Light from the blind......

I was rushing home after a long tiring day at work and could hardly wait to lay my back on my cozy bed…. Of course the hitch is the journey back home is not a short one… I had to travel to the main station by train before taking the bus back home.

I would usually be nosy enough to notice the people around me and of course check out the chicks too. However, today I was just too tired to even open my eye lids which kept shutting throughout the journey. Suddenly … I felt a strong push from behind … it was a Mak Cik (Muslim aunty) who was trying to exit the train. She didn’t bother to excuse herself but I took it as a blessing in disguise because if it’s not for her, I wouldn’t have woke up and exited the train on time.

As the escalator slowly moved downwards, my sleepy eyes finally were focus on something interesting….a blind old man was struggling to exit the gates of the train station. The people around him failed to help him as if he was not present. I soon found myself walking towards him. However all of a sudden my mind blocked my heart’s sympathy towards him and like others; I ignored his struggle and walked passed him.

Having exited the station gates, I then noticed that one of my shoe lace were loose. I couldn’t tie it immediately as there were too many people around me. I carefully walked to a nearby bench so that I could find some space to tie the lace. The bench as usual at this particular part of the station was not occupied. I sat down and started to tie my shoe lace. As I was rising up, suddenly I notice someone in front of me. I quickly looked up and it was an old women. She was dressed in white and had a worried look on her face. She then asked me if I had seen a blind old man anywhere in the station. Before I could open my mouth to answer her, she went on explaining that he was supposed to meet her at the bench fifteen minutes ago. I shook my head ignoring the possibility that the man I had seen early could be the person she was describing. She then told me that she had never seen him for thirty five years and does not remember how exactly he looks like. Besides that, she was too old to walk around finding for him.

I broke my silence by asking her why she hasn’t seen him for such a long time. With a soft voice, she replied that her parents had forced her to marry someone else after finding out that the man she loved was blind. They dragged her overseas and got her married there. Unfortunately her husband passed away after her tenth wedding anniversary. Hearing her misfortune, got me emotional. She then told me that though having being married she managed to keep contact with her blind boy friend via mail. She would write to the blind center and they would read the mails to her boy friend. He also would write back to her, and that is how they managed to set this appointment after being a part for thirty five years.

I then felt bad and asked her to sit down while I walked around finding for the old man. At that time, I was not sure why I was so into helping the old lady. I approached the information center and the lady at the counter was not much of a help. I continue walking around the station and finally after ten minutes of search, I found the blind old man sitting on the bench in front of the bank. I bravely approached him, without having any other description that would confirm that this is the man that the lady had described earlier. Before I could say hello, as if he could read my mind from my presence, he asked me whether I had seen his love anywhere in the station. Being in a shock state, I stammered replying yes. With no further hesitation, I held his hand and walked him towards the bench where the old lady was awaiting.While walking, I notice tears drew down from his eyes. With a soft voice, I asked him if he was alright. He then told me that he had never moved on ever since losing her thirty five years ago. He had always lived life in her memories. I asked him whether he had regretted his decision. He replied saying that you only have one chance to live, many with the ability to see would move on finding another to love and care..which is not wrong . However, I am not blind because I choose to live in her memories.

We were soon approaching the bench, and I whispered to him that she is sitting on the bench about five steps away from where we were standing. He turned facing me and felt my face with his hands. He then uttered that he will always remember this face till the moment he dies and he advised me not to put a mask over my face, as it will hide the true me from the society. He thanked me…and told me that he can handle it from here. As I was turning away, he then held my hand and said remember this … love can never be perceive by the mind as it had always originated from the heart. To know love you have to fall in love, lose it and still believe in love.

I smiled knowing that i had truly received light from the blind.