"Should we do a deed that leaves a lasting memory, something that eases someone’s struggle and fills their life with happiness?"
"Yes! We should," I softly replied, looking at him with eyes full of fear. I was terrified of what Bhaiya might say next.
"Take this envelope... it has some documents inside and a phone number written on top. As soon as I pass away, run and call this number. Ghazni Bhai will come from there; he will handle everything. He will take me, prepare my body, and bring me back, and you all..." He trailed off into silence.
I looked at him. He was gazing straight at the roses in front of us. The flowers were gently swaying in the light breeze, as if agreeing to everything Big Brother was saying.
"Where will Ghazni Bhai take you and why?" I asked. I knew Ghazni Bhai—he was Big Brother's best friend and worked at a hospital. But who goes to a hospital after dying? People come back from the hospital after passing away. Grandfather, Waseem's father, Uncle Shabbir—they all went to the hospital alive and came back dead. Would Big Brother go to the hospital after dying and return alive? I stared at Big Brother in disbelief.
"I want to donate my eyes to the hospital after I die so they can be of use to someone," Big Brother answered with absolute tranquility.
What?! I stared at him open-mouthed in utter shock.
"But... who do you want to give your eyes to?" I asked after a brief pause.
"I want to give them to Chhotki, Saira," Big Brother said, dropping a bombshell.
"W-What?! To Chhotki? Uncle’s daughter?! They kicked us out of the house! They swallowed Father’s share! Aunt considers us greedy dogs!" Anger surged through me, and I started shouting.
Big Brother looked at me in surprise for a moment, as if he hadn't expected such a reaction from me.
"She is neither Uncle’s daughter nor Aunt’s daughter. She is simply our Chhotki, our sister, and that’s it," Big Brother replied. He remained quiet for a short while, then continued:
"When her eyesight started failing and she would constantly cry out, 'Remove the darkness, turn on the light!'—and then when she lost her vision completely, how bitterly she used to sob! 'I'm scared of the darkness!' She wouldn't get off anyone's lap for hours. I couldn't bear to see her weeping and suffering like that. I used to pray to Allah, 'O Allah, grant me eyes for Chhotki.' And I believe Allah has accepted my prayer. He saved me from having to beg anyone else."
Big Brother fell silent. I asked, "Will Ammi give permission? Will Uncle agree?"
"That is the secret. No one will ever know. I have filled out the organ donation form and completed all the paperwork. I also convinced Aleem to register Saira’s name at the eye hospital so that as soon as an eye donation becomes available, they call her for surgery."
Big Brother had arranged everything, fully prepared. Aleem Bhai was the most polite, friendly, and affectionate among Uncle's three sons.
"So... does Aleem Bhai know that...?" I couldn't finish the sentence. Tears choked my voice, and I went silent.
"No... absolutely not," Big Brother replied. "Only you and Ghazni know. The hospital staff never reveals where the eyes came from."
Big Brother stopped speaking.
"H-How will I live without you?" I stood up and hugged Big Brother tightly.
Patting my back, Big Brother said softly, "I just have the comfort of knowing that I will always be able to see all of you through Chhotki’s eyes. It doesn't matter to me whether anyone knows or not."
There was immense peace and strength in Big Brother’s tone and demeanor.
A few days after this conversation, Big Brother passed away. When he took his final breaths, I was sitting right beside him. His hand was in mine. He asked me, "You remember everything, right?" The moment I said yes, Bhaiya smiled, looked at me, and closed his eyes.
Ammi came and placed her hand on Bhaiya's forehead. Big Brother opened his eyes and looked at Ammi.
Ammi said, "Sleep for a little while, you've been coughing all night. Just sleep for a bit." Big Brother closed his eyes.
Just then, Rabia entered the room, sat near Bhaiya's feet, and began pressing them gently. She said, "Big Brother! Your feet are turning ice-cold." Big Brother opened his eyes slightly, looked at Rabia, and then his eyes closed completely.
The hand in mine suddenly went limp. Panicking, I called out to him, "Bhaiya... Bhaiya..."
Bhaiya had gone quiet. The secret had begun.
Sometimes, even troubles turn out to be a blessing in disguise. There had been no running water for three days, and this very situation helped keep the whole matter a secret.
The moment Ghazni Bhai answered my call, he rushed over. He said, "There's no water here. We will take him to the Edhi Center, prepare him there, and bring him back."
While Ghazni Bhai was still saying this, an ambulance arrived outside.
"I will go too," I told Ghazni Bhai. Ghazni Bhai nodded. I took the envelope Bhaiya had given me and sat in the ambulance. Outside, people were cursing the water department, while I was thanking God that the water hadn't come today.
Within two hours, the doctors finished their work. It was a major eye hospital.
As we were heading back, Aleem Bhai was helping Chhotki Saira step out of a rickshaw to support her. It was then—for the first time since morning—that I hugged Big Brother's body and cried out loudly, sobbing uncontrollably. Ghazni Bhai kept running his hand over my head just like Big Brother used to. Tears were streaming down his face as well.
(The End)