Being Burnt Wasn’t A Bad Thing Afterall

Feb 1
NabanitaDhar

In hindsight, being burnt wasn’t a bad thing after all. What I mean will be clear in a while but tell me first, do you believe everything happens for a reason? Well, maybe you should.

 

31st January 2006

 

It was the day I finally decided to start studying for placements which were due in a month. I was in the 3rd year of Engineering and unlike the others, I hadn’t even started preparing yet. But there was still time. I would just go down to the mess, have dinner and attempt a night out, which in Engineering lingo meant study throughout the night.

 

Well, little did I know then that a night out I would certainly have but not at all in the way I had imagined.

 

Present-day

 

Sometimes the best of things can happen to you in the weirdest of ways possible.

 

Given a choice, which would you pick – Joy or Sadness?

 

The former, surely? I would too. But don’t you think that at times the sadness which precedes joy makes it even more worthwhile?

 

Think about it.

 

That crushing feeling in living away from your family also brings with it the realization that there are people in your life whom you love and who love you back.

 

Those tears at failing to achieve something is also accompanied by that warm feeling of having a drive in life, something which eggs on you to do better and better always.

 

That disappointment at losing a game comes with the satisfaction of having tried your best.

 

That guilt at having done something wrong is followed by the relief at having repented, the realization that it was wrong.

 

Notice how something bad is always followed by something good.

 

Yes, that cliched ‘sweet are the uses of adversity‘ philosophy is actually true, something I found out thanks to an accident which happened 10 years back.

It was something which at that point in time I thought was all bad. But now that I look back, I realize how thankful I am for it to have come to pass.

 

31st January 2006

 

On my way back to my room after dinner, I stopped at one of my senior’s. It was cold, the coiled room heater was on and I found a seat next to it. There were four of us there that day. Two seniors and my roommate apart from myself. We started talking about companies which were about to visit our campus, how underprepared we were and then about movies we were going to see that weekend. And then suddenly, just like that, in the middle of a conversation, the long skirt I was wearing caught fire.

 

Everything happened so fast that for a fleeting moment I thought the fire would be my undoing. I was going to die. Yes, that thought crossed my mind. I stood up, the fire engulfed my legs and nobody knew what to do. We were all scared, shocked, almost numb.

 

But almost as a message from God, an idea struck and I started rolling on the floor to put the blaze out. Thankfully, it worked and I lived to tell the tale. How could I die? My life was just about to begin. Yes, my thighs were badly burnt and I suffered for a long time after that day but it was all in preparation for a wonderful beginning in my life.

 

Present Day 

It has been 10 years since that fateful night. The pain, the burns all of those seem hazy and inconsequential in comparison to what I remember about that night.

 

That night culminated to this life I have today with S. That night is more about the memory of waking up to S near my hospital bed. That night is about the beginning of something that completely changed the course of my life.

 

Let you in on a secret? 

 

Every guy from my year in college made it a point to visit the hospital while I was there. No, not really to see me. Well, maybe seeing me was part of the bigger plan, the plan to find a girlfriend for themselves, start a new love story because all the girls from the girls’ hostel would definitely be there. No, it wasn’t a bad thing because it was college life after all. But things really didn’t go as planned, sadly for them. What happened, on the contrary, was a love story between the unlikeliest of pairings.

 

Yes, being burnt wasn’t so bad after all. The scars to this day remind me of how an accident brought S into my life.

 

Sometimes I think,

 

If my skirt hadn’t caught fire that night, S and I would probably have never got together.

 If I had worn jeans instead of that skirt then the fire fiasco wouldn’t have happened and again I wouldn’t have had this life with S.

 A rather twisted way of looking at things, I know. But it’s probably true. In fact, I know it is certainly true.

 

It is strange how in spite of so much pain and suffering, all I remember about this incident is the start of something wonderful with S. The human mind, and of course, the heart works in mysterious ways. How they remember the good and just push the hurt, pain and struggles into the background. Strange but marvellous, right?

 

Well, I guess a happy anniversary to me!

 

I leave you today with this quote to reflect upon.

 

Always in life bad times will lead to great times. – M. Night Shyamalan

 

79 thoughts on “Being Burnt Wasn’t A Bad Thing Afterall”

  3. Everything happens for a reason – cliché? I don't think so. Every cloud has a silver lining, your silver lining was S. What a lovely tale 🙂

  5. Everything happens for a reason and I believe in that. Your story just confirms that fact. Thanks for sharing N 🙂

  6. That was a great love story. Sad to know that you had to literally go through fire but also glad to know that you always see the bright side of life! Congratulations and may you have many more happy occasions to celebrate together.

  7. Wow, that is some story. Engineering college romance, an accident, a savior and happily ever after. Maybe you should write a story or a novel.
    Wish you a very happy anniversary. And a blissful life together.

  8. Wow Naba… it takes a very positive attitude to think like this… awesome! And congrats to you and S 🙂 Here is to another decade anniversary post!

  10. Happy Tenth Anniversary, N!Thank you for sharing your wonderful story with all of us…Cheers to the decades ahead for you both 🙂

  13. I've heard you tell this story before in an FB group a while back, Naba, but nothing changes the beauty of it. So glad you found each other and it's amazing how even seemingly bad things can work for good, if we allow them to do that. I'm sure 10 years ago you didn't realize that you'd be celebrating the anniversary of an accident. Stay blessed!

  14. This thing called love sprouts in all the odd places and times 🙂 A very Happy anniversary to you and S 😀 You know I absolutely love the way you are so positive about things in life 🙂

  17. What a love story! I mean the beginning of one. Right from the start there was a passionate 'fire' between you two…haha! Happy anniversary, Naba!

  19. O that was so touching Naba.. And it is really brilliant that our mind and heart works like this. That we always remember the good part and connect the dots. And this adds so much meaning to our lives, doesn't it?
    Glad to hear your tales 🙂

    Keep writing, keep sharing 🙂

    Cheers

  20. It's true, everything happens for a reason. And yeah, bad times always lead to great ones, sooner or later. Happy Anniversary to both of you. 🙂

  23. I've read your story before when you referred to it in another post. I love your story. I am so glad you are blessed with a wonderful life partner and a lovely baby. Hugs to you Naba! Why not link up with the Lost and Found Valentine's edition bloghop? Your post is a perfect fit. 🙂 Wishing you every happiness and many more years of bliss!

  24. There is scripture in Romans that states, "All things work together for the good for those that live the Lord. Your experience is proof of that. It is amazing to me that this scripture is proven true again. Thanks for sharing.

  25. Indeed, everything does happen for a reason. I'm so glad you met your S and that despite the pain, you are able to see the blessing in it. I think God does allow things to happen, even bad things because they lead can lead us to a better place.

  29. Always in life bad times will lead to great times. I found it hard to read past this philosophy. Such a beautiful belief! Thank you for sharing for the blogfest! Good on Vidya for suggesting it to you!

  42. Absolutely Corinne..10 years back I never thought I would be celebrating let alone reminiscing fondly about this day!

  43. Oh it surely does, Rajlakshmi..Love just doesn't have a set pattern no matter what the world is made to believe … I try to be positive but I fail many times in doing that as well..It is only now after so many years that I can look back at that day with so much smile on my face 🙂 Thanks for visiting

  60. So glad you linked up to the Lost & Found hop—I would've missed reading this story otherwise. And what a story it is! No, I don't believe everything happens for a reason—I don't believe in design or fate of any kind—but I do believe everything that happens in our lives, good or bad, has within it the potential of teaching us something, of making us grow, turning us into better people, forcing our hand, sometimes, and helping us discover unknown reserves of strength. And then there's the coincidence (?) of those rugged and painful paths that mesh our lives with someone else's—as it happened for you and S. What a lovely, lovely consequence of your accident—but make no mistake, Naba: if you hadn't been (already) the person you were and are, the kind of person that looks for and finds the good in the bad, you might not be together today 🙂

    Kudos to you. Your strength of character and your positive outlook are examples to us all. Thank you so much for sharing this!
    Guilie @ Quiet Laughter

  61. It's amazing how one small little thing (such as choosing a skirt instead of jeans) could lead to a dramatic life event. I certainly see your point out of something good coming out of something bad. That's why we are encouraged to make mistakes (in schooling) from time to time. Because even a mistake leads us to the correct solution to a problem. I'm sure the same can be said for giving birth. According to my wife at the time, he pain of giving birth to our son was eclipsed by the joy of holding our newborn son in her hands.
    Happy 10th

  63. Yes, I think there's always an up side to the bad things we encounter in life, and that something bad can often lead to something good. But I also believe if the fire hadn't brought you and S together, something else would have. 🙂

  64. What a scary experience that turned out to be something with good results. If we never experienced bad things and sad times we likely not even realize what happiness is when it was in front of us. Life has to have ups and downs in order for us to learn the true value of living.

    Arlee Bird
    Wrote By Rote

  65. Glad you healed from that. Everything happens for a reason and there are no chance encounters. Thanks for sharing your story.

  66. Brings a smile on the face 🙂

    Life plays games in strange ways, in its own ways. And most of the time, it gifts you unexpected happiness.

    Have a wonderful life together both of you 🙂

    Cheers,
    Rajiv

  68. Thanks so much, Guilie..I guess you are right if I wasn't the person I was then then we wouldn't be together now..Thanks for this…really 🙂

  69. Thanks Jeffrey…Your wife is right…Sometimes the pain just goes into the background because what we see and get is much more worthwhile

  75. Jeez burnt huh? That is tough. But yes many incidents leave behind good memories in the form of scars. In your case a good man as well 🙂 *hugs* may you always have each other side by side 🙂

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