“Doctor, will I be able to see again? Please doctor, I want to see Vinoo. When can I do that, doctor?” Usha’s anxiety was written all over her face. Dr. Rao patted her head and said, “Soon, my dear, soon.”
Usha’s mind kept going back to yesterday. Vinod had suggested a trip to Lonavala to celebrate his recent promotion. Usha knew Vinod had tried hard for this event and wanted to share his happiness. She readily agreed. They took the 7 o’clock local from Pune. Everything was going well when suddenly there was a loud noise. Then she blanked out.
When she came to her senses, her eyes were in pain and she could not see. She blurted out, “Vinoo…..Vinooooooo, where is my Vinoo? Who’s there? Why don’t you answer me? Has anyone seen my Vinoo?
A male voice answered, “I am Dr. Rao. There was an explosion in the train you were travelling by. Your eyes are damaged. We plan to do an emergency transplant. Do not worry. Everything will be alright. Your Vinoo will come back to you.”
But all that was yesterday. A full day had gone by. There was still no sign of Vinod. “Is he safe?” she worried.
Usha’s mind did a quick flash-back. It was three years ago that she had met Vinod at a party. Smartly dressed and debonair, what struck Usha most about him was the turquoise blue colour of his eyes. They sparkled and kept Usha’s light brown eyes glued to them. It was love at first sight and blossomed into a very handsome relationship. Two years later they got married, and were happy to bask in each other’s smiles. Vinod had always been appreciative of Usha’s “honey-coloured” eyes and Usha felt very bad now that these eyes were going to be transplanted. “Vinoo may not like the new eyes that I get”, she thought.
It was a month now after the accident. There was no sign of Vinod. Usha was quite restless. Was something wrong? Where was Vinod?
Her eye transplant had gone through successfully and she was waiting for the doctor to remove the bandages. She made a mental note to search for Vinod with her own eyes as soon as the doctor gave her the all clear.
She was ushered into the doctor’s room. He removed the bandages, asked her to do some exercises with her eyes, and finally said, “Good, you’re ready to see now. Compliments on your new eyes!”
Usha turned to look into the mirror that the nurse offered. Suddenly, there was a loud shriek and Usha collapsed on the floor.
Her eyes were turquoise blue!
