The first rays of the sun shone through the window and fell on the bed revealing the sweet face of my wife, Geetha. She was sleeping so peacefully with a smile on her face. The smile that made me fall in love with her.
I remember the first day I met Geetha. It was at one of the general ticket counters at the Poona (as Pune was then called) railway station. I was waiting in the long serpentine queue, frustrated that I would be missing my train. That's when I saw her. She was standing in the next line. The smile on her face mesmerized me. I wouldn't say that she was the most beautiful girl in the world, but she certainly had a smile which set her apart from the other girls.
My heart told me that I should talk with this girl. It didn't matter whether I would miss my train or not. I left my line and went towards her. Standing face to face with her made me a bit nervous as I stammered, "H..Hello ma'am, I am Rama. May I know your name?"
The next few seconds were so difficult, believe me, I felt like running off or be embarassed before everyone. She gave me a questioning look. Of course, how could she talk with a stranger?
Then she reached for her handbag, took out a card and gave it to me. It was her visiting card. Her name was Geetha. She was working as a teacher in Spastics' Society of India, Colaba, Mumbai. Spastics' Society of India, that name conjured up memories of my school days. We used to pass through that building during our bus rides to school.
I looked up towards her. She was trying to tell me something in sign language. It dawned on me that she could not speak. My heart felt so heavy thinking how could God have the heart to deprive such a sweet girl from speaking.
I was lifted from my thoughts by her companion who had bought the ticket. She gave me a warm but stern smile as if saying "thanks and goodbye" and tugged at Geetha's hand to hurry. Geetha waved her hand towards me leaving. For a few moments I was speechless, thoughtless. Then I slowly lifted my hand and waved back towards her.
Then for the next few days I completely fogot about this incident as I was engrossed in my job. Then one weekend as I was cleaning up my table at home, her visiting card caught my sight. I felt like seeing her.
I needed some pretext to go to Colaba. I remembered we buy our monthly stock of essential items like soaps, detergent etc., from Central Stores Department (CSD) canteen. It was located in Colaba just next to the Spastics' Society of India building.
"Dad, I think our monthly stocks of soaps have been exhausted" I told my father, "let me go to the CSD canteen today and buy whatever is necessary." My mother gave a bewildered look. I never used to go there out of laziness and it was my father who always went there. My father was puzzled but anyway happy to see that his son had started taking some responsibility.
I boarded the train from Dombivli station and got down at V.T. (as CST was then called) Station. Then I got the 103 bus for R.C.Church. The bus ride gave me nostalgic feelings of my school days as I passed through the good old landmarks: Fort, Regal Cinema, Colaba Market, Fathima Manzil and various others.
I got down at Afghan Church opposite which is the Spastics' Society of India building. I thanked God that the school was open today. As I entered, I saw a small reception desk at the corner. It was occupied by an old lady who was busy filling up some register.
(To be continued...)
I remember the first day I met Geetha. It was at one of the general ticket counters at the Poona (as Pune was then called) railway station. I was waiting in the long serpentine queue, frustrated that I would be missing my train. That's when I saw her. She was standing in the next line. The smile on her face mesmerized me. I wouldn't say that she was the most beautiful girl in the world, but she certainly had a smile which set her apart from the other girls.
My heart told me that I should talk with this girl. It didn't matter whether I would miss my train or not. I left my line and went towards her. Standing face to face with her made me a bit nervous as I stammered, "H..Hello ma'am, I am Rama. May I know your name?"
The next few seconds were so difficult, believe me, I felt like running off or be embarassed before everyone. She gave me a questioning look. Of course, how could she talk with a stranger?
Then she reached for her handbag, took out a card and gave it to me. It was her visiting card. Her name was Geetha. She was working as a teacher in Spastics' Society of India, Colaba, Mumbai. Spastics' Society of India, that name conjured up memories of my school days. We used to pass through that building during our bus rides to school.
I looked up towards her. She was trying to tell me something in sign language. It dawned on me that she could not speak. My heart felt so heavy thinking how could God have the heart to deprive such a sweet girl from speaking.
I was lifted from my thoughts by her companion who had bought the ticket. She gave me a warm but stern smile as if saying "thanks and goodbye" and tugged at Geetha's hand to hurry. Geetha waved her hand towards me leaving. For a few moments I was speechless, thoughtless. Then I slowly lifted my hand and waved back towards her.
Then for the next few days I completely fogot about this incident as I was engrossed in my job. Then one weekend as I was cleaning up my table at home, her visiting card caught my sight. I felt like seeing her.
I needed some pretext to go to Colaba. I remembered we buy our monthly stock of essential items like soaps, detergent etc., from Central Stores Department (CSD) canteen. It was located in Colaba just next to the Spastics' Society of India building.
"Dad, I think our monthly stocks of soaps have been exhausted" I told my father, "let me go to the CSD canteen today and buy whatever is necessary." My mother gave a bewildered look. I never used to go there out of laziness and it was my father who always went there. My father was puzzled but anyway happy to see that his son had started taking some responsibility.
I boarded the train from Dombivli station and got down at V.T. (as CST was then called) Station. Then I got the 103 bus for R.C.Church. The bus ride gave me nostalgic feelings of my school days as I passed through the good old landmarks: Fort, Regal Cinema, Colaba Market, Fathima Manzil and various others.
I got down at Afghan Church opposite which is the Spastics' Society of India building. I thanked God that the school was open today. As I entered, I saw a small reception desk at the corner. It was occupied by an old lady who was busy filling up some register.
(To be continued...)
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