THE GIFT OF WINGS

All eyes followed the attractive lady as she slowly climbed the stairs of the bus with the help of a stick. She paid her fare to the driver and shuffled towards her seat kept reserved for her in the bus. Her name is Susanne and she had lost her vision due to a wrong diagnosis and treatment of an ailment, last year. All she had now was her husband, Mark for security.

   She had made up her mind to resume duty, but she would shudder with fear at the thought of traveling by bus alone, or even moving around the city. Mark would drop her to her office daily in his car but since his workplace was at the other end of the city this proved expensive, tiring and time consuming, for him. He realised this arrangement cannot continue for long though he was not troubled by it.

   He wanted Susanne to travel by bus again, but wondered how to put the thought across to her. She was still fearful, also irritable and her condition was delicate.

   Mark built up her confidence to take the bus alone to her office, as he assured her that he will travel with her daily, till she is totally sure of herself.

   Two weeks ahead, Mark daily accompanied Susanne in the bus in his military uniform, while guiding her to find her way to her seat and also to alight from the bus. He taught her to make use of her other sense organs to understand the environment around and thereby to adapt to the new circumstances she was in.

   Mark introduced her to the driver of the bus she would travel in everyday, who would be watchful about her during the journey and who would safely bring her back home in the evening also. A week passed by as Susanne traveled on her own and now she started enjoying it also.

   It was Friday and Susanne was looking forward to her weekend, as she paid her fare to the driver and was about to alight from the bus, when she was surprised to hear the driver say that he envied her! Curious to know why he envied a blind woman; Susanne asked him the reason for it. 
   The driver replied, “Do you know, the whole of last week, every morning, a handsome man in military uniform, waits at a corner and watches you intently, while you board and alight from the bus? He also takes total care that you cross the road safely and till such time that you enter the building of your office, he keeps watching you. He then sends a kiss in the air for you, salutes you silently and then walks off. You are indeed very fortunate.”

   Tears of happiness and gratitude flowed from Susanne’s eyes. She was not able to see Mark, but had always sensed his presence around her! That eventful day she was very happy—she had received a memorable gift from Mark, which was more valuable than her eyesight, stronger than her vision. He had given her the gift of self confidence, the gift of care, the gift of selflessness, the gift of love!

   And with Mark’s gift, no challenge was insurmountable for Susanne, despite her handicap.             She sensed freedom, she could fly in joy and laughter, with a vision of love - a power that can breathe life and make a person whole.

Contributed by Harina, SBLC, Indore, with inputs from N.Raghuraman, Dainik Bhaskar Indore.