TRUST LIFE, TRUST LOVE

'Today is Sunday, wow the last day to enjoy my weekend' felt Bill. He felt like cramming the day with meeting friends, watching a film and just idling away. He deserved it after all he worked extremely hard around the week days and early weekends. He was the first to arrive at work and the last to leave. He was everybody's 'I can count on you' friend. Everyone, from the senior to the juniors depended on him and this made him feel significant.

The friends had decided to catch the latest 'Avengers' movie and he was excited. He loved the action and looked forward to having fun. He took the keys of his bike and rushed through the door. While riding the bike on the highway, his mind, highly active, started planning for the day ahead and in the excitement, ignored the truck's honking. The rash truck driver, infuriated with the biker's casual attitude decided to overtake. At the same time, Bill moved to the right and the truck bounced him off his bike and he landed on the ground many feet away, with a thud. The next few moments, the world stood still for all on the highway. Passer-by’s stopped, cars halted, calls were made for the ambulance and the truck driver, seeing the commotion ran from the scene.

Bill was rushed to the hospital where he was operated upon with urgency. The damage had been extensive and his survival was uncertain. His parents, relatives, friends all gathered at the hospital praying for him. The doctors worked a miracle, Bill survived but the recuperation was painful. His legs were weak and walking again was a dream. The plethora of visitors thinned over time, people who had time for him earlier were suddenly busy. His office, sympathetic earlier, now had found someone else in his place happy to be the next 'Yes' boy. He was no longer needed. 

Suddenly he felt that his world had shrunk. 'Do I really mean nothing anymore?' felt Bill. 'Am I really that useless?' 'Where are my friends?' These questions kept haunting him. The anxieties, setbacks made him miserable and he went into depression.

One fine day, his parents finally managed to coax him to attend a close relative's wedding with them. Reluctantly, he went expecting nothing. As he entered, he saw smiling faces, lively environment and people wishing the bride and groom happiness. He felt a little awkward and moved to a corner. Very soon, there was dancing and his eye caught an old school acquaintance, Maya dancing away. Their eyes caught and she smiled. She walked towards him and tried to strike a conversation with Bill but apart from few monosyllables there was nothing forthcoming.

She found him a little intriguing and called him the next day. Once again, the conversation was one sided. She was persistent and did not let this disturb her. He had caught her fancy and she was keen to know him better. With the support of his parents, she slowly started visiting his home carrying beautiful books, board games, chocolates or flowers. They started playing chess, discussing philosophy, current issues and she enjoyed picking his brilliant brains from time to time. Over time, Bill thawed to her and they became good friends . They started moving out, he in his wheelchair and she, walking, beside him. People walked up to them and began conversing with them. Slowly his confidence returned and his network increased. Opportunities to do varied work started pouring in. The phone started ringing with work once again. Bill took up the tasks with pleasure after all since he always enjoyed working.

Every morning, he woke up to a purpose, the purpose being to make Maya and his parents feel proud of him. The day Maya was not around, he missed her miserably. 

One day he gathered courage to ask Maya to be his life partner, very nervously he approached her. He knew as wonderful as she was, she had her pick of choices but for him she was his elixir of life. He looked at her with eyes full of love and deep longing and stretched his hand toward her and told her, "Till now, I never realized the true meaning of life, my work was my identity but today I know that the serene emotions I feel around you, your acceptance of me as I am, the desire to always hold you close to me and see you happy and smiling everlastingly is truly what I wish to identify my life with. Will you walk along the path of life with me eternally”? Maya was speechless with Bill's words and the tears in her eyes confirmed their union. 

In the past 10 months, life had truly matured Bill. He could tell real from fake, empty promises from genuine givers and most important true friends from fake ones. He valued his family more now than ever. He counted his blessings over and over again on having met Maya. Sometimes, one needs to fall for one to recognize the world around them. He found his path and his true soulmate and he was never going to sacrifice that.