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The passengers watched sympathetically as the young woman with the white stick
made her way carefully up the steps of the bus. She paid the driver and used her
hands to feel for a seat. Then, she sat down with the stick resting against her
leg.
It had been a year since Misha, thirty-four, became blind. Because of a medical
problem, she was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness. Misha, who was
finally ready to return to her job. She used to take the bus, but was now too
frightened to get around the city by herself. So, how would she get there? Malik
volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite
ends of the city.
At first, this comforted Misha and fulfilled Malik’s need to protect his wife,
who had lost confidence in doing even the simplest task. Soon, however, this
transport arrangement was becoming too tiring for him. He realised that she
would have start taking the bus again, but just the thought of mentioning
this
to her upset him. She was still so fragile, so angry. How would she react?
Just as Malik had expected, Misha was horrified at the idea of taking the bus
again. Her heart was full of anger. “How could you do this to me? I am blind!”
She responded bitterly. “How am I supposed to know where I am going? I feel as
if you are abandoning me. Don’t you love me anymore?”
Malik’s heart broke when he heard those words, but he knew what he had to do. He
promised her that, each morning and evening, he would ride the bus with her, for
as long as it took for her to get used to it. And that was exactly what
happened. For two whole weeks, Malik, in full military uniform, accompanied
Misha to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses,
especially her hearing, and how to adapt to her new situation.
Malik helped her make friends with the bus drivers, who would watch out for her.
They even saved her a seat. Malik made her laugh, even on those bad days when
she tripped as she left the bus or dropped her briefcase. Each morning, they
made the journey together and Malik would take a taxi back to his office.
Although his routine was even more expensive and more tiring than the previous
one, he knew it was just a matter of time before she would be able to ride the
bus on her own. He believed in her, in the Misha he used to know, who was not
afraid of any challenges and who would never, ever quit.
Indeed, she soon became confident enough to start traveling on her own. One
day, as she was about to get off the bus, the driver said, “Madam, I really envy
you. It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected like you are.”
Misha had no idea what the driver was talking about, and asked, ” What do you
mean?”
The driver answered, ” You know, every morning, a gentleman in a military
uniform stands on the other side of the road watching you as you leave the bus.
He makes sure you cross the road safely and he watches you until you enter your
office building. Then he blows you a kiss and walks away. You are a fortunate
woman.”
Tears of happiness flowed down her cheeks. Although she could not see her
husband, she had always felt his presence. Misha was lucky, so lucky, for he had
given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she did not need to see to
believe – a gift of love that can bring light where there has been darkness. |
