More To Give

She wiped her wet eyes, squared her shoulders and walked purposefully towards the young
woman crouching in the corner seat, staring into nothingness.
Reena filled a glass from the water dispenser and offered it to Neerja, her daughter-in-law. She looked through it. Reena tapped on her shoulder gently and nudged her to have a sip of water.
'I need to talk to you, Neerja. Get a grip on yourself, beta', Reena tried to control her own voice from breaking.
Manish, her son, was passionate about high speed bikes. Come weekends and off he would go on late night jaunts with other biking enthusiasts. Reena and Neerja had often cautioned him about the dangers in venturing out at late hours but he always laughed their warnings away. He was certainly not a reckless driver, rather he always urged fellow biking enthusiasts to follow traffic rules and ensure others' as well as their own safety while driving. That was the reason why they preferred the newly inaugurated expressway for their all night intercity trip.
He had told Reena and Neerja to not wait for him since he wouldn't return before late morning. He had planned to go to the Gurudwara for obeisance and do sewa there. At the shoe stalls, washing utensils, mopping the dining halls or serving the Guru ka langar...he gladly did whatever duty was assigned to him. Only recently he had also started a campaign for collecting unused medicine and handing them over to the charitable hospitals for free distribution to the poor and needy who couldn't afford the expensive medicines. His heart beat for the needy and underprivileged people.
Reena had been woken up in the middle of the night by the shrill call on her cellphone.
She had quickly woken up Neerja and they had rushed to the government hospital where he had been admitted by the police. His bike had been hit by a speeding truck which had entered the expressway from a service lane entry that had been callously left unsecured. They wanted to shift him to a private hospital but he was in such a precarious condition that the doctors didn't allow him to be moved even an inch.
That was a week ago. They had continued their day and night vigil around him though nobody was allowed near him in the ICU. Despite being devastated herself, Reena was getting worried about Neerja now. She had slipped into a shell and had hardly moved from her seat the whole day. She had spoken only in monosyllables even when her parents and friends visited in the evening.
'Neerja, are you listening? You can not continue grieving like this. Get up from here. Let's go out for some fresh air and eat something in the cafe’.
She grabbed some coffee and sandwiches and forced Neerja to eat. She sipped some hot coffee hoping it would give her the necessary strength and courage to say what she wanted to.
'Neerja, what do you wish to do now?'
'About what, Maa?' the strong, sweet coffee seemed to have revived her sagging spirits and strength.
'About Manish. He is sinking fast. He's been on ventilator for five days now and doctors don't have much hope of his revival', Reena found herself unable to divulge the complete truth. Her voice trickled into a mere whisper. 'A counsellor had come to meet both of us but I didn't have the courage to let her speak to you'.
'I am alright Maa. Please tell me what you have in mind. I can hear anything now'.
Reena fell silent. After a couple of minutes she steeled herself into uttering the words that killed her heart, 'Manish is brain dead, Neerja! We have lost him', Reena gathered Neerja into a tight embrace to hide her tears from her. Neerja's silent tears flowed on her back.
'I know Maa. I heard the doctor. And the counsellor too', a long sigh escaped her lips. 'Yes Maa. I think we should go ahead with it'.
'Are you sure? You don't have any objection, Neerja? Manish is your husband. We can prolong his life if you wish. Think carefully before taking any decision, beta'.
'Manish WAS my husband, Maa. He was my love', Neerja broke down. 'He is no more with us
now. You said it yourself. I had never imagined my life without him and I don't know what future holds in store for me but I am sure about this Maa', Neerja suddenly looked absolutely calm and composed.
'But Neerja, your parents were also appalled at the counsellor's suggestion to donate all his organs. They believe that he has already suffered so much pain and we shouldn't exacerbate his suffering by getting his vital organs removed when his heart is still beating. A neighbor, in fact, also told me that if the organs of a person are removed and donated then in his next birth he would be born with a scarred and deformed body'. Imagining the horrific outcome for her dear son, Reena couldn't hold herself back any more. ‘This is not so easy for me too, beta. I am also tormented inside. Manish is a part of my own self, my own blood and sweat. How can I allow his body to be cut up again when he has multiple wounds already?'
'I also loved him to the core of my being Maa. I couldn't bear even a scratch on him let alone cause him any hurt. I would gladly give up my life to see him alive. But just living is not enough, Maa. Life has to be meaningful too. Manish was always so full with zest for life. He lived for the needy and underprivileged people. You remember how many times he had donated blood! He was God's own child Maa. This is his destiny. To be of use to others, even in death. He will be with us forever Maa, even in death', Neerja spoke firmly, resolutely now.
'Let other people say whatever they wish, Maa. It's their belief but we're not accountable to them for our actions. For now, we have to set him free and let his soul soar high. We must ask the doctors to retrieve as many organs from his body as are intact. Our Manish has more to give, even after death. A gift of life to the needy people'. Neerja gulped her leftover coffee and stood up.
'I must apologize to you, Neerja, for undermining you as weak. I had thought it would be difficult to convince you for organ donation but you have been amazingly strong and positive whereas I became weak myself. Despite being convinced by the counsellor, I was still in a dilemma. It's so difficult to let go of a loved one this way but you saved me from straying, beti. You're correct. We have not lost him. Now our Manish will always be alive in our hearts and kicking in some other bodies. Yes Neerja, we must not delay it any more. Come, let's go speak to the doctors', Reena wiped her moist eyes and hugged Neerja gratefully.
United by a common belief and purpose, the two women trod firmly, hand in hand, towards the doctor's chamber. For them, the mourning period had already got over. It was time to celebrate a life lived well.