caressed the seat were Trishna used to sit & Madhu's eyes welled up remembering her friend.
(years ago when Madhu & Trishna were kids)
"Hey! Why are u sitting alone? Come join us, we are playing hide & seek" a small girl called another girl who was silently sitting on a swing.
"No. u go play, i'm not coming" she said & started swinging her legs to & fro.
"I'm Trishna. What's your name?" Trishna asked & sat beside madhu in another swing.
"Madhubala" she replied softly.
"I see u here daily but why don't u play with us?"
"No. I don't want to play. I'm going home" Madhu said & quickly got off the swing but only to hit her leg on a big stone & her toe started bleeding & she started crying.
"Hey. It's bleeding. Oh god! Can't u see & walk?" Trishna scolded her & quickly tied her hand kerchief on her wound to stop the bleeding.
"I can't see" madhu whispered while crying in pain for her wound in leg but not for being visully challenged.
"What?" Trishna looked at her shocked. Madhu didn't say anything but wait for some more mockings & teasing from the world.
"Oh. So there won't be any need for us to tie a cloth around ur eyes while playing hide seek nah?? Great! Come lets play then... you be the catcher" Trishna said cheerfully & pulled madhu up & took her to her friends to introduce them. Madhu was so surprised & happy at the same time. Never in her life anyone had treated her like the way trishna had treated her. For her, madhu's visual impairment was not a big deal. Well, for madhu also its not an issue, she feels she is no less than any common kid. Her parents had taught her well to be brave & face the world with her head held high. It's only the world which often reminds her about her disability, either they show their fake sympathy or pity, both she never needed. Trishna is the first person to treat her so normal apart from her parents & her uncle Bittu. From that day trishna & Madhu became the thickest of friends.
"Why Trishna? Why u left me?" Madhu silently asked looking at the other swing with tears flowing from her eyes. Suddenly she felt someone's hand on her shoulder & she jerked up from her seat & turned to see Rk standing there.
"I'm sorry" Rk said
"What for?" She asked puzzled.
"For telling u its not ur eyes & reminding ur past to u"
"U didn't tell anything wrong. It's not my eyes & I'm dying with my past everyday so there is no need for u to feel guilty" she said & was about to turn when something struck her.
"By the way, how do u know my friend Trishna?" she asked.
"I'm her Brother. I did the surgery for u on the day Trishna died. She had her organs donated & before breathing her last she asked me to give her eyes to u."
Trishna - Madhu, I have donated all my organs, u too do, what we are gonna do with these organs once we die? Let someone get life from us. But I will give my eyes only to u so that u can see how beautiful u are!!
Madhu - Hey! Don't talk like that. I don't want to see my beauty losing my beautiful friend.
Trishna - Okay, if not mine but someone else... you know what my brother is coming from US next week. He is a Doctor, eye specialist. He will cure u, who knows he will fall in love with u if he sees u.
Madhu - Trishna!
Trishna - What? I'm telling u but u r not believing me. U are so beautiful madhu...inside & outside. I love u.
Madhu - So u are, Trish!! I love u too much that it hurts!!
You kept ur words Trishna!! You said u will give me ur eyes & u did gave me... But i m not looking beautiful to my eyes because u r not with my to tell how beautiful i really am...
"BTW, Are u her friend?" Rk asked bring madhu out of her reverie.
"Yes. You don't know?"
"No. I was never been in India for long. I come here during vacation. My Dad's business is in US." he said her looking at her eyes. Yeah! Trishna had told her about her parents divorce & the court has ordered that her brother will stay with her father & she with her mother. She had also told how much she miss being a happy family & how much she loved her brother & how much she missed him.
"After finishing my studies I thought to work in India & I came...&...You..you know...Trish left us, so I coudn't stay here, so I went back to US after her funeral" he said fighting hard not to burst into tears.
"I loved my sister a lot but never get to be close with her." he pressed his eyes wiping the traitorous tears peeking out.
"I did ur eye surgery when my sister was dead in the next room, I did my job mechanically, I didnt see u well that day as ur face were covered with blood as u were in the accident too along with my sister I guess. Then after finishing the surgery I left to my home to take care of Trishna's funeral, after a week I left to US. After four years I saw u today in ur school, I couldn't recognize ur face but I could never forget my sister's beautiful eyes. I'm sorry for staring at u, I know u felt creepy but those eyes bring...memories of my little sister... my Trishna... Ahhh" finally the dam broke & he cried & screamed loudly in sheer pain, the tear stream made its way drenching his face. "Oh God! I lost my baby... my little baby... my poor sister" his tears squeezed madhu's heart, she felt a raw pain, she couldn't fight her urge to hug him anymore. She ran towards him & hugged him soothing & sharing the pain.
"It's Okay...It's okay...everything will be fine...please...please control yourself, Rishu" Madhu said patting his back to calm him down. Suddenly he broke the hug & looked straight into her eyes.
"what did u call me??" Rk asked shocked & in wonder too.
"Um..I..Er...Rishu" she said breathing hard.
"My Trishna calls me Rishu" he said & again hugged her tightly, both crying for losing the one they loved the most in the world.
PRECAP - "You said you killed my sister, what did u do?? what happened to my sister? Tell me Madhu? Tell me you dammit!! or else I'll f**king kill u" Rk screamed at Madhu.
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SORRY if I had hurt anyone's feelings through this story!!
I read an article on increasing Blind population & India being first in Blind population in the world!! I was so upset reading that...that time I got this idea...so wrote it... not to hurt anyone!!
One more part to go!! will update sooner or later!! LOL
please do hit the like button & comment your views!!
Thanks!!
sudha
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