WARD NO. 14
Current Day...
Dr. Raj Krishnan, please tell us
something about this wonderful building. A journalist asked me in an interview.
It’s not just a building, it’s a dream, I said confidently. I was living for
myself all these years, but now I shall live for others, I said addressing the
conference. It was a dream of my late mother Mrs. Meera Krishnan, whose
selfless love and sacrifices enlightened my life. It would give me rapture
happiness to serve the society. I learned the blissful art of giving from her.
I owe everything to her, I said with moist eyes. The conference hall was
covered by applauds. Flashes of lights started pouring in the conference hall
as I finished my speech. As the conference was adjourned, I
went back to my cabin. I sat on my chair and took out a piece of paper from my
pocket, it was the letter handed over to me by my mother, my only family.
Memories started flashing again and again in my mind. I was lost in her
thoughts. Things came alive again… Two years back... Dr. Raj, somebody shouted from
behind. I turned to see who it was? Doctor there is an emergency, the ward boy
screamed as he ran towards me. What makes you scream so loud Bhaskar? I
questioned. Doctor, please hurry up the patient in the ward no. 14 has
encountered a severe heart attack. “Patient no. 14”. It
alarmed me. My hands were trembling as I started to proceed towards the ward.
My steps were brisk alike my heart beats. I could feel a high intensity of
tension and anxiety within me as I ran past through the wards, ward no.
10,11,12,13...and as I was approaching the ward no.14, I started feeling very
numb and pale. My conscience began to give me some negative intuitions as if
something wrong was about to happen. Please come fast, a voice came from inside
the ward. It was Dr. Rahul, in action, all prepared for the big surgery. I
began to move slowly towards the bed where the patient was lying. With every
step approaching close to the patient, my heart sank and guilt started oozing
in swiftly. I saw the patient’s face and waited for doctor Rahul to comment,
God I was running short of words. Every passing moment brought with it
a whack of nervousness in me. A strange fear followed my thoughts. I came to a
standstill. A surgery required immediately Dr. Raj, said Dr. Rahul rubbing his
forehead with his handkerchief. Bhaskar, manage for the stretcher quickly. Sister, bring her to the operation
theatre fast without wasting any further time. Everything was happening at a
faster pace inside the ward that left me reluctant to move any further. Dr.
Raj, I have gone through the medical reports of the patient, he said. I am scared,
we need to call the family members of the patient without wasting a minute, he
finished saying all in one breathe. I was taken aback. “The
family members!” These words kept haunting me as I came closer to the
patient’s bed. I was in trauma. Without any clue to react further, I decided to
walk outside the ward for some fresh air. For the first time the atmosphere in
the Ward made me uneasy though I was used to it being a doctor, but today was
something different. I started turning back when suddenly I could feel a warm
grip on my palm. It was the patient’s trembling hand that was trying to stop
me. Her soft wrinkled hand touched me with motherly warmth. I could feel the
warmth in my hand and realised how cold my body became while experiencing the unexpected
distress of facing the patient. A sudden gush of panic ran through my body. I turned around slowly. Gathering a
lot of courage, I lifted my eye lashes to see her face, though I was unable to
see directly in her eyes. Tears rolled down her cheek as she saw me looking at
her. My fingers wanted to wipe her tears, but my guilt never gave me the
opportunity to do so. I kept looking at her emotionless. “Beta” she said with a soft smile on her face, as she looked at me,
still in tears. Please sit here, I wanted to give you something. I knew what it
must be. My intuitions were warning me terribly and that very moment I wanted
to escape and run away, so just trying to avoid further conversation, I asked
her not to speak, as a doctor I took the charge in this moment. “You are not supposed to speak, please take
rest.” We shall talk after your operation, I said hastily without making
any eye contact with her. I need to take you to the operation theatre soon. And
I literally avoided speaking to her, but this time it was out of concern. “Sister”, I shouted and looked around for
the help. “Beta”,
consider it as my last wish, and
please listen to me first, for I know I am not going to live now, she requested
fastening the grip of her fingers around my palm. Perhaps this is my last
conversation, she said in a weak still confident voice. A sudden shock ran
through my face. My throat became dry and I was frozen for a moment, this time
I dared myself to look in her eyes straight, the request that she just said,
was clearly seen in her weak eyes that were full of tears now, as it met mine. “Doctor
that patient is breathing her last, she won’t survive”. I overheard the
ward boy saying this to the anaesthetist while they walked past the passage
area. We need to check the blood pressure, said the anaesthetist as they both
walked inside the ward. Dr. Raj, are you ok, inquired the anaesthetist, looking
at me. “Hmm.. I am ok”, I said
assuring myself. “Dr., we have made all
the necessary arrangements in the operation theatre and I have brought the
stretcher to take the patient for the surgery”, said the ward boy Bhaskar
in a plain voice. “Hurry! Up said the
anaesthetist and started walking towards the patient”. “Waaiiiiitttt!” I literary shouted aloud at him in a
reflex. “I am aware of the emergency that
has arisen here, but before taking the patient to the operation theatre there
is an important step left to be undertaken still”. I said, this time
lowering my voice keeping into consideration the shocked expressions of both of
them. I asked them to leave the room soon and wait outside for some time; “I shall call you once this important task is
undertaken”, I confirmed. Please leave
me alone for just a few minutes... Amassing a lot of courage, I
approached her and sat beside her, still numb. She took my hand in hers while
her eyes still glued on my face. I was nervous. She caressed my hand as if
assuring me not to worry. I have mentioned in it some important facts of my
life, she said handing me a piece of paper. It startled me. “Had it not been related to you, I would have
never handed this letter to you”, she explained in a firm voice. I want you to read it and decide
yourself about the deal. ‘The deal’, I
recollected in my mind these words again and again. She placed her hand on my
head and said, “Please forgive me, beta”, if it’s
possible for you to do after reading this letter. Curiosity caught me amidst of
the situation and I stated unfolding the letter with a blank mind. To my Dearest Son,My only family... “Raj you came in my life with a new
ray of hope. You brought a lot of joy in my life. My world always surrounded
you till your father; Mr. Mohan Krishnan took you away from me. Yes, it is
indeed true. I am lying on a dead bed, so would never lie in front of you my
child. Your birth was not as fortunate as
any other children. However, for me your birth is a divine accomplishment that
made me complete. You were the only treasure of my life which I looked upon, to
live my meaningless life. I would always remain grateful to God for having
given me my life’s biggest strength, my only family in form of you. Alike any
other mother, I too had certain dreams stored in for you. You brought into me a
lot of courage to fight with the world. Amidst every odd that came my way, I
decided to make you a good person. You were and always be my aspiration to live
my dear Raj. But, like they say, “When you
have your best laugh, watch out for the danger awaiting you at the other end….”
It’s the cycle of life, “After the thunder, the rains must come.” I decided to leave the state and
locate somewhere else, keeping your safety as a prime motive in my mind. But, I
was helpless and trapped in the circle of life again. That day when I was
standing at the bus stop for leaving this town, I heard someone calling me from
behind. As I turned back to see who it was, I found your father, Mr. Krishnan
standing with folded hands and begging in front of me. He asked me to hand over
you to him. He was standing helpless in front of me. I need your help Meera, he
said in a low voice. Please give me my son back. I need him in my life. He is my only hope to live in this
world, I said in an agitated voice. Where were you when he was born? Did you
ever bother to know about both of us ever? You were busy enjoying your life
with your wife. I questioned him angrily. You have no right to claim his
custody because you ran away like a timid when it came to face the world. But,
I won’t forgive you so easily, and shall never give Raj to you, I said firmly. Please Meera, give me my child, for I
have promised my dear wife to look after him all through my life, he said, this
time with tears in his eyes. He held my hand and said my wife passed away two
years back, on the same date when Raj was born. On her death bed, during her
last breath, I confessed in front of her about our relationship and our son, Raj.
I asked her to forgive me, but all in vain. But, few minutes before her death,
she asked me to promise her that I would bring Raj home and look after him all through my life as repentance. It was her last wish,
she said and died. I thought that this was the only way to repent through my
life. So I decided to come to you and request you to give me Raj again in my
life. He said this and was shattered. I
took pity on him and asked why I need to sacrifice all the time? To which he
said, I won’t let you down this time, I would raise him as good as ever. Shall fulfil
all his needs and shall bestow on him love and care, both as a father as well
as a mother. I promise Meera. He said assuring me. I thought for a while and said,
though I dreamt of all the pleasures and good fortunes for you all my life, I won’t
be able to match to, what Mr. Mohan can give you. He was a rich man after all,
everything that money can buy, he would give you and everything that money
can’t buy he would deal for it. Years back, it was our relationship
that served as a deal for him to marry your mom and now it was you who were
dealt against my motherhood. Raj, don’t be ashamed of me when you
come to know about my identity beta. I have always prayed for your betterment
and good luck from my heart. Today, when I see you successful in your life I
thank God for your wellbeing and somewhere to Mr. Mohan too, whom I owe my
motherhood to after all, he was your father beta. He loved you the most in this
world. He was there for you always, whenever you needed him. He may be not the
best for me, but undoubtedly he was the best for you, and trust me I have zero grudges
for him now, I have forgiven him long back...all my heartbroken moments were
healed the day I heard about your upbringing and your success. I am proud of
you beta. Whatever I dreamt for you, he fulfilled and you were living it. I
wonder, what would I have done, had I been in his place for your upbringing?
After all, I was a prostitute. “A prostitute by profession, but a
mother by heart” God bless you my child. Please forgive me, if you
take me as a person who gave you birth.”
The letter might have ended, but my emotions and tears didn’t know
where to end!“Where
is Bhaskar?” A loud voice fell into my ears bringing me back into the
situation. It was Dr. Rahul instructing someone outside the ward. “We
need some more blood, the patient is sinking, said Dr. Rahul as he progressed
towards the operation theatre”. Dr. Raj, common we need to operate her soon
as possible. I was standing motionless again. Didn’t know how to react? “Somebody please call the relatives”, we
need the blood. Leaving her behind in the room, “Dr. Rahul...”, I said walking down the
passage. “Oh! Dr. Raj...”, he said
and tapped on my shoulder. “Doctor...”,
I began in a low voice, “please take my
blood to operate”. “Are you running
out of your mind”? Dr. Rahul said surprisingly. You are coming inside the
operation theatre to operate the patient. Common hurry up, fast, he ordered. “Bhaskar, just inform the family members that
we need B+ve urgently”, Dr. Rahul commanded this time. “Bhaskar
wait!” I said. “Take my blood, it’s matching with her blood group...” after all “I am the
only family member, this patient has”. I said, more to myself. I am her only
hope to live... her only family...her Son (I murmured with tears in my eye)"FOR THE FIRST
TIME, I LOOKED ABOVE AND PRAYED FOR HER NOT AS A PATIENT, BUT A MOTHER THIS
TIME”
- ZELAM TAMBE
No comments:
Post a Comment