Page 185 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

“Be strong, Au,” said the young doctor. “If nothing happens in twelve days, he might recover.”
During the hardest moment, my heart wrenched to say, “We are prepared for that, doctor.”
“Don’t lose hope, please. Some patients recover.”
After he left, I pecked Dad on his frail hands and sobbed like a child.
The next evening, a ward boy shifted Dad to Medical Ward. Doctors and nurses did everything possible
to save him. Dad’s condition deteriorated. On the third day, he lost all his consciousness. Nurses said his
vital organs were failing. But schoolwork wouldn’t leave me. I had loads of homework to complete. That
stressed me out.
“Karma, I am going home to complete my CA. The mid-year exams are near,” I said. “I will come on
the first morning. You must check on Dad, from time to time. And report to the on-duty doctor if
something worse happens to him.”
“I would do,” he said. “My friend would come tonight.”
I stroked Dad’s gray hair and whispered, “I will come tomorrow, Dad. Bye.”
On the morning of June 16, 2018, I was completing the Continuous Assessment when my phone
beeped. My heart pulsated seeing Karma’s number blink on the screen. “What’s the matter, Karma?”
“Hurry,” he said. “Dad is breathing his last.”
“What?” I flung the pen and books onto the floor. “Hurry!” I picked up the car key from the table.
“Dad’s—”
Choki scurried after me to the car. The fifteen-minute drive from Babesa to JDWNRH seemed to take
ages. I sped up, not stopping even at zebra-crossings. Only the horror gripped me.
At the hospital, I parked the car behind the old OPD building. “Lock the door, Ama!” I rushed
upstairs, two steps at a time.
Silence prevailed in the ward. From the door, I peeped into Dad’s room. They had put the screen
around his bed. Karma’s head could be seen above the screen. My legs trembled. I traipsed closer and
peeped over the screen. There lay my poor Dad in the bed, still and peaceful. No bulging eyes and no
grimacing face. He seemed only to be sleeping like he did at home.
Everything around was surreal. I couldn’t cry. I looked around nervously and muttered, “I can’t believe
any of this is real, am I dreaming?”
Karma leaned his head on my shoulder and sobbed. “He left us, Acho!”
It happened so fast. I knelt on the foot of the bed and lifted Dad’s legs onto my head, and burst out
crying. “Dad, I am sorry. I am very sorry for lying to you. Forgive me, please!”

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