I love her : Part 1
Story By Thiyam Ningol, Africa

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All his family members and friends watched him dying, dying in agony murmuring "I love her; I love her; I lov....h.....r.....r".

Samuel was only six months old when he was attacked by the crippling disease of POLIO. Both his legs, from the hips downwards were affected. He was the fifth born. He had other 6 more siblings-four of them elder to him and 2 younger ones.

When he was about 3 years old his hand muscles developed strong enough to drag his body up to few meters. His mother was busy with her own work- household choirs and petty businesses to earn a little living. The other siblings used to help each other and help their mother. Samuel waited for their mercy. He started crawling when he was 5 yrs old. Since then Samuel had been on his fours only, he could only sit straight but not stand.

He did not attend any school because there was nobody to take him to school and bring him back from school. He used to force his brothers and sisters show him how to write and read. With his determinations and own efforts, he managed at least to be able to read news papers and write letters.

As he grew up, he became more and more frustrated and depressed. The only person who inspired him to reach the stage where he had reached was the one whom he hated most. He was the only one who spoke the truth. He could strangle him at that moment but when he looked back, Samuel knew he really owed the man all the gratitude.

Samuel was waiting for his brother to bring some water to wash his hands after eating food. The remains of the food in his hand started drying up; the flies were hovering around his hand. A loud-mouth neighbour came to borrow a hand hoe from their house. Samuel requested him to bring some water as his brother was taking a long time.

"The hands with which you are pushing the food in your mouth are normal. Let them work. Why do you demoralize yourself so much? Drag yourself, go out and see the others who are even less fortunate than you."-the man told him and went away without giving water to Samuel. He cursed the man, wept, cried and refused to eat in the evening. He could not sleep at night.

The next day early morning, Samuel woke up and decided to let his hands take him as far as it could. He met people on the way; some looked at him with pity; some ignored him; some looked with horror "a cripple is crawling on the road"; some offered help. His elder brother's friend gave him a lift in his bike.

For the first time in his life, Samuel reached the bus stand which was half a kilometer from his house. He was sitting in one corner, resting. He was enjoying the scene and envying the people who were running around. Suddenly a 100 shillings coin came flying to him. Samuel looked at the lady who threw the coin to him, but she simply walked away without even looking at him.

He did not pick up the coin, it was lying near his feet. He thought the lady might come back to pick it up. But no; instead another coin, more coins were dropped near his feet by the people who were passing near him. Another person who was hurrying to climb the bus handed over his unfinished coke bottle to him.

By noon Samuel had received more money than he could count. First time in his life, he bought food for himself. He wanted to come back home quickly and show his mother the money he got and tell his siblings all about the day's happenings.

"Hey you! We were searching for you everywhere. Everybody was so worried and here you are enjoying your chips all alone. "How did you come up to here, who brought you here"-his young brother was shouting at him.

"I have got hands, good and strong hands; the hands which push food in my mouth will also look for food. I came all by myself and I will go back all by myself. Now I know the road' - Samuel answered. While they were still arguing, his younger brother saw two-three more people dropping coins for Samuel.

To be continued...