By Prachi Kuwatada
SYNOPSIS:
Shiva- an ordinary car mechanic with an extra-ordinary dream of making his own next generation car, featured with all one can think about.
Married to love of his life Shilpa, a beautician, running a small venture.
Soon after their son was born, an unseen sequence of difficulties started knocking the door.
While dealing with these huge challenges, Shiva was amazed to see his dream car being driven to his garage by a beautiful young lady, who tends to change his entire life.
STORY:
“Can I borrow some money sir?” Shiva was requesting humbly to his garage owner.
“I can give you the same amount as the last time, but there is no use and you are wasting them”, the owner replied sadly. “Listen Shiva, I can understand your situation, no father can see his son dying and will do whatever he can to save him. But these medicines will just prolong his death and your pain”.
Shiva took the money and left, recollecting the past on his way back home. Memories started flooding as he passed the place where he had proposed Shilpa with and she had said a big yes. Soon they got married and knitting the dream of their wonderful life ahead. Shiva always used to mention his dream of creating and owning a car with all the unrealistic features. Shilpa being the best wife not only just listen to him but always encouraged him to work hard towards his goal.
And the happiest day of their life, Shilpa whispered the news of their pregnancy. Shiva started working harder and taking more care of Shilpa. Nine months passed like a blink and the angel has entered their world.
The happiness was at the peak and the house was full of baby talks. People were visiting and the couple kept talking about how the little boy Amar keeps them busy and trying to walk and talk and what not.
Hands were touching the cloud till the day Amar got sick and couldn’t be recovered by the doctors in the town. They took him to the biggest hospital in the nearest city where he was diagnosed with a rare disease and there was no cure. The doctors didn’t promise to save Amar’s life but can make him live little longer on medicines. The expenses were huge, but the couple decided to take this forward.
Drowning in this memory flash, Shiva reached home all in tears. And as an add on, Shilpa was waiting for him with another news. She was expecting again…
Both were stoned. They knew they couldn’t afford the new life when the existing were already in trouble.
Both couldn’t close their eyes that night. “Let’s abort it!” Shilpa said gravely in a heavy voice. It was a chilling dawn, but Shiva was all sweaty. Knowing what Shilpa saying is absolutely right, Shiva asked for couple of days before he could agree with her.
“You look lost. Is everything alright Shiva?”. Owner asked as soon Shiva reached the garage the next day. “Umm yes” Shiva mumbled and started working. The same afternoon Shiva was under a car and indulged deep into his thoughts, heard a sweet voice “Excuse Me?”. He rolled himself out and could not believe his eyes.
The car, he dreamt about, was in front of him with all the stunning features he used visualize. Mesmerized he, couldn’t say a word, a beautiful lady around 30’s got out of the car, and started talking to him. Shiva was trying to listen her but couldn’t take his eyes off the car.
Are you even listening to me? The lady asked little loud. Shiva turned to her and to wonder him more, the woman was almost a look alike to Shilpa.
Stunned Shiva took a moment to normalize and asked, “Yes mam, what’s wrong with your beautiful car?”
She explained the issue and asked him to call back once fixed. Shiva left all other work aside and started to work on the car immediately as she left. Surprised he, was lost into it whole day and had forgotten all his sorrows.
He wanted to talk to Shilpa about the surprising event, but he himself could barely believe it and this was not the time. Both were going through a lot! Silent hugs were enough for the night.
The lady was there next day as the issue was addressed.” Mam, can you please keep the car here for couple of more days?”
“Saira!”, “my name is Saira!” Yes, but why?
Living a life full of sorrows and surprises together, Shiva not just told her about how this car is his dream but also the situation he was going through. Wondering how he was talking this all to an utter stranger he kept talking.
Saira listened to him carefully and responded after a long silence “Tough time ha?!“. Before she could continue, Shiva said “I am sorry, not sure why I am sharing all this with you. You look like a business-woman dealing with bigger things in life and I am just wasting your precious time.”
“Well, I am a CEO of a renowned company!” Saira said stopping him in between. “Being successful in such a small age is not that simple. But my parents made me believe my dreams as that’s the way they have achieved theirs. I was born in this town; my father earlier was a mechanic and now a famous man.
We moved to another town as soon I was born, they wanted to get away from bad memories here. They say, I had a brother who died before I was born and that was the toughest time.
I couldn’t get much as kid, but god was kind and things started falling our way as I was growing. Dad chased his dream and created this marvelous piece!” Her eyes started glowing as she said this.
Saira left the car and a whole bunch of questions for Shiva.
“Why does this sound so related to me? How couldn’t I hear about the wonder car and the famous man? How come Saira looks like Shilpa?
Am I getting mad? or just overthinking?
Shiva couldn’t get this all off his mind whole day. The night was sleepless.
“No! let’s keep the baby!”. Shiva said the next morning. Shilpa was confused but agreed as they discussed the possibilities and were ready to face the reality together.
Days passed, their efforts failed, and Amar passed away. Despite of being through such a hard phase and the deepest sorrow, Shilpa gave birth to a cute healthy girl.
During this time, Shiva used to meet Saira almost every day, and today, he was there with the great news!
From nowhere he found a note on his workplace as he reached!
It said, “Thanks! for letting me see the world!”.
By Prachi Kuwatada