Few weeks back I read a blog in MS on how a soul thinks after moving out a body.It was really awesome imagination.Now,can you just think as how you would feel if you were blind?Imagine?

Have someone ever heard of an awareness mission named "DIALOGUE IN THE DARK"?Most of them have not.It offers exhibitions and training in total darkness,creating jobs for the blind,disabled and disadvantaged worldwide.

I have recently on saturday have been to Hyderabad where I got to see this place.It was noon and me and my friend were hungry.We planned for DIALOGUE IN THE DARK to try something off our routine to have food in restraunts.The place is situated in Inorbit mall in Hyderabad's Hi Tech city.When asked at the reception,they gave an overview like they have a restraunt and an exhibition for 45 minutes in complete darkness.

Yes its complete darkness to have food and exhibition for 45 minutes.First to go inside we need to deposit all our mobile phones,keychains and things which makes noise or lights.Now the receptionist took both of us inside the restraunt.In few steps inside we were in total darkness.Even night time we have lights through some source but here its just PITCH BLACK here.

Here the receptionist left us in the hands of Mr ARUN.We just followed him in pitch darkness till he told us to sit.We both sat and we touched the table as what is there on the table.We were just feeling ourselves completely BLIND.Mr Arun came some 10 minutes later with the food we ordered.We had food and by touch n taste we guessed what we are eating.After a good half an hour we were given finger bowl and we asked Mr Arun to drop us till the gate.He carefully told us to hold his hands and follow him.We both now are able to see the light and at the same time the face of the unknown person Mr Arun came in the light.A middle aged person in his 30's wearing a black glasses.Yes,Mr Arun is blind.But in the dark he helped us overcome obstacales and served us tasty food and brought us back.

Now its time for the exhibition.Our receptionist took us to a place and gave us sticks generally used by blind persons.We and two more couples entered a dark room.Here we met Mr Shafiq.We were introduced by the receptionist to him just once and trust me,Shafiq never made any mistakes in the rest 45 minutes with our names.So using our sticks we were led by Mr Shafiq in the dark.A small shaky bridge,sounds of birds,some plants which just test the sense of our hearing.Mr Shafiq tried to test our hearing by asking questions like what is the sound of the bird and what else you are hearing etc.

We moved to another place.We were given a small bottle and Shafiq asked what are the things in the bottle.We are been tested the sense of smell.Now again we were given few things in a bowl.We just need to touch and say what the products are.Remember we are not using the most important sense of SEEING.We were made to touch few sculpture on the wall and we need to guess what the things are.Its really difficult.Next is a boat ride.How would you feel in pitch darkness riding boat and it drizzles and Mr Shafiq tells us to sing and shout and laugh.It was so nice to sit like that not knowing who are the persons beside us.

The last thing Shafiq introduced us to a lady named Mala (or Maya).I am sorry to forget her name.Here we learnt their sixth sense in the dark.She was selling cold drinks in the dark.I asked for a Coke and she charged Rs 50.I gave her Rs 100 note which I obviously know coz its my wallet.In few minutes Miss Mala replied that I gave her Rs 100.Can it really be true?She handed me five Rs 10 notes and coke bottle only.Yes we don't know if its Coke,Fanta or what bottle.All bottles will be of same shape right?Even she gave the right change.Lastly Mr Shafiq took us to the exit point.Now we are able to see Mr Shafiq's face.He is Blind too in his late 20's.Can it be really true?A blind person taking 6 perfectly able to see persons through darkness without obstacles?

Now how many of us here touch your heart and say that in past they helped some blind person to cross a road or show him path.To tell you people I never did even got chance a lot of times.Those couple of hours changed me completely.We are not handicapped but those people like Shafiq, Arun and Mala showed us that they are not handicapped just coz they can't see but they are SPECIALLY ABLED PERSONS, coz they can do the things which we can't do.

I came to know this is one of a kind in India and soon to come in Bangalore,Pune,Mumbai,Delhi and slowly to other metros.One thing Arun,Shafiq and Mala taught more.They don't care if you are Hindu or Muslim or fair or dark or of what community,they see the world in only one view.We even have the most gifted thing for sight but still we don't value other people.I salute these Specially abled people who in the few hours taught me a lot many things which even a literate person can't.Hope we learn a few from such people in life.