“Congratulations!! May you remember the love shared on this special day…wishing you a lifetime of love!,” craved the forty year old marriage registrar officer. Everyone there,started clapping,exhilarating the newly married couple. They took blessings from their parents.
“We have to leave now....our new house is waiting for us..go bring your luggage”, whispered Abhiram, the bridegroom. Naina, the bride nodded. Her father Mr Raghunath came close to her as he know his daughter will start weeping now. To everyone’s surprise, Naina happily brought her luggage, took blessings from her father again, hugged her siblings and left the place. “She loves him more than us..hahaha..”, laughed the siblings.
Mr Raghunath is a retired Math teacher. He has three children. His wife Nirmala passed away a decade ago. Naina is the eldest child. Raman -- the middle born and Shalini-- the younger one. Raman is pursuing his btech final year in a reputed engineering college, Shalini just finished her intermediate and eagerly waiting for her medicine rank. They live in a middle class apartment. The only source of income is that the pension Mr Raghunath gets every month.
Next day in Raman’s college, “Guys..what about a tour??…this is the final year…so nobody should miss it”, said one of Raman’s classmates. Everyone beamed and raised their hands as a sign of approval. Raman moved away from there as if he is not interested in such things. On the way to home, he said to himself...”If I had money, even I would have gone to the tour…One last year.. everything settles down…our needs…our wishes..haha”
Its dinner time, Raghunath and shalini are waiting for Raman. They tried calling him,but in vain. This delay agonized both of them. Meanwhile they heard that somebody is knocking the door. Shalini ran quickly and opened the door. It is Mr Rahul—Raman’s close friend. He looked dejected.
He said“ Raman met with an accident on his way,he’s been admitted in the local hospital.”
“Is he okay now??,” asked Shalini.
Rahul nodded his head but his face showed despondency.
All of them reached the hospital. The time they reached his room one of the specialist took the white bedsheet type cloth and covered his body upto his head.
“Im sorry. We tried our level best..but he had a major accident..everything we did for him couldn’t save him,” said the specialist and left away.
Raghunath kneeled down screaming for his son. Nobody could solace them from their pain.
Naina and Abhiram reached the hospital. Naina looked at her brother’s body and broke down. She made attempts to console her father and sister. A nurse came to her and gave her a piece of paper and said “ This is the note which your brother wrote during his last moments”.
Naina opened the note..
“ I know my Condition..I have no time…Shalini’s education..carrer..marriage..Dad alone cannot manage them…Therefore I Raman solely agree to donate my organs for any amount. That money should be handed over to my father only”, he ended the note with his signature.
The family wailed at his selfless love for them. Abhiram took the letter from them and read it. He rubbed his eyes, stopped the flow of tears. At that moment what can he do to that family, other than being another son. He folded the note and kept in his pocket. Cleared the dues there in hospital and took care of all the final rights.
Six years passed away. Everyone attended the convocation day in Shalini’s college. Shalini topped the university. Everyone praised her applauded her. She cried in happiness. Suddenly the administrator handed over the mike to her father Mr Ragunath to speak a few words.
He first denied but he was forced to talk. He took the mike and moved his eyes in a semicircle,then took a long breath. He then started.
“ Where should I start from?...My son’s selfless love? Or My son-in-law’s..sorry (he corrected) my elder son’s responsibility and endless love??
Six years ago…we faced many worst experiences…I lost my son in an accident…At that time, Shalini just finished her intermediate…I alone couldn’t afford for her studies….My son gave us a means for money…but neither me nor my family opted that. Then how did I manage??..this is your question right??
Look at him…he pointed out to his son-in-law…He’s the man..he’s the reason why we are here today….if anybody who deserves this eulogization…that is this man himself..His endless love.
These are the days where son-in-law completely dominate the girls’s father..treat him and his family like his free servants. We completely belong to a middle class family. He had many chances to leave us or rule us. But this guy treated us as his own family. He stood before us. He led us till here. In all these years he didn’t even show any sort of irritation, indignation to us. He believes that son-in-low is an elder son to any family.
There are many people who lost their sons in accident. But I proudly say, only its me who got another son after loosing one son. Thankyou God for everything.May God bless you Abhi.... Jaihind ” he ended his speech with tears in his eyes. Everyone stood clapping.
