The screeching of car in the porch stopped Simi’s hands on her powder puff. Her kajal filled eyes, darted to Sudhir, who was fixing his tie. He too looked at her with a subdued panic. Simi, stood up keeping down the puff, she pulled the blinds. In the neon light of porch she saw him, almost running to the door. She couldn’t see the face but she knew who it was.
‘He is back’ it was a statement rather then an information.
‘So soon?’ the fear was unmistakable.
Arranging her saree pallu on her arm, Simi went to greet him. Shiv was coming to their room. He hugged her, the fresh fragrance of cologne made her breath easy. He was cold, maybe from the high blast ac? Some habits never die, from his childhood he enjoyed his ac at full blast.
Sudhir too was standing on the door. His eyes were proud to see him. How good it felt to see his handsome son, growing swiftly and sharing his responsibilities. With proud look he patted his shoulder. It was weird, both of them never hugged each-other, it was a handshake or pat on the back. He was back after fifteen days. They both missed their only son but his coming suddenly made them little uncomfortable.
‘Are you going somewhere?
‘Yeah, you too can join us. Meera is celebrating her wedding anniversary and you are invited too.’ Simi smiled.
‘No mom, you and Dad go, I will sit with Ma, if she is not sleeping.’ Throwing his coat on the chair he ran like a kid to the stairs. Sudhir tried to stop her, Simi too was standing confused. Their eyes met and both started waiting for the inevitable question any moment. They heard his ‘Ma, ma’ clearly, they heard him opening the door, his fast pace on the wooden floor of her room and then his face, looking at them with a huge question.
‘Where is Ma?’ he was surprised.
‘Listen beta, Ma is all right but she is in the hospital. You know because of her age she was having breathing problem….so…doc said she must get admitted.’ Sudhir told him with a firm voice.
‘Ma in the hospital and you did not inform me? When was it?’
‘It is a week now. She is improving.’
‘Who is in the hospital with her?’ His irritated voice made them look at each other. Shiv knew the answer.
‘No one. Docs said, nurses could take care.’ Simi said in a whispering voice.
Shiv looked at their attire smiled a taunting smile. Turned slowly to his room. He came back with a small bag. They both were glued there. His voice brought them back to senses.
‘You can leave for your party, I am going to hospital. Now.’ without looking back, he left. The sound of car made them realize that he had left. Taking a deep breath they too left for the party.
Driving was tough in that state of mind. His eyes were blurred due to tears, which he was trying to hold forcefully. Ma! His heart wrenched at that word. His grandmother, whom he always loved more than anything was in the hospital and no one, informed him? Her beautiful, soft face danced in front of his eyes. Her smile which made him laugh always flashed through his mind. Her light footsteps, and outstretched hands, with small bites of food, which she put into his mouth with a new story every time, started buzzing in his imagination. The one, with whom he slept all his childhood, keeping his legs on her stomach, her arm under his head instead of a pillow, was in the hospital, alone? It felt like ages when he reached City hospital. He almost ran to her room after inquiring about her on the reception. He stopped in front of her room. Took a deep breath and slowly entered the room. It smelled of medicines. A dim blue light was on, she was on the bed. Looked like a shape instead of a body. Her fragile frame was hardly visible. He tiptoed to bed. Her eyes were closed. In that blue light she looked white. He looked for her hand and slowly held that in his cold hands. His eyes were welled again with tears. How vulnerable she looked in that big bed! How alone she must be when she tried to sleep every night.
He saw some pipes coming out from her nose, drip was in one hand. Her one brow was stretched upwards and there was a dried teardrop, settled in her left eye corner. Her face was sad. He sat silently, holding her free hand and slowly succumbed to sleep. He was awake when a nurse entered to give an injection to Ma. She smiled at him and asked in a sweet voice.
‘Shiv?’
‘Yeah.’ He was surprised.
‘She always talks about you,’ she smiled softly.
She was so happy to see him. Keeping his head on her fragile chest she smiled and the settled teardrop fell on the pillow. They both were happy and Shiv was talking non-stop and she was listening with a child like curiosity. When she was asleep again, he went to see the doctor. His heart stopped for a moment when doctor told him about her very critical position. Her lungs, kidney all were affected and she was not going to live more than some months at the most.
‘What are the chances if we keep her under best medication?’
‘None.’ He patted his back sympathetically.
‘May I take her home then?’
‘I would appreciate that, as she is too weak to bear the torture of treatment. In fact I spoke to your parents and suggested the same, but they said she would be treated better in the hospital rather than home.’ Being the family doctor he knew his attachment to his grandmother.
‘You please arrange for her discharge papers, I am taking her home.’ He said in a firm voice.
When Ma came to know about the discharge she couldn’t believe. Her pale face was glowing, holding Shiv’s strong hand when she left the hospital she was looking better than her condition. She was feeling energetic and alive. Settling her in the car, he came to driving seat and smiled at her.
‘Ice-cream?’ he whispered.
Her eyes started shinning. She nodded with a smile. He started his car and went to her favorite ice-cream parlor. They both shared Vanilla cup, her favorite. After wiping her mouth, he started car and like good kids they reached home. Sharing a forbidden thing gave her immense happiness.
Sudhir and Simi were ashamed so could not say anything to Shiv. They were silently witnessing their son doing the duty that was supposedly theirs. Their slight interference would irritate him, so they were keeping a safe distance.
Shiv changed her room, now they were sharing the same room. He was taking care of her now as if she was a kid. Everyday walks, feeding, and taking care of her medicines, he was doing everything. His life stopped and started revolving around Ma. She was feeling better, happy and healthy day by day. That day Shiv decided to take her to the amusement park. She was so excited. Both sat in the middle of it and enjoyed that sunny day amongst kids around. Sipping her sugar free coffee she looked so content. The noise and cries of kids filled her with so much of energy that she walked without taking any support and looked at Shiv with a winning look. Now the acts were changed, she was a kid and he was her caretaker, whose only purpose was to see her smiling and happy. He was so proud of her. The fear of loosing her was thinning day by day. When they returned they were tired with so much of excitement. He tucked her in the bed and kissed her forehead, she smiled a beautiful smile and hugged him.
‘I love you Shiv. May god bless you. You made me so happy.’ Her eyes were filled with tears, but these were tears of gratitude and happiness. He held her in his arms and rocked her to sleep. Putting her down slowly, he was stunned to see the smile on her face. It was a dancing smile, which brighten up every cell of her face. This was the last reaction she was gone with. This was a smile of living life at the fullest. This was the smile, she chose to left as heirloom for his only grandson.
I am glad that you enjoyed this and could relate to youir owm Grandma. You miss her means that you still love her and this love is going to live for ever in your heart. And it means only one thing that she is still with you.:))
Promilla
grandparents are real treasure s for grandkids-
simply loved this one- maybe this is my revisit- even so- loved it again :)
here is something I wrote on Grandma
hope u like it
My grandma is
an oasis
a shady oak
a delicious chocolate cake
a delightful prankster
a curmudgeon
the head honcho
the clan leader
the arbitrator
beautiful inside out
does not suffer fools gladly
and I love her!
binaguptapoetry
The reason grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they have a common enemy.
Sam Levenson
(1911 - 1980)
Very touching! The grandson understood the responsibility of looking after his `Ma' whereas her son Sudhir shirked his responsibility! Very beautifully worded!
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Thanks a bunch Swayam....
Your visit on my blog is always welcome.
Love
promilla
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Dear Promilla,
Lovely story ! You have shown the emotions beautifully.....
Swayam
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Hi Desiette
A warm welcome to my space.:)
I am glad that you enjoyed this and could relate to youir owm Grandma. You miss her means that you still love her and this love is going to live for ever in your heart. And it means only one thing that she is still with you.:))
Thanks a lot for your wonderful comment.
Promilla
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Very very beautiful. Your lovely story brought back memories of my own grandmother. So gentle, sweet and compassionate. I miss her!
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Hey Bhavna
A warm welcome to my space.:)
Thanks a lot for dropping in.
Promilla
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Very Touching ...
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Hey Bina
This is beautiful, I got a lump in my throat while reading this.
I lost my grandma years back and I still miss her. She was the most important person in my life.
Thank you so much for this.:) and a hug too.
Love
promilla
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Promilla
grandparents are real treasure s for grandkids-
simply loved this one- maybe this is my revisit- even so- loved it again :)
here is something I wrote on Grandma
hope u like it
My grandma is
an oasis
a shady oak
a delicious chocolate cake
a delightful prankster
a curmudgeon
the head honcho
the clan leader
the arbitrator
beautiful inside out
does not suffer fools gladly
and I love her!
binaguptapoetry
The reason grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they have a common enemy.
Sam Levenson
(1911 - 1980)
Reply | | Report Abuse
Hey Amrita..thanks a lot for your wonderful comment. :))
Glad that you liked this.
Promilla
Reply | | Report Abuse
Hi Promilla
Very touching! The grandson understood the responsibility of looking after his `Ma' whereas her son Sudhir shirked his responsibility! Very beautifully worded!
Reply | | Report Abuse
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