अब ग़म-ए-ज़ीस्त से घबरा के कहाँ जाएँगे, उम्र गुज़री है इसी आग में जलते जलते
इक़बाल अज़ीम
December 20, 2014
I prefer to get up late on Saturdays, but for the last few weekends I have been deprived of this pleasure due to one reason or the other. And today also, as I was sipping the morning tea with just my head outside the quilt, reading the mailbox of mobile phone, my elder daughter came rushing into the room.
She said angrily: Papa!! You appear to be in relaxed mood… please hurry up…I’m getting late for the school bus. Now I’m leaving …Please don’t get late!!! You and mama should reach my school in time….
As she left shutting the door hurriedly, I softly whispered: OK!
Today it was Annual Sports Day at her school. It was just in the morning that I found an e-mailed invitation message from her school which has been lying in my span folder. This year she seemed to be a bit more excited than usual. Being a new admission in the present school this was her first major event. Here, it has been mandatory for all the students to participate in the sporting events in one form or the other. Yesterday, my daughter informed me that she had qualified in final heat for two races: 100m sprint and 200m x 4 relay. I was amazed to hear that because in previous school she actively participated in volleyball and football but rarely took part in any racing events.
I asked her: Whether this is due to compulsion or willingness?
She replied: Willingness!
That’s great!! : I exclaimed surprisingly.
We reached the school in time. As predicted on accuweather.com, the morning fog had withered and entire school ground was lit by bright sunshine. We entered into the arena and very soon she spotted us. She profoundly waved and beckoned us to occupy western side seats. We followed her request as we knew that she was supposed to perform in the opening sequence therefore she wanted us to be seated towards that side from where we could watch her closely. The program started with a conventional type of speech from the principal advising all the students and their parents to minimize the use of internet instead orient the child towards field and track related sports. I also believe in this ideology but for today’s kids the inclination towards the digital gizmos is irreversible!
As the program continued reminiscence from the past engulfed my mind. Time passes with great pace and it appeared that everything had happened yesterday only. At that time my daughter was only one and half year old. Unlike other normal child she never used to crawl on knees instead she preferred to drag on her back. Few months later when she started walking we found that after taking few steps she used to stumble and fall down. Initially, it appeared to be normal but when even after several months the same thing continued then we got worried. Being posted in north-eastern part of the country where very primitive type of medical facility was available, it was not possible to gather any fruitful medical opinion. Fortunately, I got a chance to visit Delhi due to some training assignment. I utilized the opportunity and brought my family with me. I got her checked at the Escorts Hospital (now Fortis). The doctors diagnosed her of an orthopedic condition and asked us to keep our figure crossed because there is no therapy available for this ailment. They opined that in majority of cases the child recovers by itself with age. But like any other concerned parent we could not wait and watch our child struggling. Therefore, we decided that we will not take any chance. Incidentally, as we reached our hometown before returning back to my place of posting we discussed the matter with her grandparents. Her grandfather advised us to consult Limb Center. Subsequently, we took her there for close examination by the specialists. The doctor prescribed her leg braces which she had to wear during sleep for next few months. This had been very difficult but after initial refusals she accepted this extra luggage or her legs. The only cure that was possible was through massage and exercises. I remember her mother religiously making her do all pushing and kicking exercises. Those exercises became normal activity and inherent part of her daily schedule. By the time she reached five years of age she could not only walk like any other normal child but could also run for long stretches. Thank God! Now she can even take part in sprinting events.
Today as I watched her galloping on the school track, a feeling of acknowledgment for the blessings showered by almighty on my child had numbed my eyes. Yes! He may have kept us deprived of few things but the enormous joy he had given in form of moments like these are incomparable. As I thanked the lord for his kindness, I heard my daughter’s name being announced. By the time I could swivel out of my thoughts, I saw her proudly standing on the victory stand with her team mates…