The operation day was around the corner. Hima was no longer in a position to talk and respond as her condition was rapidly deteriorating. Partha had been spending his days beside her well knowing that she would soon go into a vegetative state. He caressed her hand softly between his and gave her gentle kisses. Although Hima was unresponsive she could feel the loving gestures of her brother. She was vaguely aware of what was going on too because Partha tried constantly to confess the truths to her in the most upbeat way possible. As a final sign of her approval and acceptance, Hima gave Partha a very twinkling smile and with the remaining might of her voiced uttered, "I...I love you dada, Will I find you in heaven? Dada buy me some pencils and a new drawing book when you come... I will miss you!"
How often do we come across the feeling of selfishness? It is actually quite funny to think how the world today runs on it's command. All things considered selfishness is the fundamental human trait of safeguarding one's privilege over others. Our daily lives have some amount of selfishness. The virtue of complete selflessness is something that only a few attain. Given this backdrop it shall be interesting to read the story of Partha.
Partha was born and brought up in a tolerant Hindu family. Mr Joshi, his father had been a much revered railway conductor of his times and a devoted husband (to a now deceased wife). Partha had grown up with his father and mirrored most of his idiosyncrasies. They were very kind and selfless. Well, being too kind without considering the perils of niceness can sometimes be damaging. Partha too contended with this fact. His friends and even a girlfriend took undue advantage of his niceness and selflessness. However, the unpleasant experiences did not discourage him from being selfless and humane. It was 2007 and Partha was in his early 20s. Since he had grown up without a mother, Partha often felt the need for a lady in his small family. During dinner table conversations, he would often remark to his father, "Baba... few weeks back our university had organised a small fundraising trip to the city orphanage. Oh wait! Did I tell you about this sweetheart of a girl Hima?"
"Well son maybe I can add a tiny conjecture and say that Hima was the little girl that you met there and she is still the sole reason you want to go there for the third time this week..", the old man replied.
"I am still baffled about how you manage to connect the dots of my fragmented speeches! Anyways, you know I love you Baba. Can you pass me the curry?"
"Your mother used to finish my sentences. Maybe I am learning her ways to love you or perhaps you are my son."
"Maa made the right choice choosing her man!"
Mr Joshi simply grinned at this remark. With a few meaningful exchanges of words they got back to eating.
The following day dawned. Below an azure blue sky, Partha made his way to the orphanage that was situated at the other side of the city on his bike. It was sharp 11 am. The security guard at the gates apprised Partha about an easy route towards the building. He saw Hima at a distance, sitting under the shade of a large tree with a thick encyclopaedia in her hands. Partha was overcome with an urge to pick her up, swing her on his shoulder and shower her with love and affection. Hima was a ten year old orphan with 'down syndrome' and the first day that he had seen her he had experienced the same surge of love and affection. Hima had instantly connected with Partha from the first day too and somehow their bond felt like one of blood siblings. Partha had always secretly wanted a sibling.
This particular time he took many gifts and eatables for Hima. Soon these visits to the orphanage began to feature in his routine 'to-do tasks'. He began to view Hima as a responsibility and started saving up for her gifts. Sometimes Mr Joshi contributed too despite the fact that he was a retired man. Years passed and the visits became a daily thing for Partha. After growing up he started earning decently at a sales company and replaced his father as the breadwinner of the family. Partha's plans for Hima have now changed. He wants to legally adopt her. He proceeds with the paperwork well aware of the fact that the process would not be without its share of hurdles. His assumptions were correct and he got mired in a slew of civil proceedings entailing numerous permissions from several government bodies. When one permission application is approved the other invariably gets rejected. Despite the hurdles, Partha persisted.
In March, 2012, after two years of judicial trials and tedious trips to all kinds of offices Partha finally acquired the legal custody of Hima. The joy and the triumph overwhelmed the duo and Mr Joshi as well. It was a grand win for Partha. The three made a beautiful family. Months passed and during this time, a lot of new beginnings started unfurling. Hima, now a teen was admitted to a school that catered to special needs. Hima also displayed a passion for art which was very promising according to her mentors. During weekends, Partha took her to the parks, restaurants' and other recreational places. Mr Joshi too showered his love and affection on Hima. Her disability was never considered as a roadblock for living a normal life. Partha considered Hima to be the best gift from the Almighty. With her around he considered his family complete.
The love and guidance of the Joshi family helped Hima to grow. While her health improved owing to the regular exercises she did under Partha's supervision, her speech became clearer.
Sunday was a day when Partha stayed at home and ran household errands. On one Sunday he wasn't really paying attention to what Hima was doing. He assumed that she was in her bedroom leafing through her art book and doodling her favourite cartoons. In the middle of his chores he saw Hima standing in the kitchen. She was holding onto a chair and looking pale. "Are you unwell," Partha asked anxiously.
Hima was already light-headed and before she could say anything, she collapsed in Partha's arms. Partha rushed her to the hospital. Although she regained consciousness after a couple of hours the doctors prescribed some lab tests to determine the exact cause of the blackout. It turned out she has a life-threatening illness called 'Mitochondrial disease'. This felt like a bolt from the blue. The doctors explained that this disease is such that the body is unable to burn food and oxygen completely in order to generate energy.
According to the doctors Hima has very less time and according to them the remaining half of it must be spent in a hospice. They even clarified that eventually she might have to be put on life support. The world came crashing down for Partha at this point. His hopes went on a downward spiral.
"No! No! No...! I can't let this happen! I shall risk everything to save her! Even if it has to be my own life."
He suddenly felt very determined despite his shock. Partha made arrangements for Hima's hospice with the consulting professionals. The so-called normal days disappeared somewhere within the barriers of saline bottles, urine disposal bags and medical recliners that Partha had now brought for Hima. Hima mostly slept throughout the day. Needlees to say Partha was distraught and started questioning his right to lead a happy life. Hima had lent a purpose to his life and her existence had translated to unbridled joy for him. Partha felt that if Hima were to die he would be inconsolable for the rest of his life. Mr Joshi tried to motivate his son and asked him not to too hard on himself. He assured Partha that eventually everything will be allright.
A lot of time passed by and Hima, Partha and Mr Joshi had got used to the new normal of their lives (Hima was under hospice care). Things only started deteriorating as Hima started regressing and the doctors started sounding less confident. Behind his determined and courageous facade, Partha was experiencing acute grief and fast despairing. He would relentlessly shed tears while sitting beside Hima's bed. Mr Joshi too found himself overwhelmed and helpless.
One day, Partha was at the hospital lobby. He was awaiting his turn to meet the doctor. He overheard a conversation between two distressed parents and a doctor. He learnt that their child is suffering from a serious condition of the heart. He was in need of a heart transplant surgery. The doctor reiterated that if this surgery was not done within the next few days the consequences will be very fatal.
Now the parents were visibly distressed as heart transplant was a very costly affair. Second it was very difficult to find a donor.
That night when Partha was lying on his bed and staring at the low velocity of the ceiling fan, the conversation of the helpless parents and doctor fleeted through his mind. Somehow he identified the younger version of Hima with this small ailing boy who is in need of a heart transplant.
Eventually he made a decision that no faint hearted or selfish man can ever make. He waited for daybreak to tell his father about his decision. Mr Joshi was shocked after hearing him out. He was utterly bereft of speech for a while. Finally he said, "Son, are you really sure of what you want???"
To which Partha replied, "Of course Baba... Hima shall always remain my heart. No one can replace her, no one. I am up for giving my last breath only to see her live...and this fate is something that I will never be fortunate to witness. To redeem her one last time is to let her live through someone else... this is where that boy comes in. This is the only sacrifice that will cost me my whole of everything, every bit of pain I never felt. Isn't this a virtue you always wanted to see me practicing Baba?"
Mr Joshi was moved to tears after listening to Partha's heavy words. He realised that he had raised a man with the heart of pure gold- someone that he had himself always aspired to be.
Partha conveyed his decision to the much anguished parents who then regarded him as an angel sent directly from the heavens. Clearly overwhelmed, they couldn't process their gratitude. When they asked Partha about how much money he was expecting for this yeoman aid they got a surprising reply. Partha insisted that he was not doing this for money or any recognition. He wanted to give their child a chance, something he could never give to his beloved Hima. The doctors arranged the dates for the transplant. They found that Hima's heart was the right match for Anwar -as if it was a miracle hatched together by God.
The operation day was around the corner. Hima was no longer in a position to talk and respond as her condition was rapidly deteriorating. Partha had been spending his days beside her well knowing that she would soon go into a vegetative state. He caressed her hand softly between his and gave her gentle kisses. Although Hima was unresponsive she could feel the loving gestures of her brother. She was vaguely aware of what was going on too because Partha tried constantly to confess the truths to her in the most upbeat way possible. As a final sign of her approval and acceptance, Hima gave Partha a very twinkling smile and with the remaining might of her voiced uttered, "I...I love you dada, Will I find you in heaven? Dada buy me some pencils and a new drawing book when you come... I..I will miss you!"
Partha's heart shattered with these lines. He had been fearing a day after which Hima would no longer be able to speak or emote, for quite sometime now. Finally that day had arrived and he was reduced to tears.
Finally the day of the transplant too came. Both the families were asked to sign some formal documents. On a stretcher, Hima was carried from the aisle to the operation theatre where her heart would be extracted. This would let her die a hero's death and not remain endlessly in a vegetative state. Among the doctors and healthcare professionals, Partha too accompanied Hima's last conscious ride to the operation room. It was a ceremonial event to commemorate her sacrifice, namely 'The Walk of honour'. All of the hospital staff bowed to Hima and Partha as they passed through. Partha's kindness and nobility had paved the way to renew a life.
It was the fall of the year. Few months have already passed after the operation. Partha reached home after a hard day's work. To his surprise he saw Anwar and his parents waiting for him in his house. Anwar walked up to him and signalled him to pull himself down to his height to listen to his heartbeat. His parents said, "That's your baby."
Upon doing so, Partha for the first time (after Hima's eternal rest) heard her beating heart. He remembered how he had listened to her heartbeats every night while she was asleep. The fumbled rhythm of Hima's heart was his music that made him feel secure then and even now, although it was in a different body. Although he could not physically see or touch her anymore, a part of her being was still alive through Anwar.
Partha made a mark on mankind and indelibly and beautifully reiterated the beauty and power of unselfish sacrifice. He was fortunate enough to understand that the loss of love can only be repossessed by spreading it out to the rest of the world.
By Arunabh Hazarika
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