He had gifted me that which I had never thought he would
gift. It was the smallest but the greatest treasure which I did hold on to
closest of my heart. A ring, a simple platinum ring with diamonds.
As I lay awake in the bed wrapped with the white sheets, I
could feel nothing except a traumatizing pain all through my body. I realized a
needle had been struck in my head into my hand and I couldn’t even move. As I opened
my eyes I saw a lady dressed in white standing near my bed.
The severe pain in my head dint allow me to sleep. I couldn’t
feel any part of my body. I slept off. Next morning when I got up, I saw an old
man standing by my bed side. A lady about the age of 60-65 yrs. sniffed off her
nose on seeing me.
I looked at the lady. I thought of asking the lady about the
reason for me being there. But I saw a grief seeping out of the eyes in form of
tears. I looked at my right hand and the ring was still there.
The lady came towards me and said,” This is Mrs Martha. How
are you?” I looked at them astonished,” I hope the pain is not much intolerable.
“With a surprising tone, I tried to speak but I couldn’t. I heard the nurse
stating her, “It’s just God`s grace that she has been saved. The way the truck
had crushed off her car, it was a real challenge for us to save her. God bless
you Mr & Mrs Martha.”
I couldn’t speak. I had lost my voice. In fact I dint even
remember my name. I just looked at the sparking ring that let me into the
blurred images of a dark man. I just couldn’t even remember his face.
Days passed on and I started recovering from the pain. Mr
& Mrs Martha came on to visit me on regular basis. They called me Shiela as
`S’ was engraved with diamond on the platinum ring.
I was released from the hospital after the period of two
months. The fractures were cured. But still I searched for my identity. I
stayed at the small village at the outskirts of Howrah. The mobile, i card had
all been crushed to pieces that were the only option to find the identity.
At times I thought to click a picture of my own self to put
in the paper so that my identity is revealed. But my all hopes were scattered
to pieces when I saw my burnt face in the mirror.
I had no hope to get that dark man in my life. Ultimately Mr
& Mrs Martha gave me a brilliant idea. The couple dint had any child of
their own and they took me to be their daughter who had lost twenty years back
They suggested me to take the picture of my hand that had a wrist let and also the ring engraved with the letter `S’. A picture was taken but
I couldn’t imagine how that dark man would react on seeing my burnt face.
Mr & Mrs Martha took the picture and got it published in
the English daily, “The Telegraph”. There were no phone calls, no visits and
the days passed on. The little hope that I had in me was slowly reduced to
ashes
.
It was on 8th Dec 2012 there was a heavy knock at
10pm at night. A man in mid-thirties stood with unshaven beard and a hair that
badly needed a cut and his shirt had several creases on it.
“Is the advertisement relates to this address, asked the man
with wet eyes. Mrs Martha could only nod her head. The man ran towards me, hugged
me, kissed me all over and said taking my hand in his hand, “It’s because of
this ring that I found you .I had thought that I had lost you .I love you. Will
you come back to your house,Shruti?”
