Arnav Singh Raizada and Khushi Kumari Gupta, two people whose lives introduced them to each other in the most brutal way possible. Just a gravitational pull and an imbalanced body of Arnav snatched away Khushi's freedom and rendered her dependent on...
"This is me praying that this was the very first page Not where the story line ends."
PARAPLEGIC
".... when I finally wanted to live, after being suicidal for 3 years, life decided to test my will. I fell from the fifth floor of a twenty storeyed hotel. Doctors didn't want to treat me, they were convinced I'd die in a few minutes no matter what or how much they tried. Anyway, they operated me, and it was a shock for them and miracle for me, I survived. I woke up to find I'd have to be wheeled all my life now.
I had two choices, to cry on my fate or accept it with a smile and move on."
Five years ago, Khushi's life took a hit, quite literally.
That day hadn't been something too different. It had started like every other morning, she had plans like she did every other day. Going college, attending classes, visiting the NGO she works at, and meeting friends in the evening. What went wrong then?
Time.
She likes to believe that it was just bad timing. Maybe, whatever happened could have been avoided if she were a bit late, or maybe early. Either way, she has come to accept the reality. Reality? – that she may never be able to walk again. That she may remain paraplegic for the rest of her life.
Sure, it made her everyday life difficult, but if she were to be honest, she can find herself getting used to this new life, the changes. She can now do those tasks alone that needed help of another person a month ago. To her credit, she has been determined at being independent again.
What actually happened five years ago? - you might ask.
Five years ago, she fell from 11th story of a hotel, where she was supposed to be meeting her friend. She fought hard and well to be alive. While she was in Operation Theatre, doctors and nurses had informed the police officer – who brought her in – that her chances of surviving were disturbingly low. It would be a miracle if she pulled through. Fortunately, she did. However, she had lost the sensation in the lower half of her body, she realised once she was conscious. She had tried desperately, to make any sort of movement in her lower half for a month, while she was admitted and monitored in hospital. It was futile, and she was beginning to lose hope.
How did she fall? – purely out of unfortune – as she says, now.
That day, a volatile criminal was on the run, and so was police force to capture him. They had been duelling on the balcony of the floor, where her friend had been staying. Her friend had travelling countries to meet her after seven years, and Khushi couldn't keep calm from the excitement. She was on her merry way to her room when she was suddenly caught with a pistol aimed at her temple. Someone had held her captive from behind, and much like every other person, she had panicked and tried to scream which the captor was quick to muffle with his other hand.
To her luck, a police officer had arrived not a blink later in front of them! He was aiming his pistol at the man holding her captive, and that seemed to trigger the man even more as he tightened his grip on her throat and pushed the pistol harder on her temple. Her eyes grew wide in her, hyperventilating as she looked at the police officer with hope in her eyes ... he would definitely catch the idiot!
Alas, the triggered criminal had started dragging her backwards, in the direction of the balcony, threatening to shoot her if the officer didn't put his weapon on the ground. At that moment, all Khushi could think about was if there was a way to help this officer... struck by an idea she bit the criminal's hand holding her and tried to run away .. that's when things started going south like dominos.
All of it happened in the blink of her eye! Just as she ran from him, he shot at her – to save her from which the officer pushed her sideways. The only thing that went wrong? The officer had accidently pushed her towards the low raise railing of the balcony, and she had lost her balance in her state of fear and disarray ... and next thing she knew she was falling down.
All that she could see around her was the same balcony she was standing at a few seconds ago, moving further each second, her heartbeat pounding loud like a war drum, deafening her. And then it was all black.
Two years of failed physiotherapy and depression later, she decided it was enough. She can't just stop living her life because one thing went wrong – or went different from what she had though. She had all her life right in front of her, and nothing would stop her from living it, come what may – she had decided.
Next day, to the surprise of her mother who had come like every day in her room, early in the morning to help with morning tasks, found her seated in her wheelchair, all freshened up – smiling brightly at her. The same smile that she had seen two years ago the last time. She had been pleasantly surprised and left wondering ... what had changed?
Khushi had. She had started putting great number of efforts at restoring her previous personality – the ambitious, happy and carefree persona. She had started with making efforts to handle her daily tasks like shifting from bed to her wheelchair every morning by herself, and then carrying out other tasks like bathing, buying things from market alone. She started meeting her friends again, whom she had abandoned in her grief. They had welcomed her wholeheartedly and made her feel as if nothing had changed, as if her life never took a hit. Their ways of taking care of her had been subtle and she was truly grateful for that.
They knew she hated being on the receiving end, loved being self-sufficient always. She hated asking for help two years, and she did now too. She had secretly let a tear or two fall down, happy tear, at having such wonderful, and understanding friends. She truly loved them, and to be honest, she was guilty of pushing them away when they had wanted to visit her or check up on her. She had been angry, rude and pushed them away because she was afraid, they would look at her different when she was at worst. She should have known better; they were little shits who knew her well.
She had apologised, and they had chided her unanimously "for being stupid". Quoting Salman Khan, they had reiterated "Dosti mein, no sorry, no thank you!" ... and when it's Mr. Salman Khan, how could ever Khushi argue?! So she had laughed out loud and hugged them until all four of them cried together.
Five years later, here she is, conducting another seminar for people like her – who've lost something in an accident in one form or another, and here he is again, as always concealing himself in the darkest corner of the room away from her eyes.
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