Love Story – I CAN
© Anand Vishnu Prakash, YourStoryClub.com
The lights were switched on and they reflected her pale white skin and her natural beauty bloomed as she sat amidst the camera men and the interviewers. Her eyes conveyed a lot before she spoke a word and the awkward silence just twitched her a lit bit of more pain. Breaking into her memories one of the interviewer said, “ Mam, you can start now.” She gulped down a sip of water and said pointing to a picture on the display screen, “She’s the most beautiful and innocent girl I ever met in my life.”
Beautiful indeed she was, about 20 years old, the milky white complexion with rosy red delicate lips, expressive eyes and an enchanting smile that anyone could fall in love at first sight. The lady smiled looking at that picture as if it were alive, then continued, “Though she was beautiful but she had to pay for that beauty, she couldn’t hear or speak. This disability never bothered her as she believed that as long as her heart beats, she could live and enjoy the same pleasures as anyone else could.” Saying this, the lady took out a pink glossy diary decorated with flowers from her old worn out brown bag and continued, “I would like to read her diary aloud and to allow you to listen her experience in her own words.”
She took a deep breath and gently turned the cover page of the diary. The content wasn’t written like a diary but as a story, the small italic letters embedded into the white page catching every one’s attention.
“Like a regular day, I and my buddies were roaming in the park when a bus approached and few guys got off. My friends went to a nearby shop to buy something and I sat on a bench watching the kids playing enthusiastically with full excitement. Suddenly I was approached by a guy who got off the bus and was asking me something. Trying hard to grasp the meaning by his lip sync I finally gave up and he understood that I couldn’t hear or speak. Unexpectedly he started conveying the message in sign language. Although amazed, I didn’t let the look appear on my face and focused on what he was saying. He was appreciating my looks and his flirting in symbols looked so funny but I tried to ignore him because he wasn’t the first one to do this.
I got up from the bench and wandered the park. The grasses felt so soft so fresh and the fragrance of flowers could capture any heart but I was still lost in the memory of the guy, I didn’t know what but something attracted me a way too much towards him. Out of nowhere he appeared again in front of me with a rose in hand and a flash of smile. He presented me with the rose and started flirting all over again. His deep brown eyes enchanted me and he started asking me to go out with him for a coffee. I denied and asked him to leave me alone. After few consequent trials he left me to myself making a puppy face. From the corner of my eyes I saw him leave the park but somewhere I wanted to see him again.
The next day again when I was alone for quite a little time he approached me. A feeling both of anxiety and amazement did strike me but due to the little fear inside me I denied going out with him again. He kept coming daily to the park and to me to convince me to say yes. Maybe due to his consistency I finally said yes to him to go out for a coffee.
That’s when our story began from coffee to lunches to dinners to long drives. I felt so secured in his company, the warmth of his hug and the gentleness of his hands that penetrated into mine were the things I loved the most.
Once as we walked along the sea, the breeze swept off his little strands of hair from his face and the moonlight made its way into his deep brown eyes, making them shimmer the inner beauty of his youth, he turned to me, kept his hands over my cheeks and stared deep into my eyes with a smile that enchanted me for a while and as he moved more closer, I stepped aside feeling shy. He slowly took my hand into his and we walked barefoot over the shining moist sands leaving behind our footprints to be swept off by the shallow waves. I wished those moments had lasted longer. Finally, I decided to tell my mom that I have found my life partner, my prince, my world, my all.
I went home and told her that I would like her to meet the person of my dreams and that tomorrow I would bring him home to have a talk over tea. She looked at me and smiled. I did see the little pearls of tears of happiness in her eyes but she told me, “My innocent charm, the world could sometimes be too cruel and you need to check thousands of times before you keep your next foot.” I assured her that nothing wrong will happen.
The next day we met over a lonely bridge. The waves below seemed to rise and try each time to touch our feet which we waved down the bridge as we sat across the railing. Then I signaled him asking about the marriage plans. He replied that he too was thinking the same and had decided that we would meet in a flat on the countryside. I didn’t understand what he meant and so I signaled that I would like to live with his parents, my in laws. He got up with a jerk and in shock asked me whether I had gone mad. Who said he would marry me. It would be a disgrace to him and his family if he married a deaf and a dumb girl. He looked angrily with his deep brown eyes into mine and left.
I was completely shattered. I came home and went straight into my room. Today my disability won over my courage and the pain is unbearable…………
The lady closed the diary and said, “After this she came out hugged me and conveyed the message, “I love u a lot Mom!!!!” Then she handed me her diary and left the house. I thought she went to bring him home and so decided to read the diary till they come. As I read the last page I ran to find my daughter but I was late. She had jumped into the nearby well and drowned. I wanted to know who the cruel person behind my daughter’s death was but I found no one. It took me almost a year and a half to regain myself and to move over her memories of the innocent smiles and looks.
That is when I started this association called “I CAN” where girls who are unable to speak and listen are helped to stand on their feet by themselves. Each girl is made mentally strong to face the deadliest challenges of life and to move on over heart breaks. They stand on their feet all by themselves and the success of each girl brings happiness on my face. When I look into the eyes of every girl present there I find a piece of my daughter in each of them.” Saying this, the lady finally lost control and her first tear drops fell off her cheeks.
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