What's her mistake ? - 17

I did not know what to do! Should I tell Nammu Aunty? Does she deserve to have this news when she is suffering?  I was in this dilemma till I reached the special room where Nammu Aunty was being treated.

She was not there. Only Dammu was there.

“Nammu has been taken for treatment. The chemotherapy” said Dammu, seeing the question in my eyes.

And she shuddered.

“Young Man, I don’t know why this disease comes to anyone. Whether it is our food habits or the weather or ...”she let a heavy breath out, “our luck”

Then she explained what could  happen to Nammu Aunty because of Chemotherapy. It will cause hair loss and nausea. Also dental and oral complications.

I felt very bad for Nammu Aunty. I should even feel bad for Dammu who has already undergone Chemotherapy and Radiation which are painful while undergoing.

“Nammu may have  mouth sores, infections, dry mouth, bleeding of the gums and lining of the mouth and general soreness and pain of the mouth..” Dammu was mentioning  them as if they are some Mantras.

I stopped her lifting my hand. Dammu let out a sad smile. “ Young man, even to listen to this, you are feeling bad, how about us, who are undergoing this torture?” and she put her hand on my arm and said, “You better know it. It helps in knowing”.

She gave some details. Chemotherapy works by killing rapidly growing cells. In someone with cancer, the cancer cells are typically the fastest growing cells in his or her body. Unfortunately, chemotherapy also may attack certain healthy cells which normally also grow quickly. For instance, the cells lining the oral cavity are fast growing and can be damaged by chemotherapy.

She ended saying, “Let her treatment be over. Oral problems usually go away after treatment ends. However, Like some people, she may continue to experience oral problems following chemotherapy. We will make sure our doctor and dentist are aware of any persistent side effects.”

I could only nod. Then I asked her what she did to avoid side effects.

She replied, “Doctor recommend sipping water, eating ice chips, and keeping mouth moist by chewing sugarless gum and candies to help prevent dryness and irritation”

After waiting for an eternity, Nammu Aunty came to the room. She looked very dull. She did not want to even speak to any of us. She just wanted to sleep.

It continued for about a week. Our life fell into a routine. I used to stay in the house in the night. In the mornings I stayed back and Dammu went home. In the afternoon, she came with food for both of us.   Then we used sit watching Nammu Aunty. During the night I went back to the house. Though I insisted, Dammu did not allow me to sleep in the hospital during nights.

“Young man, it is my duty and I will do it. You are helping me fine, in whatever you are doing” she said when I insisted that she should go back to the house and I stay with Nammu Aunty.

After a week she was little better. But the hair loss mentioned by Dammu was happening. Dammu tried to comb her hair carefully and failed. Nammu Aunty’s voice was weak. She was not able to speak louder than a whisper. She said her mouth and tongue felt very sore.

We came home on the eighth day. Before we left, the oncologist said to Dammu, “You know how things work, Madam Damayanthi! You know how to take care also” and Dammu nodded seriously.

Nammu Aunty brightened the moment we reached home or rather the moment we left from the hospital. She hates hospitals, I inferred.

We sat on the lawn after our dinner. The cool breeze was very pleasant.

Nammu Aunty looked at Dammu and asked, “Dammu, you were asking what is a husband before I fell sick. If you don’t mind, I would like to hear your life story to the end. Can you continue please?”

Her voice was barely a little above the whisper.

Dammu, I think, had got prepared to hear this. She nodded and told, “Yes, husband, Nammu, I had one. But I don’t know what to call him!! He was like Dushyantha to Shakuntala who underwent a Gaandharva vivaaha with God as the witness. We had no other witness for our marriage”

Nammu Aunty nodded.

“My husband from Gaandharva vivaaha died on the same day when he came to meet my father” said Dammu.