From Something To Everything (Bounprem)

33. Cardiac arrest

Prem was curled up on the bed crying. He clenched onto the sticky note that said ‘I have an emergency. I am going back', the only thing Boun had left behind.

Prem realized how insignificant he was to Boun, that the elder didn’t even try to wake him up and say a proper goodbye before leaving.

Prem went into the bathroom and stood under the shower. He poured the body wash into the body scrub and started scrubbing his body. One round after another. He washed himself scrubbing hard till his skin turned red.

He was feeling disgusted. He felt disgusted at himself that he turned into a plaything to a philanderer and even ended up catching feeling for the other. He felt disgusted at his own body which had been touched by Boun several times. He felt disgusted at his mind that enjoyed the elder’s touch.

Prem spent a lot of time inside the bathroom. When he came out, he heard his phone ring. Thinking that it might be Boun, he chose to ignore it. The ringing continued.

Prem was irritated by the shrill voice of the ringtone. He took the phone in his hand to hang up. He noticed that it was not Boun but his cousin Priya.

He was a little surprised to see that the call was from Priya. After all, it was midnight.

“Hello, Jie [1],” Prem said picking up the call.

“Prem, what took you so long? I have been calling you forever.” Priya’s anxious voice was heard from the other side.

“I was sleeping, Jie.” Prem lied.
“Prem, come back as soon as possible. Lung had a heart attack and is in the ICU.” Priya said.

“What did you say, Jie? What happened to Pho?”

“Lung had a major cardiac arrest. We managed to take him to the hospital on time. But Khun Mo said that his condition is critical. So, end your vacation and get back home.”

Prem threw Boun’s thoughts out of his mind and rushed to pack his stuff. He hurriedly caught a cab after vacating the room and headed to the airport.

Sitting in the cab, he checked the nearest flight to Chiang Mai and found that it would be leaving within an hour. Prem rushed to take the ticket to the flight. As it was an odd hour, the flight still had empty seats. He failed to notice Boun who was also in the airport waiting for the early morning flight to Bangkok. The two missed each other by a hair.

Within two hours Prem was in Chiang Mai, waiting for a cab.

“Jie,” Prem called out seeing his elder cousin sitting outside the intensive care unit of the hospital.

“Bubbles [2].” Priya embraced her cousin who was crying.

“Jie… Pho… pho…what happened to Pho?”

“He was locking the front gate of your house and suddenly felt a sudden chest pain and fainted. I was planning to sleep over at your place. I saw his fall and called the ambulance.”

Prem cried harder. He couldn’t imagine what would have happened if his cousin wasn’t there at that time. His mother might not have been able to bring his father to the hospital all by herself.

“Bubbles, you have to calm down first.” Priya patted his back. “Lung’s condition is stabilized. He still has to be under observation for a day or two.”

“Jie, where is Mae?” Prem asked, not seeing his mother around.

“Pa… she…she heard the news and her blood pressure shot up. She fainted. She is in the emergency ward. My Mae is with her. Pho had gone to settle the formalities.”

Priya’s father was Richard’s elder brother. He was quite close to Richard and hence Priya and Prem were close to each other.

Prem peaked at his father through the small clear circular part of the tinted glass door. His father was breathing with the help of an oxygen mask. Several devices were connected to his body.
Priya slowly consoled Prem.

“I need to go check on Mae,” Prem said wiping his tears.

Priya nodded.

In the emergency ward, Prem saw his mother lying on the hospital bed with his aunt sitting next to her. His mother was fast asleep.

“Prem.” His aunt called out.

“Pa” Prem hugged his aunt.

“How did you get here this quick? Weren’t you on a vacation?”

“Khrab Pa, I took a flight here after getting a call from Jie.”

“Prem, Luk. You look like a mess.” The middle-aged lady wiped Prem’s tears looking at him, head to toe. “Prem, do one thing. Go back home and freshen up and come back again in the morning. Didn’t you come straight from the airport?” She asked looking down at the luggage that Prem was carrying.

“Pa, how can I go when-”

“You don’t have to worry about that me and your Lung are here to take care of everything. We also have Priya here. You go back, freshen up and come back. Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes for your Mae. you guys might need to stay here for a day. Also, some toiletries that you might need.” 

Prem nodded. “Pa, can I see my Mae before I leave?”

“Sure, luk.” The lady stepped away.
Prem stood near his mother with eyes full of tears.

“Khun Mo said she is alright. She is just sleeping. They have already treated her high blood pressure. It is normal now.” His aunt rubbed his back.

The next morning, Prem went back to the hospital early in the morning.

He was called into the doctor’s office. His uncle accompanied him as they were scared that if they Jassy with him, she might not be able to take it if it is bad news.

“Please take a seat.” The doctor gestured at the seats opposite him.

“Khrab Khun Mo.” The two males sat down.

The doctor started explaining Prem’s father’s condition.

“Khun Jeerasak [3] might be partially paralyzed. We ran some tests and saw that the left side of his body hasn’t been reacting to it.”

Prem turned pale upon hearing the doctor’s words.

“It might sound scary. But the condition is treatable. I have seen a lot of patients recovering from it.” The doctor went on to explain the treatment plan.

Prem listened to it with full attention, scared that he might end up not hearing something important.

Walking out of the doctor’s office Prem was silent. He was lucky that his uncle and family were there to help him at this point. He was like a kid who was lost in a market, not knowing what to do.

Prem had been close to his parents, especially his father who was his role model.

Richard too was an athlete. But couldn’t make it to the national team. Prem had taken a vow to fulfil his father’s dream and hence became an athlete himself.
Prem couldn’t imagine a world without his father. He wasn’t prepared at all for the sudden twist of events.

[1] Jie- elder sister

[2] Bubbles- Prem’s pet name called by family.

[3] Jeerasak – Richard’s original name.