The Pearl in the Sky

THE PEARL

Mother Nature
The fragrance and gentility, subtle hues, delicate velvety touch and feel conveys bliss, intoxication, sensual delight and ignites a dormant soul to start living again..

 Sheer dint of labor, solid hands on work, ethics and moral standing, 17 years of day night study and implementation-he finally could raise his head up to look over the vast congregation that had gathered for the Graduation Day.
The short synopsis that explained his research for over a decade was well received, he was conferred the doctorate degree, light refreshments were served  and the crowd dispersed.

Tears welled up as a feeling of anti-climax hit hard, he had been longing for this moment since childhood. Born as the seventh offspring to a farmhand,undernourished and malformed, left for dead in a hot blistering field, what were the odds?

Reminiscing, he dashed off the moisture from his face.
The phone shrilled, the tone alerted him, he waited till his heartbeats calmed down to a definite rhythm. He owed her an explanation-redialing the caller he felt a surge of pride and anticipation. It was Teachers Day and he acknowledged the depth of feeling he owed---

   The bundle in a filthy rag was barely visible, saved only by the big stone that tripped the bicycle.
The young man looked down and was aghast. Tiny hands moved and feet peeked out as he lifted the infant, his mind in a turmoil. Could they do it, was this an answer to his prayer?
Holding the precious find he pedaled to the river side where she had gone for her morning bath.

  The river Ganges would be a perfect place to cleanse and a place of re-birth,he reasoned and waited till she came with the soaked clothes, hair wet and chanting mantras.

A look of astonishment on seeing the tiny day old bundle, she looked up at him wonderingly.
He nodded ,they held hands and accepted the gift,,who were they to question the Almighty.
Bathed, clothed, fed with cows milk which the infant lapped up hungrily, they prayed acceptance. Trusting in His wisdom they decided to return to the city that beckoned, the financial capital, Mumbai.

        They soon got the papers all ready, a birth at home was the accepted norm and premature babies were common. Akash (the sky) was his chosen name, so Akash Vidhwan Gupta, yes they had high hopes and wished he would conquer the world, after all he was their miracle.
The childless couple who had refused to accept facts but trusted in folklore  and divine intervention went back to life in Mumbai where his father worked in a Bank and mother was a teacher.
The infant grew surrounded with love and belonging.

All too soon their idyllic life  had shattered when his father collapsed as his frail heart gave up. The little boy all of four stood stoically holding his mothers hand and wiping her tears.

  'Hello ,hello.' the gentle voice  now alerted him.

His heart almost bursting with joy, he poured out all the days happenings.

She listened patiently and whispered that she always knew he was their brave heart.
Father would rejoice as the day was also his anniversary and Teachers Day, he was the first teacher who taught him to walk and talk, gave him a name -Vidhwan and now he had the fame , which would one day be as high as the sky - Akash , she reminded him ever so softly.
 
 Opening the acceptance letter from Stanford University where he was scheduled to teach from the coming Summer, he smiled winningly.
Suddenly he realized what was missing in his life.
He decided to return home and bring his mother back with him to the States, where he would begin a new chapter in his Life.

"Believe in Miracles and never give up, we-each one of us is capable of achieving the loftiest dreams..Never let any one tell you otherwise.

"They may not have the drive and dedication you have"