Two Steps Ahead
The movie BLACK reminds me of an incident that happened years ago. It is about a girl named Chaya.
The name, now sounds so symbolic. Shadow! That is what it meant. When naming her, little did her parents know that their darling daughter would see the world only as shadows; shadows light and dark.
Chaya was born normal. But at the age of twelve, she had a bout of fever that caused irreparable damage to some of her brain cells. As the fever came down, her eyesight too started diminishing. And in less than few weeks, she was 'visually impaired' However, she didn't see everything Black. Her world was grey; different shades of grey.
This life-altering event could have shattered anyone. But Chaya completed her schooling and joined a normal college. Yes, that is where I met her. We were in the same class. Every morning she would come wielding a white-and-red stick and tap the floor to find her way to the bench. I was amazed at her sense of direction.
She always came to the first floor and turned into the class as though she could see the door. She calmly found her way to the first bench on the left and sat there.
One day, the peon moved the benches and desks to sweep underneath. He then rearranged all of them. At 8.10 am, Chaya, as usual came tapping the floor. As she turned into the classroom, her calm composure suddenly turned into anxiety. It looked as if she had entered the class for the first time. She stood two feet away from the door and kept tapping the floor on her left. This continued for a minute. Chaya was a bundle of nerves. She called out "Ithe koni aheth ka?" meaning "Is anyone there?" I was observing this and so I replied, "Ho! Kay pahije tumhala?" (Yes! what do you want?)
"Majhe seat saapadat nahi. Jara madat karta ka?" (I am unable to find my seat. Can you help me?)
I went to her and took her two steps ahead where the bench had been placed. She tapped the bench and then settled down. The pulse that had been racing calmed down. She said, "Thank you."
I still cannot forget that moment. Her bench had been displaced only by two feet. She couldn't find it in the usual place. And that made her feel so helpless. A girl who could walk alone for 15 minutes and reach college suddenly felt like there was nothing ahead of her. She stood at that very point groping to find out if there was any ground.
I asked Chaya as to why she didn't try to walk two steps ahead. The bench was very much there. Her reply silenced me, "You have seen that there is ground ahead of you. But I cannot risk walking on an untrodden path. You can see the moved benches. But I couldn't feel it ten steps from the door. We have to take measured steps!"
The movie BLACK reminds me of an incident that happened years ago. It is about a girl named Chaya.
The name, now sounds so symbolic. Shadow! That is what it meant. When naming her, little did her parents know that their darling daughter would see the world only as shadows; shadows light and dark.
Chaya was born normal. But at the age of twelve, she had a bout of fever that caused irreparable damage to some of her brain cells. As the fever came down, her eyesight too started diminishing. And in less than few weeks, she was 'visually impaired' However, she didn't see everything Black. Her world was grey; different shades of grey.
This life-altering event could have shattered anyone. But Chaya completed her schooling and joined a normal college. Yes, that is where I met her. We were in the same class. Every morning she would come wielding a white-and-red stick and tap the floor to find her way to the bench. I was amazed at her sense of direction.
She always came to the first floor and turned into the class as though she could see the door. She calmly found her way to the first bench on the left and sat there.
One day, the peon moved the benches and desks to sweep underneath. He then rearranged all of them. At 8.10 am, Chaya, as usual came tapping the floor. As she turned into the classroom, her calm composure suddenly turned into anxiety. It looked as if she had entered the class for the first time. She stood two feet away from the door and kept tapping the floor on her left. This continued for a minute. Chaya was a bundle of nerves. She called out "Ithe koni aheth ka?" meaning "Is anyone there?" I was observing this and so I replied, "Ho! Kay pahije tumhala?" (Yes! what do you want?)
"Majhe seat saapadat nahi. Jara madat karta ka?" (I am unable to find my seat. Can you help me?)
I went to her and took her two steps ahead where the bench had been placed. She tapped the bench and then settled down. The pulse that had been racing calmed down. She said, "Thank you."
I still cannot forget that moment. Her bench had been displaced only by two feet. She couldn't find it in the usual place. And that made her feel so helpless. A girl who could walk alone for 15 minutes and reach college suddenly felt like there was nothing ahead of her. She stood at that very point groping to find out if there was any ground.
I asked Chaya as to why she didn't try to walk two steps ahead. The bench was very much there. Her reply silenced me, "You have seen that there is ground ahead of you. But I cannot risk walking on an untrodden path. You can see the moved benches. But I couldn't feel it ten steps from the door. We have to take measured steps!"
Very touching indeed..
ReplyDeleteCheers!
VInu