I wrote this little story with a play in mind. Enjoy!
Edit- Some of my posts are written in Hindi (Indian language).
[Scene 1- Mr. Singh is seated at the dining table lost in deep thoughts. His daughter-in-law priya enters the room carrying dinner. ]
Priya- Papaji please stop worrying about mummyji. Unka ilaaj toh karva rahe hai na hum log?
Mr. Singh- Rehne de beta tu nahi samjhegi. You never will understand what I am going through right now. In fact no one will ever understand.
Priya ( placing the dinner tray on the table) – Theek hai Papaji aapko nahi maanna naa sahi. Lekin kam se kam khaana toh kha lijiye. Warna aapke bete aake mujhe phirse sunayenge ki unke papa ka bilkul dhyan nahi rakhti.
[Priya stamps her feet and leaves the room murmuring something to herself. Mr. Singh is still sitting there with lines of worry over his face and lost in deep thoughts.]
[Scene 2- Mr. Singh’s son Deepak enters the room. He has just returned from office and is still holding his attaché. He calls out to priya informing her that he is home and glances at Mr. Singh and slowly proceeds towards the dining table.]
Deepak (sitting besides Mr. Singh) - Papa, what is the matter? Why do you look so worried?
Mr. Singh- As if you do not know, beta. Your mom has been the life of this house. All her life she has dedicated herself to us and this house. It’s a pity that we cannot have her with us anymore.
Deepak- Well, papa you know very well that mom’s Alzheimer’s was progressing day by day. We could not keep her at home. She used to forget things, places and even us. Many a times I had to bunk my office to fetch her from an unknown place. And as it is she is getting a good treatment at the hospital. So please stop worrying. Take care of your health.
(Priya enters carrying a glass of water bearing a tired expression on her face)
Priya- Thank God Deepak you are home. Ab tum hi samjhao apne papa ko, ki who kuch kha le. Unke nahi khaane se mummyji theek toh nahi ho jaane waali na?
Deepak (glaring angrily at priya) – kabhi toh kuch accha bola karo? Aur behtar hai ki chup hi raho.
Priya (in a sobbing voice) - Meri yaha sunta hi kaun hai. Mai to ja rahi hu maayke kal.
(Priya leaves the room sobbing)
Deepak (holding Mr. Singh’s hand) – Papa please have something. We will be going to visit mom tomorrow.
(Mr. Singh gets up and leaves leaving Deepak sitting there with tearful eyes)
(Scene 2- Mr. Singh enters the doctor’s clinic. His hand is bleeding and he is waiting for the doctor to attend him. There is a long waiting of patients but the doctor notices and recognizes Mr. Singh. He asks his assistant Ms. Renu to attend him.)
Renu (while gently cleaning Mr. Singh’s wound) – The doctor has been talking of you. I know you very well Mr. Singh. How did you manage to cut yourself so hard?
Mr. Singh (with a smile) – Oh well. I was just chopping some fruits for my wife. You know I’ll be meeting her after a month. I didn’t even realize when the knife cut into my hand instead of the fruit. (Mr. Singh laughs heartily)
Renu (amused) – Oh that’s not nice. You should be careful. By the way, isn’t Mrs. Singh home? I mean why do you have to go out to meet her? And what are these fruits for? Is she not well?
Mr. Singh- She is in the hospital since a year. And it seems like decades since I last met her. So you can imagine my agitation.
Renu (concernedly) – Oh! I am sorry. Don’t worry Mrs. Singh will be fine and will be with you shortly.
(In the meanwhile Renu has dressed up Mr. Singh’s wound and he gets up to leave)
Mr. Singh- Thank you. How much for the dressing?
Renu- That will be 25 rs.
Mr. Singh- Okay here you go. (He turns to leave)
Renu- By the way Mr. Singh can I ask something? What ails your wife?
Mr. Singh (turning around) – she is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease since last 6 years. Her condition has worsened now.
Renu- I am really sorry to hear that. But I am sure that she will be more than happy to see you. (She smiles)
Mr. Singh- She doesn’t recognize me any more. I always tell her that I am a friend of hers. We chat, we laugh and she is more than happy to spend time with me.
Renu (surprised) – She doesn’t recognize you anymore and still you go there to meet her?
Mr. Singh (smiling) - Yes she doesn’t recognize me anymore but I do. Good day and thanks a lot for the dressing.
(Mr. Singh leaves the clinic leaving Renu pondering over this beautiful fairy tale love story that she had encountered that day.)
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