Winters were over and this
climatic transition brought with it some agility to us in the valley where
harsh winters benumb hoi polloi. Mornings became indulging and days longer.
Asra’s call early in the morning woke me up that day. They had planned for a
treat, with me as host. I was obliged to entertain them for certain reasons.
Hosting a treat may be a burden but the reason for regale is mostly majestic. I
always used to be in the category of people who give others this imperial
feeling with a ting of neighbor’s jealousy. I never wanted to miss the chance
to have the gallant feel.
With a broad smile on his face
and a newspaper in his hand, my father came home to show everyone the newspaper
carrying the list of students selected in the engineering entrance examination.
I was among the first few in the list and that was enough for everyone in the
family to feel proud of. That day, I was the prince who was well aware of his
not so long lasting status. I took the expedience and before I asked for a new
bike, keys of Bajaj Pulsar were handed over to me to make my day and add to the
jealousy of my friends, as if my result was less for them to brook. Never was I
that happy earlier. Mumma and didi also contributed, with some cash, to the
treat I promised my friends. I was happy and in a mood to give everything to
make this feeling last longer. I started with a little charity to the street beggars
in the neighborhood and rode my bike to reach the venue that my friends choose
for party.
In the excitement, I left much
before the time we decided to reach the stipulated place. I enjoyed almost
everything that came on my way, like I was seeing them for the first time. All
of a sudden everything was bright. Things that I always ignored started
appearing worth a notice. “Donate Blood,
Save Lives”, one of those tag lines I would generally ignore but this time,
when I seemed interested in everything around. I stepped into the camp which
was organized by local blood bank. Inside the camp, I could see the young
enthusiastic volunteers and donors. The real meaning of giving and the feelings
associated with this art was more expressed inside this camp. I could learn and
experience the joy of giving something priceless to the people who may not be known
to you. The joy that can never be, justifiedly expressed in words. The destiny
may not relate us with some people but we choose to get related to them by our
blood. The organizers and young volunteers in the camp taught me that social
work holds much more value than simple charity. We are never poor enough for former.
I laid on the bed and a pint of blood was taken to give me much more in return.
I was hero among my friends that
day and the blood donation added more praise. After having good time with them,
I left for home. On my way back, a rash load carrier hit me while negotiating a
blind cut on the road near my home. I laid down unconscious in the pool of
blood on a road which is not less familiar with the color of the liquid that is
shed on its surface day in and out. The people in the locality raised alarm and
I was taken to the hospital emergency. Patient’s blood type is rare and
unfortunately not available in the blood bank, said the concerned doctor who
came running out of ICU to tell this to my parents who were lost in deep sorrow
and grief, wondering how time could play such game in a blink. The other blood
banks also responded negatively to the blood group which was type negative,
except for one which was conducting blood camp in the nearby locality. Luckily,
they received one donor in their camp with the blood group matching mine. Blood
was infused into my body immediately and I had a new life. To my surprise, the
blood bank was the same where I donated blood in the morning with intent to
save some precious life. The blood was mine, which would, otherwise, have been
lost on the road that sucks blood like a thirsty crow and the life saved was
none but mine…
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us: "Khairan nasu maiyan fa un naas" (The best among us are those who help others) which Iqbal rightly expressed in his poetry as:Hain log wohi jahan mein achey
Aatey hein jo kaam dosron ke...
It took me an experience to learn what it means, but then we don't always need to suffer in order to make this planet beautiful.
