Sunshine

Chapter 2

Aditya

I was not born blind. I had an accident when I was 6 years old. I was hit by a truck. And a nerve going from my eyes to the brain was severely damaged. The doctor told my parents that I can never see again. There was no possibility of a cure. I was blinded for life. And I was 6 at that time... Scared by the darkness...

My dad left me and my mom. Because he felt he could not take responsibility of a blind child. My mom raised me alone. She stayed with me and comforted me... I never want to look back at those days. It were really difficult days for me and my mom. I used to cry all the time, feeling scared... Scared of the darkness.

But eventually, I got used to the darkness. My mom told me to be the sun for others so that I don't get bothered by my darkness. So I became one... I became the sun for the people around me. And people loved me, and I forgot the darkness. I stopped getting bothered by that. I did not get sad when I felt I am different from others. I had learned to accept that. Honestly, I did not feel bad when people were curious about how I manage to find things. Until someone pointed out to me that she can see my expression turning serious, my smile leaving...She said she can see that... And hence she would not ask things that might hurt me.

She must be a really nice person - I thought at that time.

And then, not shortly after, she began to remind me more and more of my darkness. Because of her, I was beginning to hate that darkness... I wanted to break free, and tear away that darkness at least for one second and see the light. And the light I wanted to see was...her. Piyali. I wanted to see her... The girl who broke through the darkness and shone brightly in my life.

"I reached here," I said to Rohan on the phone, after I got out of the taxi. I waited for Rohan for a few minutes and he came out. "Adi," he said as soon as he was in front of me. He was wearing his signature cologne, so I could detect his smell.

"Happy birthday," I said, and pulled out his gift for him in my pocket and handed it to Rohan.

"Come on, in," Rohan said. We were at a nightclub for his birthday party. And I was really unsure about going in. Because I like nightclubs and how lively they are, and how loud it is in there. But It gets really crowded inside at night clubs and it's easy for me to lose my way in there.

"Don't worry. I won't let go of your hand." Rohan teased me. I punched him and we walked in. But my caring best friend had firmly taken hold of my hand and had to lead me through the crowd carefully.

When we reached the table Rohan and his friends were sitting at, he let go of my hand and they all began to roar in cheers for me. I gave them a grin. Everyone was grabbing my hand and giving me hugs and thumping my back etc. That is when the familiar clay smell hit me...

She is here... I turned in the direction the smell came. "Hi," I told her. I am not even sure if I am turning in the right direction. With so many people around, it's a slight bit difficult to judge. Even for me.

"Hey..." Piyali's voice came softly.

We all sat down and everyone wished Rohan happy birthday and cut the cake and all. Then the Esha and Tanu wanted to dance, and hence they all moved on to the dance floor. Piyali, being the shy girl, did not go.

Piyali and I were left alone at our table. I wanted to talk to her but, there was a slight problem. I was getting nature calls for a few minutes. Badly wanted to pee. Where the hell is the washroom in this place?

"Is Rohan in sight?" I asked Piyali.

"No. They are inside the crowd. Why?" She asked.

"Nothing," I told her.