* Father * ~ © Abhijit, 2014 This incident took place two years ago. The place was Delhis Indian Spinal Injuries Centre. My grandfather was admitted there. I stayed there with him overnight. The waiting lounge had no empty chairs so I decided to go and sit in my car which was parked in the parking lot. At the parking lot, I noticed a small commotion. A car had arrived and an old man, probably in his sixties, was being helped out of the car by the hospital staff. I saw that a young man standing in the middle of it all was getting very angry. Dad, did you urinate on the seat? Couldnt you hold it for a minute? he scolded the old man. The old man was shaking due to weakness. He looked at his son apologetically but could not say anything, either due to weakness or due to embarrassment. They rushed the old man inside the hospital. I sat inside my car and started wondering why the young man behaved that way. A few minutes later I fell asleep. I woke up at dawn and went to check on my grandfather. After getting to know that he was doing okay, I came back to my car and started eating a sandwich that my mother had packed for me. I noticed that the young man was standing outside his car and sipping tea or coffee. I started a casual conversation. What happened to your father bro? He had not been eating properly for many days. Yesterday he started shaking all over so we had to rush him here. This was the nearest hospital we could find. We chatted about the pros and cons of that hospital, about medical expenses and inflation in general, before I had spoken to him enough to tell him what I actually wanted to tell him. Bro, I know you got stressed out, but you shouldnt be so harsh on your father. He isnt well and he needs encouragement from you during this time. I know, but it gets irritating at times. He is a heart patient. and his kidneys are fine. I dont know why he couldnt control his urine. How do you know whether his kidneys have also not stopped functioning properly? Organs tend to fail in succession. It happened with my dad too, I told him. What happened to your dad? he asked me. He was a heart patient too, but finally all of his organs started failing one after the other. I am not here for him. I am here for my grandfather. My father passed away last year, I replied. His expression on hearing this was one of regret and guilt. He did not speak for an entire minute. Then I got a call from the nurse and had to go inside again. I did not see that young man again that day. Three days later I saw him again. His father had been shifted to a ward next to where my grandfather was admitted. I noticed that the son was taking good care of his father. I dont know if my conversation with him had any impact, and its okay if it didnt. The son was looking after his father, and that was all that mattered.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 10:54:24 +0000
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