Blessing in disguise

Sitting alone in her favourite Coffee House', Meenal was intently staring at her steaming teacup. Though she appeared calm and composed,...

Sitting alone in her favourite Coffee House’, Meenal was intently staring at her steaming teacup. Though she appeared calm and composed, her peaceful, world was shattered. She had been shell-shocked when her physician told her about her laboratory reports that showed the last stage of blood cancer.

Just two years ago, Meenal had faced the worst blow of her life. Manish, her husband, succumbed to a massive heart attack. Her son, Ritesh, settled in Boston, came immediately, to be with her and share her sorrow. His presence was soothing and helped her to overcome the emotional trauma. Yet, she found life difficult to cope with. She felt lonely and vulnerable without Manish.

Ritesh wanted to take her with him, but she firmly refused his pleas. She knew very well that she might feel like a fish out of water in a new place. She preferred to stay back and lead her life as she always wanted. Requesting her again and again, at last Ritesh left for Boston without her.

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Slowly Meenal came out of her sad world and kept herself busy. She joined a social work group, that was helping clever but poor children. She loved her work immensely as it gave her a feeling of fulfilment. She renewed old friendships and spent some time with friends, remembering those good, old days. She often visited her relatives, who helped her to forget her sorrow and kept her in good humour. Overall, life was very kind with her, for she got so much love and affection, and was overwhelmed with gratitude.

Just a few months ago, she started to feel tired and often experienced severe headaches. This started a series of visits to the doctor and rigmarole of lab tests, that culminated in a diagnosis of blood cancer. Eventually, she came to terms with her future and decided to face the reality with courage and smile and, last but not least, never to go through the painful chemo and radiation therapy. Now at the threshold of her new world, she missed her son Ritesh. With a firm decision to spend her remaining days with him, she came out of her reverie.

She earnestly felt that she had lived her life fully. Her childhood and adolescent days had been full of fun and laughter. She had also fulfilled her responsibilities as a wife and mother. Now what more could she want from life?

After this realisation, Meenal felt a real inner calm. She considered her diagnosis as a blessing in disguise, since life without Manish was unbearable and miserable. This thought brought an instant smile to her face. With new vigour, she got up, feeling rejuvenated. Coming out of Coffee House’, she felt delighted to see the amber glow of twilight as the sun was setting. She determined to experience her life’s sunset bravely and with a positive approach.