Note, In Memory of Sajid Rauf ( He was the Man by the Window )
Hospital 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 color 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 roommate 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.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things
you have that money can't buy.
Best Regards
Take Care
Umair