By: davidgrace.near
David-Grace
It was the 3rd day in the month of July, 2013, and Marmaj decided to take a break from the office work, from the crowds, and the busy noise in the environment so she could relax a bit. She decided to leave the country to relax on a beach in Kenya in a place named White Elephant Sea Lodge. She booked off from work and readied her mind to relax.
On the first day of her vacation, MarmaJ left her home at 6:00am in order to do some sight-seeing and catch her flight which had been slated for 10am. On the drive to the airport, she passed through many colourful neighbourhoods and by soccer fields and community buildings. Although it was early in the day, as the car began to drive by yet another soccer field, she saw a large crowd assembled. Windows rolled down, and her hair fluttering, MarmaJ poked her head out the window and heard the most beautiful voice singing a melodious song. MarmaJ couldn’t resist the angelic voice and decided to stop the driver to see who was singing in the midst of the crowd. She checked her watch – she had just enough time for a small adventure before her flight.
She asked her driver to pull over, then slipped out of the car, and moved closer. She murmured “excuse me” and navigated in. Luckily, she was able to squeeze herself into those assembled to get a clearer view of the singer who turned out to be a radiant young lady. MarmaJ guessed she was in her early 20s, and Marmaj fell in love with her at first sight.
After the lady finished singing, the crowd cheered her and and when they saw there would be no more songs, they began to move away in groups, sit on the grass, or disperse. Marmaj waited patiently as others congratulated the singer, and Marmaj finally approached to commend her. With a quick glance towards the road, she saw her car was still there, and relieved, she turned her attention to the young lady, Marmaj noticed she had a companion – someone who was translating everyone’s words into signs. Marmaj soon discovered that the singer’s name was Subaru.
MarmaJ asked Subaru, through her translator, if she could talk with her for a few minutes and Subaru nodded yes. Subaru smiled at the last stragglers, and the three of them walked down to a shaded, quiet place on the field and sat down on the grass. Then, MarmaJ told Subaru how she’d been on her way to the airport but had been attracted by her voice and had to stop to listen to her song. Subaru blushed and smiled and MarmaJ told her that she was drawn to her and would love to know more about her. Subaru gave a deep sigh and began to narrate her story to MarmaJ.
She told the very moving story of how she had been an orphan and she’d lost both her parents and hearing in the same ghastly road accident her family was involved in on their way to a housewarming party when she was 12 years old. Subaru, who was from a humble family of 4 who had lived together in joy and peace, was the first child and only daughter of her parents. She had a younger brother named Paligo whom she loved so much. Their parents, who were very gentle and kind people, loved and cared for her and her sibling very much. When her parents discovered her singing talent as a child, they helped her nurture and groom it. But now that they were dead, she had no one to help. Becoming deaf had only compounded her woes. But she had noticed since she’d lost her hearing, her other senses had become sharper. This newfound “talent” had helped her. And she no longer felt her deafness was a loss – it was part of her – and she continued to sing.
She had been surviving on the money and food people gave her whenever she sang at the field. She had also been saving some money people gave her, hoping that one day it would be enough to somehow help her music career. Hearing Subaru’s story moved MarmaJ to tears; she marveled at the girl’s strength and resilience. MarmaJ asked Subaru about her companion and Subaru smiled at Elina and gestured for her to tell her own story. Elina was also an orphan and they had met on a field some years ago. Elina had learned sign language from her late mother who was an instructor and since then, Elina helped translate for Subaru what people said. Subaru could read lips in most situations, but Elina and her were inseparable. MarmaJ was filled with compassion for Subaru and Elina after listening to their story. She got their home address and promised to help them by taking Subaru to music school and help her start a professional music career, and by taking Elina to school and providing them both with better shelter. MarmaJ checked her watch with a jump and apologized quickly. She had to go!
The girls were elated and hugged MarmaJ goodbye who then continued her journey to the airport. Marma J wondered whether she’d make the flight – but it seemed less important now. She felt rejuvenated. She felt like her work mattered.
On her way to the airport, MarmaJ called her colleagues at the foundation and gave them Subaru and Elina’s details and asked them to begin work on delivering on all the promises she’d made.