Never say, "Never Again"

It was an evening of a saturday. Usually I prefer to go to a nearby park which is full of colourful flowers and greenary all around and reasonably serene. I use to pass my evening time with my children either at home or in this park. The park provides all kinds of fun to children and even to elders. When I was walking slowly near the entrance of the park, I noticed a middle aged person trying to get down of an autorickshaw. I understood that the man was disabled. He tookout his standing support and placed it on the ground. Immediately, I saw a group of persons rushing towards him to help him. Two of them supported the person who cameout of the auto and escorted him to a bench inside the park. While they were crossing me, I closedly looked at the person. Oh, what a shocking scene it was. The person was none other than my old friend. He was the captain of our cricket team who played with immense passion to the game. My memories went back by ten years when we played together. He had always been very punctual to the cricket ground. He used to come to my home at 4 pm and call me, "Hey Rengudu, Come on Its already four. We have to practise atleast for two hours" He used to carry much of the weight, like bat, stumps, and the kit. Even on the ground, He used to be very serious on the game. Such a well mannered and stockily built man. Following days were so harsh on him, that on one particular day, at work place, a 200 kg barrel fell straight on his head. His life took a solid blow beyond my imagination. Any other person would have succumbed to this kind of cruelty. But He survived. Even the survival tests your courage sometimes. He fought hard to recover from loss of memory for about six months, but could not do much with the partial paralysis. His bottom half paralysed permanently. I know how these people will be treated in our society. It was even more difficult for him to fight against an organisation, which generally applies rules and regulations. He fought and won.

Now he crossed, reached the bench and sat. I wanted to talk to him, but eluded as he was addressing to other persons who were also disabled like him. After an hour he concluded his address and started to go back. Now I went to him with a barren face, and opened. "Hey Cap", Even before I completed, He started loud and with all the happiness in the world," Hey Rengudu, How are you guy. It was very long back we met......" and talked and talked. We talked together for few minutes. Since I know the things that had happened to him, I never talked about the matters that caused him this predicament. But I said, "Dear Captain, I really sympathise you..." He immediately stopped me continuing and said, "No Rengudu, don't sympathise. What had happened had, in fact, brought a new courageous man out of me". "The challenges bring out the best in you." "Did you know that I have initiated an organisation for the cause of people like me. This gives me immense pleasure and when I win, It gives me enormous satisfaction. We played lot of cricket together. Every game is new. We have to win the game. That is it." He said "Bye" and moved with his head held high. I could not speak, but I saluted him.