DINING IN THE DARK

Please read this true story fully before you close your eyes for today and open for tomorrow. We are sharing someone’s wonderful experience.

“I attended a fundraising event for the visually handicapped people in a centre for blind people.

As usual, since it was a Friday evening, I first thought of skipping the event, considering it could be a bit boring and rather spend the evening relaxing by some other means.

But being alone and sometimes finding it difficult to kill time, I thought of accepting the invitation and registered online for booking.

When I went there, there were approximately 40 people present. Initially we were shown a video about the visually handicapped centre. It was a short 15 minute video and quite inspiring that how people from different walks of life spend their time in helping these blind people, without expecting anything in return.

After the video, we all were gathered in a hall and were briefed about the next event.

The theme of the next event was “Dining in the Dark”.

And this is the event that turned out to be inspiring and worth sharing…

What it meant, was that we all 40+ people were going to have Dinner in a pitch Dark Room!

The next two hours were completely planned, organised, directed and executed by 3 blind youths.

One was a girl (Leader) and other two boys were assistants to her, forming a team of three blind volunteers.

The blind leader first gave us tips for dining (These were ACTUAL STANDARDS THE BLIND PEOPLE FOLLOW IN ORDER TO MAKE THEIR LIFE EASIER).

1. When you sit at your table the things will be placed as follows :
at 3 o’clock of your dish: You will find a spoon;
at 9 o’clock: fork;
at 12 o’clock: spoon;
at 2 o’clock: empty glass dish;
plate at the centre with paper napkin tucked at 6 o’clock.

2. There will be two large Jugs circulated to you. The Jug with plain walls will have water and the Jug with curved walls will have orange juice.

3. When you get your Jug based on your choice you have to pour it in your glass. You have to dip your forefinger in the glass so that when you fill it and when the liquid touches your finger, you have to stop pouring.

She asked whether everyone had understood…

All said yes, but everyone was confused and trying to remember what she had said and confirming with each other.

The next one and half hours we spent were full of fun and learning. In a completely pitch dark room where we could not see ANYTHING, we were enjoying various delicious food without seeing it.

We all 40 people were taken in groups into the dark hall.

Each one was directed by a blind person till he/she sat on a chair. We were finding it awkward because actually we were supposed to guide blind people to their destination and help them.

We were served a full 5 course dinner by this team of 3 blind people… welcome drinks, appetisers, starters, main course and desserts.

The amazing thing was that the team of 3 blind people were serving exactly vegetarian dishes to the vegetarian people who were sitting randomly in the room!

When registering online, we were asked the question to choose from “Vegetarian” or “Non-Vegetarian”. I had chosen vegetarian, being one. We were so nicely hosted that we did not have to wait in-between serves. As we were finishing one dish, we were served with next without any delay.

After approximately one and half hours of dining in the dark, the leader asked whether everyone had finished eating…

After confirmation, she switched on the lights of the dining room.

We left the Dining room with tears in our eyes.

We realised how lucky we are and how we have been gifted with beautiful eyes to see this beautiful world.

We realised how difficult the lives of blind people are (and other handicapped), without being able to see.

We realised how uncomfortable we were for just 2 hours without being able to see anything and how they must be living their entire lives.

We realised how fortunate we are, that we do not value such simple things in life that we have and cry (sometime loudly, sometime within ourselves) and run after what we don’t have… for the whole of our lives, without having time to adore all the things that we do have.

𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒍 of the true story – ‘Dining in the dark’

Be cheerful…

Open your eyes today before it closes down permanently

Adore the people who love you, speak your heart with them today.

Clear your misunderstandings soon, with the people who love you.

Make your life worthy to live on this earth.

Complete the MISSION of your life with the VISION of your eyes.”