Being ordinary is no less ......

Nishi did not have to wait for long. Once she did not have much work in the office....so she left after the lunch and straight away headed to Nupur's house after giving her a call and cofirming if she was free.

Lots of green palms, earthen bells, traditional toran at the main entrance made her feel so good.

Nupur opened the door and welcomed her with the same beaming face and friendly smile. She was looking even more beautiful in a simple cotton suit.

“Coming straight from the office ? Must be tired. I will get you some fresh lime, please sit.” Nupur said and went in shaking the bell string which kept tinkering melodiously.

Nishi was surprised as somehow simple but beautifully decorated living room was making her feel so comfortable and at ease. CD player was playing some mild instrumental music. There were lots of fresh flowers in the vase and all windows were open letting outside air and light in. Nishi felt fresh instantly.

Nupur came back with fresh lime and asked her about her work, and the kids.

The conversation was smoothly moving, when there was a big thud they heard coming from inside and a sound of some glass crashing down on the floor.

Nishi jerked and there was a question in her eyes.

Nupur just smiled back and said “Oh it is my dear Tanu, Tanishk that is. He probably wants water. I will be back in a moment.”

Nishi could not understand anything, Nupur does not look like she has a small baby or may be some elderly person at home.

Soon Nupur came out carrying her 8 year old special child, whose head was tilted on one side and he was constantly drooling which Nupur was continuously wiping without a single crease on her face with lots of love, patience and utter care.

Tanishk who was quite tall to his age was costantly rubbing his palms against his mother's cheeks to confirm his security and was giving a cold stare to Nishi in between.

Nupur made him sit in her lap, held him tight and assured him , “Yes son, Mama is here very much here. See, who has come to meet you today? She is Nishi Aunty. You know she is Mama's friend so she is Tanu's friend too. Isn't it?”

Tanishk made some weired sound, swayed his body and embraced his mother.

Nishi was shocked, she just froze she did not know how to react and what to say. But she controlled herself, and tried to involve in the conversation between the mother and the son.

“Yes dear, I am your friend too........” . She tried to be as normal as she could be.

Nupur looked at Nishi and said , “ Thanks Nishi , but it is Okay . He can not hear and speak properly. He can only see and feel and recognize the touch. He can not register the images also in his mind not even of me. It is just through the touch , he knows mama is around.”

She gave him water, made him sit on the sofa and held his hands. He eventually fell asleep. Nupur carried him inside and put him on the bed and came out.

"Sorry Nishi, before I could tell you about my second child, the inspiration for me to work in an NGO which runs the special schools. Tanu himself made his presense felt." Nupur said as she could sense the bewilderment of Nishi.

Nupur continued , “Actually he is missing his Dad but Amit my husband had to accept some project and go abroad as it would get him all that money which we would be requiring for his treatment, speech therapy and many other special treatments.” Nupur explained.

“You know Tanishk is my ground reality, he connects me to the God. He is my life energy. He is struggling everyday to survive and he teaches me this important lesson to live life to its fullest and be happy so that you can return the same to your loved ones. My daughter Ishita has grown mature much before her age but she loves her brother. Last month she won a trophy in the quiz competition which she brought home and gave it to Tanishk and said , It is for you brother. This makes him happy; he connects with his sister.”

Nishi was hearing her sincerely while there was some kind of turbulence in her mind . She noticed that Nupur's smile was not leaving her even for a moment and her face did not have a single crease because of the problems in her life.

“God has choosen us to for dear Tanishk. Yes we have to put extra efforts to lead a normal life but that is the least we can do, and we love being with him, we take him out to malls, gardens, and you know, he understands not to drool when out, he enjoys being out.”  Nupur smiled again.

It was quite some time since Nishi was sitting there.

“Hey, It is tea time. How about some hot snacks? I have made something for you.” Nupur excused herself and went into the kitchen.

She came out with hot Vada Sambhar and filter coffee. Nishi was surprised to see the skills of her perfect hostess and an amazingly positive person.

While she was having her coffee, a lot was going on in Nishi's mind. She asked Nupur to come over and left.

Nishi came out mechanically and sat in the car, she was still feeling numb. She sat for a few moments before she started the car. While driving she was lost in retrospection. She found herself so much blessed and still so small as compared to Nupur. Today she thanked herself for having visited to such a wonderful person who taught her a very important lesson in the life, which she may have studied in the text book as the moral of the story. “Be happy and be thankful for what you have.”  She also learned how important it is to love one's family for what they are as things could have been worse.

She felt very guilty for not showing the happiness for whatever marks her kids scored. She felt guilty for not understanding her husband. She felt guilty for cribbing all the time and wasting all good times in sulking while everything was quite smooth. She never realized her kids were happy and healthy and fortunately did not feel pressurized in spite of her expectations, just because her husband constantly tried to convince her and encouraged kids in a loving and playful manner.

She was almost in tears and wanted to reach home and hug her children and husband and present them a new Nishi.