The Window

[Ashyk]

The Window

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same
hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his
bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the
fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only
window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of
their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their
involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window
could sit up, he would pass the time by describing
to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those
one-hour periods where his world would be broadened
and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.
Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed
their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm
amidst flowers of every colour and a fine view of
the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in
exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the
room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described
a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't
hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye
as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with
descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse
arrived to bring water for their baths only to find
the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had
died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and
called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man
asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse
was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he
was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one
elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window
beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled
his deceased room mate who had described such wonderful
things outside this window. The nurse responded
that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."


Epilogue: There is tremendous happiness in making
others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness
when shared, is doubled.

[Shimul]

Salam,
Such a touching & real story...haan, maine pehle hi suna hai aur kuch aur bhi hai...dilki gehraion se shukriya aapka jo aapne aapna waqt nikala aur yeh yeaha sab mein share ki...yes, you are very much right about what you said or they said... Yunhi share karte rahiyega. Khush rahiye yeh Duwke sath izazat chahungi. Take care. God bless you. Allah Hafiz.

Keep smilling.......