The Evening

We had an awesome time on his birthday because he made it all about me and Sunshine. So typical of him. He let me do the things which I had planned for him, but he had planned so much more for us. He is always thinking of his family and friends and ways to make others happy. I guess that is what makes his soul even more beautiful than his physical self.

He put me ahead of himself that evening that changed my life forever. We had gone out with a bunch of friends to celebrate a birthday and were all returning home. Although we had a lot of fun as can be expected of a young bunch of friends who had just started working and were earning good money, we were all tired and eager to get back home. All of us were trying to hail auto rickshaws and it was a bit difficult as it was a busy time. Everybody managed to get into the couple of autos that finally stopped for us and I was the only one left behind. He had a motor bike, so he offered me a ride and I accepted happily. We were crossing the road to the place where his bike was parked and I was immersed in my conversation with him. The next second, everything went black. I do not know how long I stayed that way, but I felt someone pick me up from where I was lying. He was talking to somebody on the phone frantically. I felt my body giving away and my head collapsed on a warm chest and strong hands held me up by my waist so that I do not fall down. There was excruciating pain all over my body, but I felt safe and comfortable in his hold. I protested when I was gently eased to the backseat of a car. I slowly opened my eyes and saw my closest girlfriend sitting next to me. 

I turned left to see the mangled mess that once used to be my arm. I looked up to see his worried face and turned around to see my girlfriend almost in tears or maybe she had wiped away her tears. I said, "I think I broke my arm". All the friends in the car smiled - probably relieved to see that I am fully conscious and am talking again. They took me to a nearby hospital in the taxi and he followed us on his bike. 

I was rushed through x-rays and some other tests and finally they brought me out to the waiting area on a wheel chair. I saw my friends waiting for me and he was pacing behind their seats. He turned around, our eyes met and I couldn't help smiling. I looked at all my friends and continued smiling. Everyone remarked later on that they found it amazing that a person with a badly broken arm, a broken foot and bruises all over could smile like that. I am pretty sure they have all forgotten about it now. But he never forgot my smile that night. He has told me that he carried that image in his heart and it has helped him overcome the darkest moments of his life. 

How did I ever get so lucky to have him think of my one smile that way? I have no answers. But what really left me speechless is how he picked me up that night - for the first time.