Oh, Be My Dawn, Sweet Heart! (Only Sample)

15. A New Window!

Imaya’s PoV

My college went as usual with lots of fun and a little studies. After my college, I went to the government hospital that is near our college. I asked for room number 11 in the ortho department and walked in after knocking on the door. I saw a young man, should be in his late 20's, lying on the bed with small bandages on his leg and hands. Looks like he’s been in an accident and is now better.

“Hello, I am Imayal. I am here to assist your physiotherapy.” I introduced myself to him.

“Come in, Imayal. It is time for the nurse to come in. Sit down.” He showed me the stool beside the bed. His face turned to a surprise and became normal in a second, making me wonder if that glimpse of surprise in his face was my imagination. His eyes never left me ever since I got in the room. His looks made me very uncomfortable. 

“It’s ok. I can wait outside and come in along with them. You take some rest.” I tried to go out.

“Please, Imaya. Stay.” He said and the way he called me felt like he knew me.

“Who are you?” An elderly lady came out of the restroom that was in the room and asked me. The minute I saw her, I knew who she was.

“Athai (aunty)?” I called her and got to know that he is Parasuram.

“Amma, Imaya!” He told his mom who was looking at me with a question mark. Her face turned from confusion to happiness as soon as she heard my name.

“Imaya! OMG, how are you, dear? God, you look so beautiful.” She came to me and hugged me.

“I am good, athai. How are you? How is mama? What happened to Parasu athaan?” I asked her.

“That was a big story, dear. I will tell you later. Now tell me how is everyone in your place? You are a physiotherapy assistant? Hmmm, if your parents were alive today, you would have become a doctor and have a hospital of your own. Look at you now! You are here working!” She has tears in her eyes, reminiscing about my parents. 

“Everyone is fine, athai. I am not an assistant yet. I have just started my college in physiotherapy. It is my first in-house assignment. Like something out of college.” I tried to divert her.

“Oh, very good.” She never let my hand go. The nurse came in and started teaching some physiotherapy exercises and looked at me.

“Are you the assistant?”

“No, no. She is my daughter-in-law.” Athai said hurriedly before I could say anything. 

“I am the assistant too.” I told her.

“Oh then it should be fine. Take a video of the exercise I am teaching now. You have to help him do all the exercises in two sets every day. He is ready for discharge today. But you have to come back here to take off the remaining bandages after fifteen days. You must do the physiotherapy at least for a month to have your joints loosen up and back to normal. We will teach you a different set of exercises when you come after fifteen days.” She said.

I took a video of all the exercises she did to him and she taught me how to do it to him. After she went, I helped him do the second set. Poor him, his ankle bones and joint bones have all been fractured. It should have been a very bad accident. I wonder what they are doing here, shouldn't they be in Chennai?

“Parasu has bought an acre of land near Tirupur, Imai. He came to look at it three weeks before and got into an accident. By God's grace, nothing fatal has happened.” Athai said as if she read my mind. 

“Oh, I am glad nothing serious has happened. What is your plan after the discharge, athai? If you don't mind, I can take you to my home. Anyways you have to come back after fifteen days, right?” I asked them.

“We are very happy to see you here, dear. After you have come here, our relationship has just been cut. I think it would not be nice if we come and stay with you. Besides, Parasu has a little house in that acre of land he has bought. I am staying there only. We would stay there itself. Anyways we would only go back after a month after he is completely cured.” Athai said.

“Oh, ok, athai. But just know that no one would think bad if you come and stay with us, especially in this situation.”

“May I ask you something, Imai?”

“Yes, athai?”

“Can you come to our place to help him do his exercise? I can arrange for your commute and it is not that far from here.”

“Um… athai… I have to..”

“Amma, how would she come and help us when we didn't even try to see if she is fine after her parents demise.” Parasu athaan said.

“Oh, please, athaan. I know everyone has a life ahead of them and has to run along. I am sure you must have felt that I am safe and fine. I can for sure come and help you do your exercise. And athai, please make sure the commute is safe. Now I have to go as I have to be somewhere at 6pm. See you tomorrow, athaan.” I bid bye to them and left.

“Sure, dear. Take care.” Athai sent me off.

It really is a very nice day. I was so happy to have seen my relatives from the far past. I was so glad to see their reaction on seeing me. They were completely happy. I went home in a happy mood to see Ramya akka ready to head out.

“Where are you going, akka?” I asked her.

“That is not important. Where have you been? Why are you so late?” She asked me.

“Late? Just an hour, akka. I went to the hospital to assist with physiotherapy. I got a chance and used it.”

“There is nothing wrong in what you did, Imaya. But it is wrong that you didn't inform any of us prior and you failed to attend your phone.” She said, She is really angry.

“Sorry, akka. I put the phone on silent mode as I entered the hospital and forgot to change it back. I didn't see your call.” I took out my phone and apologized to her as she has called 17 times. 

“It’s ok. You have to inform the elders if you are going to be late. They were worried.”

“Pch, sorry, akka. I knew this yesterday itself. But forgot to tell you all as something else was occupying my mind.” I said in a guilty tone and walked in to see Ammachi and Appuchi.

“Where are you going? They have all gone to Raj’s home. I am heading there too. Come let’s go.” She said.

“But why?” I asked her.

“Don't know. Raj came and took them. He asked me to come with you. Anyways we have to go there for Jamun fruit, remember?”

“Oh, give me a minute, akka. I will refresh and come in a minute.” I told her and ran to the backyard.