Yes, Nammu Aunty is not going to live for long.
“You are asking how many days?” asked the oncologist.
I dumbly nodded.
“It could be anywhere between 8 months to one year” said
he.
One year! Only that many days? I have read so many books,
heard so many speeches talking about our deed and the resultant. If we are bad
in our deeds, the life is longer. If it is the other way round, God loves to
take us back to him. If someone dies, in Hindi language they say ‘Bhagvan to
pyara ho gaya’. That means the person has become dearer to God.
But Nammu Aunty deserves better than that. Anyway the
oncologist has made the sons to pay for their mother’s treatment. This is good
news. But if Nammu Aunty comes to know about this, she will reject the help.
The time had come to take her to the hospital. The
oncologist talked to her politely and broke the news of her problem. She took
it very boldly and gave a sweet smile to the oncologist.
“It’s fine doctor. I had a good life. I have great children.
My husband was a great person. Well, I am happy to live in this world as long
as He says and ready to leave when the call comes for me to leave this world”
her words came out very clearly and without any emotions.
The oncologist was left without a reply. He could not
think of a rejoinder to these worlds.
He fumbled for words to continue, but I had observed that
he kept watching the door unconsciously. Why is he doing that? I kept
wondering.
There was a noise on the door of the consulting room and
a gush of air rushed in.
In came along with a middle aged plump lady with a heavy bosom. She was well
dressed and she was the cheeriest woman I had ever seen.
“Sorry Nammu! Am I late? I wanted to come early. But you
know these roads? Always full, whatever is the time of the day” she said like
this and sat on the chair next to Nammu Aunty.
If Nammu Aunty was as surprised as I was, she did not
show it. She looked at the new lady and told, “I know, roads are quite crowded.
From where did you come Mrs...?” she stopped. I know she was trying to know her
name.
“Dammu!” she declared.
Nammu Aunty looked at her whether to believe her or not.
Dammu Aunty(?) in rhyme with Nammu Aunty?
The oncologist now took charge of the situation.
“Sorry Mrs. Nammu. This person is known to me. Her name
is ....” he was not allowed to complete the sentence. Dammu opened her mouth
and said, “Like your name has been made into Nammu, my beautiful name
Damayanthi has been cut short into Dammmu!” There was an artificial angered
expression. But her small eyes twinkled from between the chubby cheeks and the
thick eyebrows.
Nammu Aunty smiled. Dammu was a real comical character.
She looked worried. But her eyes twinkled and the mouth kept trying to talk
something or the other.
“I am alone in this world. I have come here. This means
what, you know very well” she looked at Nammu Aunty and told, “I checked with
this doctor sir. I pleaded with him to get me a companion. He made a mention
about you. So, I came running...” she was watching Nammu Aunty’s face which had
an expression of disbelief.
“Don’t you believe....? That I came running? You think
that I can’t run with this body?” she looked at herself with dismay and said “yeah,
I can’t run. But you know?...” her tone became serious. “I wanted to catch you
today at any cost”
Nammu Aunty looked at the oncologist who was looking
apologetically.
He kept quiet for some time and then turned to Nammu
Aunty. “I have a request to make. Damayanthi madam is all alone in this world”
Nammu Aunty looked at Dammu. She made a crying face and nodded.
“Since you are alone, I thought that you and Dammu.. I mean
Damayanthi could stay together till....” he left the sentence unfinished which
I mentally completed “you two leave this world”.
Nammu Aunty looked at the oncologist as if she could not
believe her ears. Why pick on me? Was the question I could see on her face.
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