An Appealing Acceptance

 Today is a new day! Many will seize this day.

Many will live it to the fullest. Why not you?" — Steve Maraboli 

She looked aside heaving a sigh and told me that this was momentary like others, this would go by like all other moments in life. Her beautiful large eyes were filled with anguish and pain. I was just an empathetic listener, could do nothing for her. When we are cheerful, we find the whole humankind joyful; but when we are miserable, we feel aloof engulfed in our world. I saw her slowly tramp towards the gate and walk away with her painful foot. She has been a friend for a short time, but the plainness in people is something which has always fascinated me. I understood her to be genuine. I heard through others that she is a wonderful writer and orator in Marathi, but my introduction to her was when she came looking out for her class to the second-floor staff room. I spoke to her and as time went by we grew closer as she and  I belong to identical thresholds of life. We could connect easily with our growing years and our age-old responsibilities.

She is tall, well built and has a stature matching her large eyes.  Her wheatish complexion and curly hair compliments her personality. She usually adorns sarees and remains muted in the company of her colleagues, perhaps there was an unknown fear of speaking to acquaintances. Her sensitivity towards fellow beings was a gift rarely seen in people in a technology-driven environment where people were able to market their skills She led a simple life with a small family comprising of husband, her daughter and her mother in law. She had a stringent life, yet contributed the best that she could to society. People ignored her politeness, but she moved on. I found that she is an insightful person, however, I curse myself for this ability of mine to read people making me aware of people and their feelings as we understand the good lovingly, but the bitter edifies prudence.

She would inform me about things when I would talk to her. The first time when we spoke for a long time it was about Sudha Murty’s books. She had read the Marathi versions and wanted to answer my questions concerning research. Our college library has many inspiring books like those of Sudha Murty, Norman Vincent Peale, Robin Sharma and many more. The heads of the college motivate us through new additions as the high needs of students can be easily addressed when one carries a balanced personality.

 It was a memorable day for her to rejoice. She had cleared the common entrance test to gain a seat as a research scholar at the  University of Pune. The growing wakefulness in the field of Research and Development has created a tough competition for the few seats available at the University of Pune. She has to clear another test which is a Herculean task, but the success of the first achievement kept her happy. Her husband was trying to help her by moving things from the loft when he fell down and got hurt. 

He had a couple of bone fractures in his right leg. The incident kept her busy in the hospital. When we heard about it, we felt bad for the family, especially since she could not rejoice in the happiness of her success. I told her jovially that her husband was lucky now to gain sufficient attention from the hospital authorities who were at his beck and call. She laughed at it, hopefully she was  convinced that she could attend her students. The next week onwards she began attending regularly though now I saw her walking the long lane alone.

The conspicuous appearance of her husband who used to drop her was missing. I saw the difficulty in her walk, noticeable while climbing or getting down the stairs. She would readily hold on to my hand and walk with the support telling me that her foot was actually normal, but seeks attention whenever the days are difficult. She said since her husband was unwell the foot spoke to her through the pain it caused her, and said that as soon as her husband would recover the pain in her foot would subside. I wondered at her endurance and the beautiful acceptance of life’s difficulties.

She was passing through one of the worst days in her life and was overworked both bodily and mentally, but spoke lovingly about the situation just as a mother verbalizes the naughtiness of her young one. She looked forward to better days and I know it will come by yet she does not curse her present or moan about it. We may feel bitter or better about life, but sending out thoughts of belief and hope about situations bring helpful circumstances rolling back.

Quit worrying about how everything is going to turn out. Live one day at a time; better yet, make the most of this moment. — Joel Osteen