Author: Bhavik Sarkhedi

Something was not right that night… I had a bad dream.

And when I woke up, my thoughts suddenly turned to her. Was she happy? I went about my monotonous existence. I got up, had my bath, dressed up for office. Work held no appeal to me anymore. My friends could not see me in that state any longer. They decided it was time for me to buckle up – to come to terms with reality. They knew I was still blaming myself for my breakup with her.

How could I not! My striving towards perfection drove her away from me. I did not realize I scared her with my hunger to things the right way always. I wanted to be the ideal boyfriend, and with time, the ideal husband. But let us face it… even Plato’s Republic failed to become reality. I should not have forgotten that “To err is Human.” With such thoughts crowding my mind every hour, minute and second of my existence, I was bound to end up in depression.

I failed to forgive myself. I failed to love her like a human should – was all I could think of. I had completely forgotten it was my birthday that day. But my friends did not. They took me for a treat later that evening to my ‘once’ favorite restaurant – the one I used to take her too very frequently. Little did I know what was in store for me… as soon as I entered the restaurant with my friends, the ground gave way beneath my feet. My head was in a spin.

She was standing in front of me. After staring for a few seconds, she came running towards me in tears. Apparently, her boyfriend was abusive. He would beat her up and also her dog. The poor dog died a few days ago. My friends came to know of the incident and invited her to my birthday party hoping for a turn in our story.

I realized what God had done that day. He gave me a Second Chance! A second chance to make things right… to start a new life. And suddenly, I became ME again. I felt it. She felt it too. And just like that, our story started again. And this time with my friends and our families in the picture too. Soon we fell in love all over again with our Perfect Imperfections. She was my finishing piece to the Jigsaw of My Life.

After a year, we got married, adopted a dog, and had a baby girl.

I felt I was the happiest and the luckiest person alive. I had a loving wife and daughter, supportive friends and family, a great job with an adorable dog – what more could I ask for! The day of our daughter’s first birthday was nearing. Seventeen days to go exactly…

She was out shopping for the big party we were planning to throw. I was at the office. Suddenly I got a call from the hospital. A truck hit her car and she was battling for her life. My world crumbled! Again! I rushed to the hospital… I held her hand, tears flowing down my eyes. Would she make it? My friends and family reached too with my daughter. And right before my very eyes, my beloved wife slipped into a COMA…

And yet, I lose again! Fate is at it again… The guiding star of my life was dimming slowly. I hugged my daughter close to me. Her pure and innocent eyes gave me hope. I saw Hope for Hope again…