The doorbell rang incessantly as if the button jammed, breaking the calm of the night. Surabhi and Suhas sat up, startled. Suhas fumbled in the dark until his fingers brushed the switch, and the room lit up. It was midnight.

Who could it be at this hour?" Surabhi muttered, and they both hurried to the main door. Suhas peered through the peephole but saw nothing; only muffled voices could be heard. He slid the safety chain into place and cracked the door open.

Their friends were standing with bouquets in their hands. Suhas quickly opened the door and let them in.

“Happy 10th anniversary, dear Surabhi and Suhas,” they wished in unison. The entire house smelled of different flowers, from the soft sweetness of roses to lilies to orchids.

“Aww, what a pleasant surprise! This is so sweet of you all. You guys remembered our anniversary?” Surabhi said, her voice filled with delight.

“Yes, of course! It’s your 10th anniversary, and it calls for a grand celebration. Doesn’t it?” one of them said and hugged Surabhi.

“Sure! Join us tomorrow evening for the celebration. I will text you guys the venue address,” Suhas replied.

They spent time talking and laughing until 3 a.m.

The next morning, calls poured in from family and other friends to wish the couple.

11 a.m.

Surabhi’s phone pinged, and a message popped up. “Surabhi, meet me in an hour. Bring Suhas along with you.” It was from their doctor.

Surabhi’s smile vanished instantly and was replaced by a wave of concern as she read the message. She felt a tight knot in her chest.

“Suhas, get ready. We need to go to the hospital.” She said, her voice laced with worry.

"Don't worry. My heart says that the doctor has called us to give us good news." Suhas placed his hand gently on her shoulder and consoled her.

“Yeah, fingers crossed.” She murmured.

They reached the clinic on time and waited impatiently for their turn.

Mr. and Mrs. Bhatia," the receptionist called, gesturing for them to go inside.

“Have a seat!” The doctor said calmly.

The doctor cleared her throat, smiled and said, “Your wait is over, Surabhi.”

“What are you trying to say, doctor?” Suhas asked, almost in a whisper.

“Your prayers have been answered. You guys are going to be parents soon,” she replied.

Suhas and Surabhi sprang to their feet. “What? Really, Doctor?” Surabhi exclaimed, tears of joy welled in her eyes.

"Yes, congratulations to you both. There are a few do’s and don’ts you need to follow due to the delayed pregnancy," the doctor said, handing her a list.

“Sure, Doctor.” Both said in unison and left the cabin.

“Let’s keep this a surprise until the evening. We’ll share it with our family at the party. Okay, sweetheart?” Suhas said, planting a soft kiss on her cheek.

That evening, they shared the news. Both families and close friends jumped with joy. Suhas’s parents moved in to take care of Surabhi.

The next few months passed smoothly. At last, the much-awaited day arrived. Surabhi was taken in for surgery, and soon, she delivered a healthy baby boy. They named him Surya.

Days turned into months, and before they knew it, four years had flown by. Surya didn’t speak and behaved like a two-year-old, but when his favourite song was played, he would often hum songs and express his joy. At first, Suhas and Surabhi didn’t think much about it, though a faint worry lingered in their thoughts.

Surabhi’s parents and her in-laws gave hope and reassured them that some children take longer to start speaking, and was nothing unusual.

Suhas and Surabhi felt at ease, but it was short-lived. Their concern deepened when they noticed how different Surya’s behaviour was compared to other children, and getting him admitted to a school became a challenge.

They decided to approach a pediatric specialist for guidance. A series of tests was conducted. The reports brought grim news — their son was diagnosed with autism. Their world turned upside-down on learning this. They froze and couldn’t utter a word. Surabhi’s tears refused to stop and flowed like water rushing from an open dam.

Suhas, too, was broken from within. He gulped all the pain and managed to console Surabhi. They admitted him to a special school, kept tutors for various activities, including a speech therapist. They made an effort to educate themselves by reading books and watching videos. Their goal was to make their child feel comfortable and loved, without making him feel isolated or different due to his condition. With passing days, he started talking but with a bit of stammering.

They realized that he loved music the most. Singing and playing the Tabla were his favourites. However, their close-knit family suggested that music was a waste of time and that he should put more effort into studying. As parents, they listened to their hearts and motivated him to fulfil his passion. However, challenges emerged first, even before they could step forward.

They approached the best of the best music teachers, but none were ready to teach only because he was a special child, and he stammered. The speech therapist had assured them he would do well, and the stammering is only temporary.

There is a saying, ‘Those who work hard toward their goal will taste success.’ This became their mantra, helping them overcome each difficulty, one step at a time. No other words mattered anymore.

One evening during their walk, they noticed a board adorned with rice lights outside a residential complex. They stopped to read it, and an ear-to-ear smile lit their face. 

Their efforts bore fruit. They found a music teacher for their son. The teacher, in her mid-forties, taught underprivileged children as well as those rejected by other instructors on various platforms due to their stuttering, pronunciation difficulties, or struggles with singing.

The teacher handled each kid with care. Though imperfect, they were immensely talented, and she knew exactly how to strike the right chords within them.

Each child made gradual progress and was commendable. A few parents who had lost hope couldn’t believe their eyes and ears when they heard their children sing.

Surya’s stammering was reduced to a great extent with the help of his speech therapist. Their happiness doubled, and they were on cloud nine, when Surya got an opportunity to perform on a public platform.

Many special kids from various parts of the country were going to share the stage. The tickets were overbooked.

Suhas and Surabhi couldn’t contain their joy. They thanked the universe for guiding them to follow their hearts instead of listening to the so-called relatives who dismissed music as a waste of time.

The event began with an appreciation of each child and their teachers. Parents were felicitated with mementos to recognise their role in raising these children and encouraging them to pursue their interests rather than pushing them into academics.

The first name was announced. The child came on stage with confidence and rocked. Second, third, fourth – children came one by one to perform. The auditorium filled with non-stop applause.

After a brief break, the second half of the program began. “Please welcome Surya with a round of applause! He is not only going to sing but also play the Tabla. I am sure you all won’t be able to stop your feet from tapping today—even those who have never danced before will find themselves dancing!” the host announced.

Surya performed like a seasoned artist, as if Goddess Saraswati herself sat beside him, guiding every note. The audience rose to their feet and applauded him.

After the performance, Surya touched his Guru’s feet and took her blessings. Watching this, tears of joy welled up in his parents’ eyes. From that day on, they never felt their child was different from others. Inspired, Surabhi and Suhas started an NGO called 'Aarohan' to promote specially-abled children in the performing arts. They also made videos to educate and support other parents, encouraging them to recognise their child’s potential and allow them to pursue what they truly love.

Surabhi didn’t stop there. She completed a course and became a certified special needs trainer. Soon, she got an opportunity at one of the best schools, where she taught with love and compassion. She believed that these children were no different; only their needs were.

Although every day was a new challenge, she held on to patience. She celebrated small victories with great enthusiasm. Her unwavering belief in the children’s potential made her a guiding light in their lives.

On the other hand, the event management company who had uploaded videos of Surya on YouTube and other social media forums received immense love from music lovers. Likes and comments flooded, praising Surya’s incredible talent. Soon, he had a huge fan following. Suhas and Surabhi started receiving calls from various organisations, eager to connect with the young star.

*****

Surya started to grow. He did well in his studies, too, but was more passionate about learning music. His parents supported him and helped him learn various forms of music and instruments.

One day, while he was practicing one of the instruments, he couldn’t play and was making mistakes. Suhas who was observing him, asked, “what happened, Surya? Are you not well?”

“I..I am sss…sca…red.” Surya stammered.

In months, he had never stammered and was very clear in his speech. But today he wasn’t confident.

Suhas pulled him close, took his hand in his, and asked, “Why are you scared? I can see a self-doubt seed sprouting.”

“Da…dad, today at school, one of the teachers hit a student badly because he self-talked and wet his pants in class. He punished me, made me stand on the bench for a long time, and said I’m a failure, that I will never achieve anything in life, just because I gave a wrong answer to his question. Is he right? I don’t want to go to school anymore,” Surya said, his voice trembling with sadness.

He kept repeating the words, “I am a failure.”

Suhas swallowed his anger and gently replied, “Surya, how can you call yourself a failure? Don’t you remember the awards you’ve won for your music? Grades are not everything in life. Everyone is unique and has their strengths. Just like you found your passion in music, maybe your classmate has something he loves to do—he doesn’t know how to express it yet. If you talk to your classmate and help him discover what he enjoys, his self-talk might fade. He, too, will excel the way you did in music. Now don’t worry. I will talk to the teacher about this.” Suhas calmed him and put him to sleep.

Suhas spoke to the teacher and warned him about the consequences of mistreating or bullying the children. Things remained calm for a while, but soon, the teacher began harassing Surya. He threatened him, saying not to complain again or else he would hurt Surya and other children.

Surya stayed quiet and never complained. But his self-confidence drastically went down. He stopped playing instruments and refused to sing. Suhas and Surabhi did their best to find out what happened, but Surya didn’t open up out of fear.

He started to fall sick often. Surya either sat quietly in his room or slept the whole day.

One morning, while Surya was fiddling with his mother’s phone, a message popped up. “Surya is nominated for a national-level special talent award.”

As soon as he read his name and the word award, his face lit up and a wide grin spread across his face. He dashed into the kitchen and threw his arms around his mother.

Surabhi wondered what had brought that smile to Surya’s face, that sparkle in his eyes, after so many days. However, seeing him happy brought warmth to her heart. She gently tapped the wooden table in the kitchen and whispered to herself, “Touch wood.” 

“Yes, darling. What is it? she asked, her voice filled with joy. “I’m so happy to see those dimples again!”

Surya giggled and handed her the phone, excitedly pointing at the message.

“Surabhi quickly read it. “Oh wow, that’s such great news. Did you tell Daddy?” She asked.

“No. I call him? But my teacher.” Surya said excitedly, leaving his sentence incomplete.

“Yes, beta. But the correct way to say it is, Shall I call him or can I call him? You want to call your teacher first?” Surabhi gently corrected and asked.

Surya repeated the words, mimicking her. Seeing this, Surabhi chuckled and said, “Oh, you little brat! Copycat!” And they both burst into laughter.

Surabhi called his teacher and shared the good news.

“Mam, Surya wants you to join us at the award function. We will leave around 10 a.m. tomorrow and pick you up.” Surabhi informed.

Suhas’s joy knew no bounds when he heard the news. But more than that, Surya’s smile meant the world to him.

With only a day left for the function, Surabhi helped Surya prepare the speech he would deliver during the award function.

The special day arrived. Surya shared the stage with artists who had already won numerous accolades. Among them, he stood out. He was the only child with special needs, shining brightly in his remarkable way.

When Surya’s name was announced, he moved forward, waving his hands and blowing flying kisses to the audience.

The host with a warm smile extended the microphone toward Surya and said, “Would you like to say a few words?”

“Yes, yes,” Surya said and took the microphone.

He first thanked the jury and then recited the words his mother had taught him. To his parents' surprise, he added a few words of his own.

“I would like to share something with you,” Surya said, his voice steady and clear.

“Today, if I am standing on this stage, it’s because of my parents who recognized my passion and helped me grow. A few days ago, one of the teachers at my school mistreated and bullied me, as well as a classmate. When I told my parents, the teacher threatened to harm me. But I want to tell you all something important: we may have special needs, but we are not different from you. All we need is your support and motivation. Kindness costs nothing. Be kind to everyone. Thank you.”

Surya’s speech melted hearts. The room fell silent for a moment, and then everyone rose to their feet, applauding him and his thoughts.

“Now, time to present the award.” The host announced.

“Ma'am, could you please call my music teacher to give me this award”? Surya requested.

The host announced the name of the teacher. The teacher came on stage. Her eyes welled up with tears. She handed the trophy and the medal to Surya and hugged him tightly.

Surya’s parents felt immensely proud of him for his honest words. They looked at each other, their eyes glistening with tears, not of sadness, but happiness and overwhelming gratitude. They silently thanked the universe for choosing them to be the guiding light, not just for Surya but for many such children.

As Surya stepped down from the stage, still waving at the crowd, the applause continued. He wasn’t a boy with special needs anymore—he was a symbol of hope.

Holding Surya’s hand, both Surabhi and Suhas leaned in and whispered in his ear,
“We thought we were shaping your life... but now we know, it’s you who’s shaping ours. Thank you, son.”