MINDFULNESS (Short story)

MINDFULNESS 

‘Colonel Uncle is admitted in Apollo Hospital,’ Mummy informed me through telephone. ‘It seems... he has lung Cancer.’

♥

Like every innocent child, I too had a childhood hero - Colonel Sugathan - who slept peacefully under sedation, in the hospital room.

‘Cancer has covered almost every portion of his lungs... Chemotherapy has to be started as early as possible,’ Dr. Manohar informed us: Sunny, his one and only son and me. ‘But, his failing health is unable to withstand the powerful Chemotherapy... So, what to do?’

‘Let him decide it, when he wakes up...,’ I replied. ‘What do you say, Sunny?’

♥

‘Boys... Already, I am seventy two... Let me leave peacefully...,’ the brave soldier in him demanded, though his lungs were chocking.

‘That we will decide,’ Sunny told hesitantly. 

‘How many times, I have asked you to quit smoking? You didn't even listen to me at least once...,’ Sumithra, his beloved wife, was getting sentimental.

‘Sunny...,’ his voice toughened... ‘My life is is mine... Did you live out a life, like the one that of mine?’ Colonel Uncle asked.

‘No’

‘Then... do what I say,’

Soon, pain started tap-dancing inside his weary lungs.

‘Will you please wait outside,’ the young nurse who entered into the room requested us.

‘Shanti,’ I tried to memorize her name, printed on her id-card. 

♥

‘If we don't start treatment right now, he could be with us, may be for some three or four days... The condition of his lungs is getting deteriorated every moment... Cancer, inside the lungs, is something like a wildfire in a hot windy summer...,’ Dr. Manohar informed me in private. ‘All, we can do is taking measures to reduce his pain... I think, he needs the help of a psychologist... Let him stay out of depression,’

‘Sir, I think, you know Dr. Sarun, a noted psychologist... He is one of his nephews.’

‘Yes, I know him... May be, he can help him,’

♥

‘Psychologically, he is ten thousand times stronger than me... Dr. Manohar misjudged the tough-man!’ Dr. Sarun told me.

‘Whatever it is, you must be here with us... Is that OK?’

♥

Sumithra, his beloved better-half, could sit beside him only while he was sleeping as he loathed every unhappy face.

The first day was over.

♥

It was nearing five in the evening. Her duty time was over and Shanthi, the young nurse, was about to leave for the hostel room near to the hospital.

‘Sir, Can I sit with him for a while...,’ Shanthi asked us.

‘O! Sure!’ Dr. Sarun told her.

‘Thank you,’ she walked in.

♥

‘Hello Sir... How do you feel now?’ Shanthi asked while sitting beside him.

‘I feel much better today,’ a feeble smile appeared on his face.

‘Thanks God... You have close resemblance to my Papa’

‘Is it? That's really interesting... What is he doing now?’ asked Colonel Sugathan.

‘O! He is no more,’

‘Very sad’

‘Sir, how many daughters do you have?’

‘None! But, now, I have one...,’ the old man pressed her hand... ‘You... my precious daughter...,’ he smiled happily.

‘Thanks Papa... Shall we have some coffee?’

‘Surely’

‘Papa... You haven't told me anything about your childhood!’

‘Sure I will tell you... I was born in a small village... and my parents were very loving....,’ he started unwinding the past.

She left after spending two hours in his room. Second day was over.

♥

‘Premji... where is Shanti?’ Colonel Uncle started asking me right from the morning.

‘Today is her weekly off,’ I told casually and soon his face turned dull. 

♥

‘Good Morning Papa,’ Shanti appeared from somewhere, with some freshly cut Sun-flowers. 

‘They are really beautiful,’ he started inhaling their fresh smell. ‘They are really beautiful... And you too look so beautiful in this yellow Chureedar... (Indian dress)’

‘Thank you...They are the lovers of Sun...,’ she placed them in the flower-vase. 

‘You are right,’ added the old man. 

‘Papa... please tell me about your first love’

‘First love... ha... ha...,’ he started laughing painfully. ‘I met Sumithra just before the Indo-Pak war of 1971... She was staying with her elder brother Colonel Amar Sing Chouhan, my superior officer that time. He was real tough guy, who protected his little sister like a princess... Soon, we fell in love... He was absolutely shocked when he came to know about our relationship... He was totally against us,’

‘Very interesting,’

‘Those were beautiful days... my daughter... Soon, the war broke out... We fought the enemy like wild lions,’

‘Did you kill anyone?’

‘Yes... hundreds of enemy soldiers... And that night, Colonel Amar Sing Chouhan was badly hit with a bullet on his left thigh; I was to command his forces... We slaughtered every one of them protecting the esteem of our nation...,’ great valour appeared on his face. ‘We won the war... I was awarded with Keerti-Chakra, one of the greatest honors for bravery... and the beautiful woman I love... I love... Colonel Amar Sing Chouhan was very proud of being my brother-in-law!’ he was exhilarated with happiness. 

She left, spending more than four hours beside him. He slept peacefully the night whole night. Third day was over and the wildfire was spreading faster. 

♥

We were standing outside the hospital room.

‘Good Morning Sister,’ Sunny greeted Shanthi in the morning. ‘Are you on leave today?’

‘Yes,’ she replied while entering into the room.

‘Good Morning Shanti,’ Colonel Sugathan greeted her in a feeble voice. 

‘Good Morning Papa... Shall we have our breakfast?’

‘I am not feeling hungry... Still... what did you bring for me?’

‘Tender Chapatis and dhal... today, we are going to eat from Military mess...,’ she said smiling. ‘I made them especially for you,’

♥

‘He is very relaxed now,’ opined Sunny, who was sitting amidst all of us outside the hospital room.

‘Absolutely...,’ I said.

‘He was very happy with me, too, yesterday,’ said Sumitra aunt... ‘He wishes to be alone with his newly found daughter!’

♥

Colonel Sugathan was living out every moment of his as if he was having a quick recap of his life... That was really interesting and soothing... He enjoyed every moment of it... every moment...

‘Daughter... You haven't told me anything about your life’

‘What is there to tell about the life of a nurse!’ she laughed loudly.

‘That's not the right answer... dear,’

‘I am working here day and night to support my poor family... I am working here day and night to repay my educational loans... I am working hard so that both ends can meet somewhere... that's it,’ she laughed without even the slightest amount of uneasiness on her face.

‘I love happy people... None can take away one's happiness if he feels happy every moment,’ told the old man... 

She left, only late in the evening.

AND THE FOURTH DAY WAS OVER.

♥

Sixteen days passed and the death ceremonies were over... Sumithra aunt remained silent throughout the journey. I parked the car in front of the ladies hostel and she walked towards the reception room.

‘Premji... you know... what we had experienced from Shanthi, is called ‘mindfulness,’..the supreme form of empathy! I couldn't realize such a thing so far in my career... She is a wonder...,’ Dr.Sarun was all the praise of her.

There in the hostel reception, Sumithra waited for the young girl, who was just back from duty. She couldn't control her tears when she saw her from a little distance. Shanti hugged her tightly and wiped her tears with her hand.

‘I do not know how to thank you, my daughter... He left happily... Thank you...,’ the old woman couldn't control her tears again.

‘Papa was a great man,’

‘Yes... He left, with just one wish... unfulfilled... I know, he can't be peaceful without that,’

‘What's that, dear Sumithraji? If humanly possible, we should realize that...’

‘Surely... He wished... you to be there in our own home... as a flame of love... We have a lovely lad for you.....,’ the old woman kissed her forehead.

♥

Premji