What's her mistake ? - 27

Nammu Aunty was very moody the whole day after we came back from the park. The oncologist had given some figures. The figures were alarming.

He had told, “There are 5 lakh deaths due to cancer in our country alone. From past 3 years, the number is rising by 10,000 every year”

Nammu Aunty had made just one comment. “Dammu, what were the figures the oncologist gave? The prevalence of cancer in the country is about 27 lakh. The incidence of new cancer cases every year in the country is about 11 lakh. We are just two of the big number Dammu! Now onwards I will only think of how to help the cancer patients. I will never worry about what has happened to me. We will see how we can help some people at least. The awareness of cancer, I think, is more important than the disease itself”

Dammu nodded. “You are right Nammu. Prevention is better than cure. I think you are more moved with the fact that the people you met today do have problems which look bigger in magnitude than ours” She stressed the word ‘ours’, I thought.

Dammu does not look as if she has problems. So, she is indirectly telling Nammu Aunty not to worry.

The pancreas cancer affected lady was in good hands. She had good treatment. But two men and two women in that group were being ill-treated by their children. 

“So, there is no hard and fast rule that all children are bad. The women with laryngeal cancer and liver cancer have kept their children away. They have enough money even after giving property to their children. The result is most of the elders have to suffer from both the disease and the loneliness either brought by themselves or by their children. Sad state of affairs!”  said Nammu Aunty.

I remembered that Nammu Aunty’s children themselves are ignoring her. It must be piercing her like a pin. She was not ready to talk about it because she feels that one day they would come back to her.

We had reached home from the park.

Nammu Aunty went to her room to sleep. I knew she was moody. May be she was remembering her children. May be she wanted to see her grandchildren. But how? I was not able to fathom.

Thanks to Dammu. She took Nammu Aunty (and me too!) under her wings. Why?

At that moment I wanted to know a truth from Dammu. I had to ask her that only when Nammu Aunty was not around.

Dammu was sitting in a chair on the lawn. The shadow of the big house was wide enough to give shelter from the sun. I sat next to her.

Nammu Aunty had come out for lunch and had gone back to her room. She was carrying a book on cancer. It looked as if she was planning to do something.

“I have a question” I said when Dammu put down the book she was keenly reading all this time. I did not want to disturb her when she was doing something useful like reading a book.

“Tell me young man! It is not every day that you ask a question. It must be very important!” she smiled at me.

The smile encouraged me and gave me courage. “Why have you taken Nammu Aunty as your friend? You have never known her before?” I asked.

Dammu smiled and said, “I think I told you earlier. She resembles my elder sister. That is why!”

“But you are the only child as per the narration of your life story!” I said indignantly.

“Hold on young man! Are you accusing me of telling a lie?” she asked severely. But there was a glint in her eyes which I could not understand.

“Not that Dammu. You never mentioned about any other relation in your family. So....” I left the sentence incomplete.

“So, you have become a police and enquiring me?” she stood up and put her left hand on her left hip.

I was embarrassed. Why should I worry about this? Actually I was eager to  know why I have been taken into her house.

“She resembles my sister... my husband’s first wife....” she said seriously.

“Oh!” I uttered. I did not expect this reply. I know that the first wife can be addressed as ‘didi’ in Hindi which means elder sister.

“Young man, now you want to know how closely they resemble each other...? Yes, both have two eyes, one nose, two ears...” she stopped by looking at my open mouth and started laughing.

“You are priceless young man! You still did not know why I have taken Nammu into my house? Then listen!”