It Doesn't Really Matter

IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER!
by-Alisha Mishra

Not many of us are privileged enough to be born with flawlessness in our physical attributes. Some are beautifully endowed while others are bereft of these delightful gifts. My close encounter with one such mortal got me to realize that although life is challenging at the other side of the coin but at the same time, it’s not impossible.
I had been bequeathed with this wonderful opportunity to write an exam for a visually challenged student, Nikhil Deshmukh. Having a huge soft corner for people with disabilities, I wanted to help him to the best of my proficiency. When one of the supervisors’ got me introduced to him I was a little apprehensive about the way I should go about making him feel at ease in my company. So, when the teacher asked me to take him to the staff-room I thought of lending him a hand so that we could walk till there. But to my utter surprise, before I could do so, he’d already started walking. And I realized that not him, but I was following him, which was indeed a little weird, nevertheless interesting too. When we finally settled down and there were still a few minutes for the paper to start I thought of asking him a few questions which I had in my mind. So very randomly I asked him as to where he was from and why did he choose Wilson to be his college et al. I learnt that he was basically from Amravati and he was the eldest amongst his four siblings. His father had expired when he was a mere 2 years and all the family’s expenses were incurred by his uncle, who sometimes would be nasty enough to beat him up for no reasons. Here in Mumbai he stays at Worli and his conveyance mode is the public transport. I asked him if he ever has been duped by people or any incident which he remembers about him being ill-treated. And that got him to smile for some reason. He said, people in this city have not been of much trouble to him and he has been assisted as and when needed without any trouble. He doesn’t remember any such episode of him being harmed or maltreated, but sometimes the road-side hooligans are the reason behind a little distress. I asked him the reason, but his hush made me comprehend that he probably was not very comfortable to narrate to me those occurrences.
Insignificant things which just generally ensue also, speak hugely about a person’s individualities and uniqueness. Whilst writing his paper, there was a bundle of sheets kept next to the table. And just when the sheet kept on top was about to wing, before I could, Nikhil held it down. I was stunned for a second. I had to ask him, how he figured that out and that too before someone who could actually see that happen. Some other instances made me realize that visionless people have a very sharp memory and a huge sense of sound. Also, his answers were very articulate and to the point. Very evidently, he was a good student. And I was glad that he was one, for clear reasons. On questioning him later about various other particulars, he said that he could figure when people sitting next to him look at him by listening to their vague sound of breath and also mentioned some more specifications which I was not able to follow. In my opinion it’s simply incredible and miraculous to have such capabilities.
So on the whole this little encounter with Nikhil was more than writing an exam for him. Initially I was full of circulating emotions, but after seeing those little marvels, I have more respect and even more good-will for him.



So, in my first-last conversation, this is something I would like to dedicate to him.
With the way things are shaping up, I can clearly see you go a long way. And my best regards are sure to shadow you throughout.
BLIND-by Mitchell Pavao
Your beauty intoxicates all you encounter,
Yet you fail to notice,
This is your blunder,

You've had a rough time,
Though now it is over,
But yet you continue clinging to what is left over,

And in doing this your depression grows deeper,
Pulling you apart at the seams,
Causing you to unravel and fall to your knees,
Pondering desperately: "How much worse can it be? "

To ease your mind of your terrible burden,
You bargain with Satan (as if he cares),
Giving you a release, in turn for your soul:
That you believe tarnished and not worth much at all,

When all of your friends have been with you till now,
But here comes the crossroads up ahead,
They give you a choice: "Stand tall or fall down."

You have your beauty and charm,
Your intelligence and grace,
Good friends and your health,
What more does it take for you?