Firoz Khan

Suffering from ninety-five percent liver damage, he was lying powerless on one of the bed in gastrointestinal ward in AIIMS. He kept looking and smiling at me. I felt uncomfortable. I knew the row was full of patients suffering from chronic liver ailments. And somehow, I wanted to escape that place.

Suddenly, he asked me to sit beside him and hold his hand. I kept wondering about his age, his legs were leaner than the thinnest stick i could ever see in life, his eyes as yellow as the yolk contrasting the egg white... his hands were shaking..

I had to go and sit beside him. I asked his name. He suddenly smiled and said" Firoz Khan. The one who was in 'NAAGIN', your eyes are like naagin, your eyes...". I immediately let myself drown into my memory and try to bring out if I ever knew anything about this movie. Unfortunately, i just knew the name and nothing more.

He smiled. He was fourteen years old but he looked like a seven year old child, wanting to go out to play. When I held his hand I realized there was tiny drops of bloods frozen in his fingernails. I was frightened. But I didn't lose my grip.

I left him after he went to sleep.

I learn t from my mother that he was going to have a liver transplant in a few days. His parents hailed from a small village in U.P. but they promised to pay 20 lakh for the surgery.

I had met him on 11th January. He closed his eyes forever on 30th January.

I still remember how he smiled.

Saaaawan bheetoh jaayae peh harwaaah....
Saaaawan bheetoh jaayaee pehh harwaaah.....
Mannn neraaa ghabraaaayae....
Mann neraaa ghabraaaaye...........

Aiesoooo gayae pardes peeya tuum ....
Aiesoooo gayae pardes peeya tuum .......
Chaeyyyn huumeein naaahin aaaaaye...
Chaeyyyn huumeein naaahin aaaaye....

Moraaa saiyaaaan mohsaay bolaaay naaaa...
Moraaa saiyaaaan mohsaay bolaaay naaaa....
Meeein laaaakh jatan karrr haaari..
Laaaakh jatan karrr haaari.....

Moraaa saiyaaaan mohsaay bolaaay naaaa..
Moraaa saiyaaaan mohsaay bolaaay naaaa......

Tuuu johh nahinn toh aisaay peeya hum....
Tuuu johh nahinn toh aisaay peeya hum.....
Jaisay soona aanganaa...
Jaisay soona aanganaa....

Naiyan tehaari rahaa neehaay ....
Naiyan tehaari rahaan neehaay.....
Nainnannn koh tarsaaaona...
Nainnannn koh tarsaaaona....

Moraaa saiyaaaan mohsaay bolaaay naaaa...
Moraaa saiyaaaan mohsaay bolaaay naaaa........

Meein laaakh jatan kar haaari....
Laakh jatan karrr haar rahi.....
Moraaa saiyaaaan mohsaay bolaaay naaaa ....
Moraaa saiyaaaan mohsaay bolaaay naaaa.........


Pyaaar tumhaain kitnaa kartaay haain.....
Pyaaar tumhaain kitnaaa kartaay haain.......
Tumh yeah samajhh nahin paogay..
Tum yeah samajhh nahin paogay.......

Jabbh humNaaa hongaay toh peharwa.....
Jabbh humNann hongaay toh peharwa.....
Bolo kyaa tab aaao gay.....
Bolo kyaaa tab aaao gay......

Moraaa saiyaaaan mohsaay bolaaay naaaa...
Moraaa saiyaaaan mohsaay bolaaay naaaa.....

Mein laakh jatan kar haari...
Laakh jatan kar haar rahi.......

Moraaa saiyaaaan mohsaay bolaaay naaaa...
Moraaa saiyaaaan mohsaay bolaaay naaaa.....
Mein laakh jatan kar haari...
Laakh jatan kar haar rahi......

After the storm.
Sunlight. Bright yet weak outside..
I looked out of my window, A small park lit up with brightness was standing, determined to soothe my eyes. It's a small window, yet large enough for me to view my little world growing happily...
A weakness suddenly grew in my knees...and I sat down. Cannot stand.
The red roses looked beautiful...
The green looked greener...

It was simple.
I felt good.
Yet weak.
Good.
Still weak.
Good.
But still weak.