“THANK YOU”
He sat beside her and gently lifted her hand. Her hand was cold, pale with bruises and cuts all over it. He looked at her face. The oxygen mask had covered her nose and her lips. Her head was wrapped around with a bandage which had stains of blood. She was breathing silently. The room smelled of medicines. The only thing one could hear was the beep sounds coming from the machine, placed adjacent to her. A month had passed by now but he saw no improvement in her condition.
****
Ajit lived in Akhal, a small village in the Srinagar district of Jammu and Kashmir. He lived with his parents and his grandfather. Ajit was the only son of his parents. And being the only child Ajit was loved by his parents and his grandfather a lot. But the love hadn’t spoilt Ajit a bit. He was never counted amongst the naughty boys of his village. In fact Ajit was a responsible boy, who had been inculcated with all the values and virtues. Ajit went to school that was outside their village. He never missed his school and did well in his studies. Ajit was fifteen now and adolescence hit him.
One evening he went to the nearby market to buy the household items. It was then when he caught sight of her. She had come with her mother to buy the same. She was in a light pink coloured suit that perfectly matched her fair complexion; and hairs were tied in a plate that almost reached her waist. She looked beautifuull! And her dark brown eyes added to her beauty. Ajit couldn’t get his eyes off. He kept looking at her until she was out of his sight. From that day onwards whenever Ajit visited the market his eyes only searched for her. And it was almost every time that he saw her. And with every glimpse of hers, he fell for her. And now the 'sometimes' visiting to the market became 'every day'! At times Ajit thought about talking to her, but unfortunately she was always with her mother.
Months in this secret glimpse of hers. It was one of those days when he was waiting for her to come. And finally she was there. As usual she looked beautiful in her dark blue suit. But today something was different. She had come alone. Ajit looked around her, but couldn’t see her mother. And Ajit had decided that he would not miss this chance. And he went straight to the shop where she was busy sorting out the potatoes. He stood beside her and watched her silently. Soon she started moving to the other shop. Ajit couldn’t speak a word. And in a minute she was lost. He looked for her everywhere but she wasn’t there. He moved out of the market disappointed. He had walked a little distance when he saw her standing on the opposite side of the road; and fighting hard with those heavy vegetable bags. She was waiting for the auto. Ajit couldn’t miss this chance. And he immediately went to help her.
“Can I help you?” Ajit asked her politely. Ajit was never shabbily dressed. He was in a tidy, light brown kurta payjama. And his face never showed any signs of naughtiness. He had always been well mannered. She looked at him confused and tried not to respond as he was a stranger for her. But those heavy bags of vegetables were saying- “you better hand us to him, or else none of them would reach your home.” And so she looked at Ajit, nodded and handed over the bags to him. And Ajit by then had thanked God thousands of times in his heart.
As usual the next day Ajit was at the market waiting for her, but she hadn’t come today. Again the next the day same thing followed and it was a week now, he hadn’t seen her. Ajit’s head was now occupied with a lot of questions. Whether she would come or not. Something might have happened.But finally he saw her after many days. And again today she was alone. And again it was Ajit who went to help her. And she did not refuse. And so it all started. Now Ajit would meet her almost every other day and help her carry those bags. Ajit knew a little more than her name now. Her name was Zareen. Her mother was ill and that is why Zareen had to come alone now. And Ajit secretly thanked Him a billion times. Soon they got to know each other more and the day came when Ajit had opened his heart to her. She never said Yes but she did not say a No too. She had responded back with a modest smile. Ajit knew that she too liked him.
Ajit was happy with this new change in his life. That ten minutes walk with her every day was no less than a heaven for him. It was the smallest part of his day, yet it gave him immense happiness. And Zareen was slowly opening her heart to Ajit. The days passed by and they hadn’t realised that in the past one year there wasn’t a single day that they hadn’t met each other. Zareen's mother now knew Ajit. And she liked Ajit a lot. Ajit would now drop Zareen at her gate along with those heavy bags.
A year had passed now. And Ajit's parents decided to send Ajit to his uncle's place, who lived in the city, for his studies. Ajit had always been interested in studies and he always wanted to study in those ‘city schools’. Ajit was soon told about this. He wasn’t much excited but he knew he had to go. He knew his responsibilities very well and he had aims in life to fulfil. Zareen had to be told.
They were walking together when Ajit stopped midway. He looked at her eyes and gathered enough courage to break the news to her. He handed over a letter to her. Zareen opened it with a smile and started reading. After reading it, she looked at him with a smile; tears had blurred her vision. She moved a little closer to him and enfolded him in her arms. Ajit responded with a tighter hug.
“I will return soon.” Ajit said holding back his tears, but he couldn’t. That was the first time they had felt each other's presence so closely. And soon Ajit moved to his uncles’ place.
****
The city life was very different from Ajits village life. From his surroundings to the people around him everything was totally new. Soon Ajit joined the school. And his new life started. But in that new life he never forgot Zareen. She was also one of the reasons for him to have stepped into a new life. After all he considered her no less than his wife. They remained in touch through letters. Ajit would write to her each and everything about his new life- his school, his class, his new teachers and everything. And Zareen on the other hand was always with him. Whenever he felt low, Zareen's letters were enough to bring him back to normal. Zareen would write long letters in which she wrote everything that would help Ajit to console himself. And Ajit patiently read those ‘long letters’; in fact loved reading them. He could smell her love in those papers and that ink with which she wrote for him.
Years passed by and they hadn’t seen each other. Ajit was doing well in his studies. He had almost adapted himself in the new atmosphere, but hadn’t changed a bit. He was still the same old Ajit who would wait for his Zareen in the market every day. And follow every instruction of his parents. It was once they met when Ajit came back after his 12th to meet her and tell her that he was joining college. Zareen knew that Ajit would still remain away but she was happy for him. She wanted to see him successful in his life. More years passed by and Ajit was done with his college. But in those years the love hadn’t lessened a bit. In fact it had only grown and blossomed more with every passing day. They longed to see each other but the distance was the barrier. Yet the distance never came in between their love.
Soon Ajit started searching for jobs. And after a couple of interviews he was selected as a professor in one of the renowned colleges in the city. And his struggle was almost finished now. He returned to his village after seven long years. They had waited for so long to see each other. And today those eyes got rest. Zareen had really worked to look her best today. She wore a blue coloured bordered suit, one of Ajits favourite colour; and had tied her hair in a little different style today. And with that small black bindi, she looked flawless. Ajit couldn’t take his eyes off from her. And after a long time they were in each others arms. Ajit as usual did not miss the chance and finally proposed her for marriage. It was Zareen's best day. Zareen was happy to see that Ajit hadn’t changed a bit. He was the same old Ajit. Soon Ajit told about Zareen to his parents and also told them about his wish to marry her. To his good luck, everything went on smoothly.
And soon Zareen was his forever. And now Zareen had a new life in a totally different place, but she had Ajit with her. The city gave them the best moments of their life. The distance of seven years had paid off. It gave Ajit and Zareen to each other for a lifetime.
****
It was their first anniversary. Ajit had asked her to remain ready in the evening. He wanted to make the day memorable. Zareen wore a red coloured saree and had left her hair open. She remained simple as always and that red coloured bindi on her forehead added to her beauty. Ajit couldn’t believe that it was his Zareen. Although she always looked beautiful to him but today she looked stunning. Soon they went out to celebrate their day. To celebrate for that love that was still as fresh as it was ten years back.
He dined her at the best restaurant and gave her a beautiful saree as a present. And Zareen too hadn’t forgotten. She gave her lovely husband one of the best watches she could afford along with all her love.
Their love was never ending. Place had changed, surroundings had changed but they were the same old lovers for each other. He walked with her today with her hands in his hands. He didn’t want the day to end. All through their way they remembered their old memories to which Zareen would laugh or put her head down in shyness. It was their best day. It was eleven in the night. The roads had almost gone empty.
“Ajit ice cream.” Zareen pointed out to the other side of the road like child. He asked her to wait and in a minute he reached to the stall to buy it for her. Zareen couldn’t take her eyes off from him today. He was her life. She imagined how she could be without him and again tears rolled down from eyes. She couldn’t imagine a single moment without him. He showed her the ice creams from that side of the road asking her in gestures “Which one?” Zareen was lost in her thoughts. She could see Ajit doing something but she couldn’t interpret. And she moved ahead to reach him. She started moving forward when Ajit tried to tell her something. Ajit could hear something that Zareen couldn’t. But Zareen was lost in her thoughts that were occupied by her Ajit. Before Ajit could reach her and stop her, the truck was all over her. Ajit had lost his senses. The truck had smashed her. He ran towards her and took her in his arms. All he could see was blood around him.
“You bastards, she cannot hear. She’s deaf. You killed her.” Ajit cried out in agony.
****
Zareen was deaf. She hadn’t heard Ajits voice ever. She always saw those lips moving that said – “I love you.” Ajit had cared for her like a child. He never made her realise that she couldn’t hear. In fact Ajit was her strength. But he hadn’t known that a time would come when even he couldn’t help her. She couldn’t hear those life taking horns that night neither did she bother to see. She just wanted to be in his arms then. And destiny played with them.
Zareen was critical. Her survival was difficult. But Ajit didn’t leave hope. It had been a month now that Zareen was still unconscious. At times she opened her eyes, but she could hardly bear the pain. Almost every part of her body was badly injured. And so the doctors had to give her injections again and make her sleep. She was at her worst stage. And Ajit! Not a single night when he hadn’t cursed himself for leaving her alone that night.
“Mr. Ajit.” The doctor said who had just entered. Ajit was so much lost that he hadn’t realised that the doctor had entered.
“She’ll get well soon. She’s completely out of danger now.” the doctor patted on Ajit’s shoulder and gave him a smile. And he left the room. It was after one long month that he had heard something good from the doctors. Zareens body had lost a large amount of blood and the doctors had said that there are very little chances of her survival. But Ajit never went hopeless. And maybe his hope and his immense love for Zareen gave her another life!
Tears rolled down from his eyes and they kept on rolling down. “Thank You,” was all that he could say to Him in his heart.