It was around 2.30 pm. Varun checked the To-Do list.
Clean Kitchen counter ?
Utensils arranged neatly in the sink ?
Clothes dumped in laundry bag ?
Cereal powder lid closed tight ?
Check out baby shoes online
Ticking away all the chores off ‘The to-do list’ felt so good. “Except shoes..all done'”, said Varun. “Cheeku baby, Mumma will be proud of us.”
Little Cheeku was smiling in her sleep. It was so beautiful. He sat there, rocking her gently.
He looked around the room. Everything was perfect.
“I have become quite a pro at this,” he thought. As she drifted off to deep sleep, Varun also relaxed for a while.
A few minutes later, little Cheeku moved in the baby rocker, simultaneously wriggling out of the belt tied to the rocker. As she struggled, her cries also increased. Varun woke up with a jolt this time.
“Cheeku Cheeku What is the hurry to get up!
Daddy was having such a nice nap.”
Little Cheeku smiled and again attempted at coming out of the rocker.
Just then the phone rang. It was Janani.
“Hello Janani! Cheeku..see Mumma’s here!”, Varun adjusted the video and showed the living room too.
“Wow! Good job Varun!
“I told you I can handle her. She is Paapa’s darling child.”
“Eh Cheeku, my baby! How are you? Mumma will come soon.. ok! Got to go now. Byeee”
“Mumma! Mumma!” cried Cheeku. She kept tapping the phone, wondering where she disappeared!
Varun distracted her. He switched on the laptop.
“Come..let’s check out some shoes for you. We have to complete the to-do list, right! Pappa has to impress Mamma!”
Images of a variety of shoes popped up on the screen. Cheeku got excited and pointed at one image.
“So, you like this one. Ok, let’s check it out.”
Varun read aloud..
“For Sale: baby shoes. Never worn.”
Wow! What a caption..he thought. Something about the picture of the cute shoes and the caption below it, just left him intrigued. “This is really something else. I am calling them right away” said Varun.
A couple of days later..
“Welcome Mr Varun Chaturvedi!”
“Thanks Sharma ji …I am really sorry for your loss. I had to meet you in person. How Sir? How?” Varun started off immediately.
Mrs Sharma gave him a glass of water.
“Here, take this. Have a seat.” she said calmly. Varun settled down.
“Look Mr Varun. I’ll come straight to the point.
As we spoke that day over the phone, I realised you were keen on buying these shoes. And I was keen to give it only to a rule abiding person. Since my expectations were met, I agreed to give it to you. That’s all!”
“Frankly Sharma ji! The shoes are just an excuse to meet you. You said you lost your child to an accident. I have come over just to share your grief.”
“No issues! I too understood your concern and hence agreed for this meet, else I would have just couriered the shoes to you.” said Mr Sharma.
He continued..
“It’s almost 5 yrs now, yet it feels like it happened yesterday. We three, me, my wife and I were on our way back home after shopping for our daughter’s first birthday.
Just a few metres away from home, as I turned around the corner, a speeding car dashed us and we were thrown off our scooter. My little one Anjali was the worst hit.”
Mrs Sharma couldn’t control her tears. Sharma ji sat beside her, held her hand and continued..
“We escaped with injuries but poor Anjali succumbed. She was declared brain dead.
The worst day of our lives.
How I wish I had been more careful.
A helmet for my child too. She too would have been alive!
That’s why Varun ji, that’s why I agreed to meet you.
You replied that day,
“Yes Sir! Of course I take care, we wear helmet and of course for my child too! Isn’t she too important!”
That’s when I decided to give my daughter’s unused shoes to you. I too wanted to meet you, share my experience with you. I felt a connection.”
“Really sorry Sir for your loss! Varun consoled Sharma ji.
Meanwhile Mrs Sharma served tea and tried to change the mood.
“Varun ji ..
There’s more to the story.
Although that day we were struggling to decide, today we are glad to have taken the decision.”
“Which decision?”, asked Varun.
Sharma ji opened the laptop. On the screen popped up pictures of four families.
Clicking on the first picture, he said with a relieved smile, a proud smile.
“Here is my Anjali, her heart is ticking away right here in this person’s body.
This is Shankar, he received my Anjali’s liver.
This is Kishore, the kidneys went to him. He is living a normal life thanks to my Anjali.
Lastly, this is Manta, she got the cornea.”
Looking back, thanks to the Doctor’s patience, we were convinced and we agreed for the organ donation. Thank God!”
Varun got goosebumps. He hugged them both tight and shed happy tears.
What a great noble deed!
I am so glad to have met you both.
Live long Anjali! Live long!
