Only one …atleast one…
July 20, 2008 – 5:26 amIt was again a usual morning in OPD hall and Parthiv was almost fighting with the Doctor. He was saying “God has given a pair to everyone, I want Only One …atleast One…!!! Doctor was humble enough to council him, He said “Don’t get frustrated young man , Now you will be first to get donation as you are at the top of the list and the day is not far when you will not just fight with me but will also be able to visualize me”.
Yes Parthiv was blind and he was asking for his turn to see the world, so it was a routine for him and Doctor too to have debate on Parthiv’s turn .
Again Doctor won the debate and Parthiv had to leave with deep hope in heart and a stick with white and red colors.Color this word was a cruel joke for him as it was all black in his life till today.
He often said his mother when counseling her “Baa! do not get upset I’ll fight with situation , I’ll fight with my destiny and let my journey start with Black but it will end up with white and will see all the colors in between.”
He was confident that people are aware nowadays about Eye donation and as there is no harm in Eye donation he will get Eye donation soon.He was just not the superstitious person.But he saw efforts all around him.Red Cross society , NGO’s everyone were trying their level best.People and specially youth is aware enough about Eye donation.In fact people these days prepare a will for eye donation.But the only problem is when a death happens the relatives and family members are not in set of mind to remember about donating eyes.Also few myths are there like donation doesn’t reach to needful person or people with cataract(motiya bimb) they can’t donate,even few think that if they have specs they can’t donate eyes etc… but these are all myths.Even Parthiv communicated to people whenever he got chance.He kept telling everyone that once someone dies eyes can be donated within six hours in normal circumstances and even if its late and if eyes can’t be planted those can be very useful for medical research.
Once in such meeting an old man blamed Parthiv that he was selfish and he is marketing for himself.The old man added that he would never allow anyone to touch anybody’s eyes as the dead body would look scary without eyes on face and may be blood coming out.Parthiv was really hurt to hear that.He told the old man with humid eyes that he was the best person to know what are sufferings of a human being without eyes and that was the reason behind his efforts . He added that” Yes , I want eyes ,and I’m working for myself, but person like him (old man) is not helping anyone by spreading wrong message.The real thing is When a doctor is accepting eyes from a body ,only a part of eye is taken so face or eye remains same and not even a drop of blood comes out from an eye.” The old man and the other public were embarrassed of their behavior and the old man apologized with promise to donate his eyes. But that was the last time Parthiv appealed in public.
He stopped his efforts as he didn’t wanted his efforts to be rewarded with same words again.But he didn’t gave up his hopes of getting eye/s.
He kept going to Doctor for finding the lucky day of his life but may be due to myths or whatever reason he was not getting the donor….day were converted into months and months into years.Parthiv was feeling frustrated.As frustrated as standing in a long long queue for admission or standing in a queue for getting visa of USA.May be more frustrated as he didn’t wanted to see USA but at least wanted to see himself.
He wanted to see to see his parents who brought him to this world which was only possible through hanging photographs as his parents too were died now.All went along with same color Black….
The only thing which was white in his life was his hairs now!!! He turned to 58 now.The official age of retirement.He himself declared him the “Sr.Citizen” and stopped even going to hospital. He accepted the truth that may be the Black color suits his life the most.
But the God thought otherwise… 
Yes he got the donor !!!!
He was called from the hospital and was told that the next day the operation was planned for planting ONE EYE.And he would be having sight to see the beautiful world.Even at this age he was happy.He was crying with Joy.
That night he didn’t sleep for a minute.And rightly so..It was the day he was always looking for.
He woke up early and prepared himself.He called his neighbors and friends and asked them to keep all the colors in front of him when he comes back from hospital.He asked for peacock feather as her mother used to tell him that it has so many beautiful colors.
He started the journey of his life which was merely of one and half KM.He heard voice of a child and thought by himself “Yes I’ll see a baby once I’ll have eyes .that would be a great feeling”.He thought about thousands things ,and why not ? At last all his prayers were listened.
He still thought that something is missing and it sparked in his mind and he bought a mirror to watch himself first.
With all this joy and tremendous nervousness he entered the hospital.He was greeted by the staff of the hospital.He was asked to sit in the same OPD hall.
After half an hour all the formalities were completed.He was asked to wear the operation Apron.
It was just a matter of time and he was going to be King of The World.He remembered “Saibaba” and started moving towards changing room with help of one nurse.
The environment was not new for him.Same noise of stretchers,ward boys,nurses ,smell of medicines …he was moving across these all.And then he heard something different.He didn’t noticed it first but as he concentrated on voice he found that it was someone who was having quarrel with someone. He was more attracted to the voice when he got something which he used to say years back. Those words were “I want Only One …atleast One…!!!”. Parthiv inquired about the same to the nurse.He came to know that there was a young man and was inquiring about his turn to find a donor for himself and Parthiv stopped without any reason. It was a strange feeling for him.Why he was stopping? What he wanted to do? No one had answer!!!
It was like the entire history was getting repeated.He counted something and counted again.He talked with himself and said “Yes I’ve got few but This young fellow has many”. Yes he was counting years remaining in their respective lives.
With a resigning and heavy hearted smile he called that fellow.He ran his hand on the mirror which was wet with couple of drops of tears.
He gifted that mirror the young man!!!!!!
If you have eyes then I am dam sure that now it is full of tears…!!!
This story is written by one of my best friend “Jaldeep Upadhyay”.
Whoever has read this has decided to donate eyes, what about you???
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