Kamaavi Posted December 1, 2008 Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window.The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.And every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his room-mate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats.Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene. One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Then unexpectedly, a sinister thought entered his mind. Why should the other man alone experience all the pleasures of seeing everything while he himself never got to see anything? It didn't seem fair. At first thought the man felt ashamed.But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour.He began to brood and he found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window - that thought, and only that thought, now controlled his life. Late one night as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the window began to cough.He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running in. In less than five minutes the coughing and choking stopped, along with that the sound of breathing. Now there was only silence-deathly silence. The following morning the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths.When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take it away. As soon as it seemed appropriate,the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside.Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you." Epilogue. . . . You can interpret the story in any way you like. But one moral stands out: There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that money can't buy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZanzi Posted December 1, 2008 Truly enjoyed reading Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted December 1, 2008 With years experience of reading e-mail attachments I saw the ending of this one coming from the first paragraph. The only thought I had was to hope nobody e-mails it to me and wishes damnation and bad luck on me if I don't send it to everyone on my contact list. Anyway, talking of two men in a hospital ward reminds me of a friend of mine who broke his leg and ankle playing football. It was a really bad break and he had to spend a couple of weeks in hospital. In the hospital, they put him on a bed next to an old Somali man who was there for a minor routine operation of a sort. The young man and old man got on like a house on fire. When I went to visit them, there was another old English man in the bed opposite. He spent all the time coughing and moaning in pain. The two Somalis complained about his moaning and said that the nurse told them there was nothing really wrong with him and he was overdoing the moaning. They were united in their hatred of the man. I, on the other hand, was alarmed and suggested that maybe I should go and call the nurse. They told me not to bother and that I would only be wasting my time and hers. I called her anyway. She checked him out and then told me not to worry and that the man is known for making noises. It is how he copes with his condition, she said. The next day I went to visit the two Somalis. The ward was unusually silent. They were unusually silent. I greeted them both but only got monosyllabic replies! After what seemed like an eternity (or five minutes in my easily bored mind), I asked them what the matter was. The young man told me that he saw Malak-el-Moot the previous night. I laughed at him and reminded him that he only broke his leg and there was no risk to his life. The old man jumped in and also said that he had a glimpse of Malak-el-Moot the previous night! With him being an old and very respected man I really could not laugh at him this time. I just sat there looking at both of them and wondering what is it that they saw. Old man: It was around midnight when it floated into the ward, so maha Calo? Cali: Haa, adeer. Around midnight. I was reading the sport magazine and you were trying to sleep. Old man: and that English guy was moaning louder than ever. Cali: Yes. I was contemplating the idea of stuffing a pillow down his throat. Old man: I was tossing and turning in bed and trying to shut the noise out. Cali: that's when Malak-el-Moot walked in. Old man: a puff of air preceded him. Cali: Yes. Yes. I felt it too. Old man: Then this dark silhouette glided past our beds and engulfed the bed of the moaning man. Cali: I looked at you and nodded in the direction of the moaning man. Old man: I looked at you and nodded in the direction of the door. Cali: But I had an operation done on my leg and could not move. Old man: And I had an operation done on my body and could not move. Cali: We started reading Quran and trying to ward off the scary spirit. Old man: I tried to calm you down by saying he only came for one of us three. Cali: We agreed that he came for the moaning man but that we should not draw attention to ourselves by making any noises. Old man: I told you to go to sleep. Cali: You too hid under your covers and tried to sleep. Old man (laughing): I could hear you making dua under your covers. Cali (laughing back): I could hear you shake under your covers. Old man: Then the moaning stopped! Cali: We waited for ages. Old man: Then you spoke and asked me if the moaning man was dead. Cali: You told me to get up and check but I reminded you of my broken leg. Old man (chuckling): You asked me to go and check but I told you I was old and death was not something I approached willingly. Cali: Then you pressed the button for the nurse. Old man: Then we both pressed. Cali: I tried to get out the bed and run. Old man: You were going to leave me behind. Cali: I wasn't thinking straight. Old man: Don't apologise. I was trying to do exactly the same thing. Cali: Then the nurses came and calmed us down. Old man: They checked the moaning man and told us he is dead. Cali: And you said that his moaning was so annoying even Malak-el-Moot could not stand it and had to do something about it. Old man (chuckling): And isn't that true? They then started pointing out the route Malak-el-Moot took to enter the ward and the exact point he stood over the moaning man. We chatted for a few minutes more then I told them that I had to go and will come to see them the next day. Old man: Next day? You think I am going to stay here for one more night? I already discharged myself and I am going home later today. It was a lucky escape, adeer. Cali: Hada ma ana sii joogaya? When Malak-el-Moot comes to get this old man tonight and does not find him, do you think he will leave me alone just because I have a broken leg? They did leave on the same night and despite the fifty years age difference the two remain the best of friends. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SayidSomal Posted December 1, 2008 It's only words on a screen, words on a screen but funny nevertheless Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibtisam Posted December 1, 2008 Ngonge!! LOOL Thanks for the laugh! LOOOL HAHAHA LOOOl Poster, I hate these e-mails. I get too many of them. Now I'm tired of saying AaaH how sweet :mad: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kamaavi Posted December 1, 2008 It's interesting isn't it. There are alternative versions of it where the non blind man wishes the other man dead but simply goes to sleep to find him dead the next morning and gone and some where he does not wish him dead but just becomes annoyed with him. There are some versions he just wishes he can get to the window really badly and thinks no evil thoughts of the other man but after his death finds the above out. In whichever version is told, the inspirational theme as I have presented is the same and it is food for thought reminding you not to envy others and to remember all we do as humans can have positive or negative effects not just on us but others. Originally posted by Ibtisam: Poster, I hate these e-mails. I get too many of them. Now I'm tired of saying AaaH how sweet :mad: You are confused !! There are no emails, and no matter how many wack emails you misread I am not the one misinterpreting thinking that the second man who lived was a bitter secessionist clawing his way to the top no matter who he hurt. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
