One evening, after a particularly grueling day at work, Sid returned home feeling utterly drained. The pain in his upper back and lower back was more intense than usual. As he stepped into the house, the familiar sense of responsibility weighed heavily on his shoulders, but today, it was almost too much to bear.
Sid slowly made his way to his room, every step a painful reminder of his condition. Once inside, he freshened up and changed into his comfortable trousers and t-shirt, hoping that rest might bring some relief. As he lay down on his bed, he let out a deep, painful groan. The pain was excruciating, spreading across his upper back and lower back like a relentless wave.
"Kash koi meri pith aur kamar thoda daba deta," Sid muttered to himself, closing his eyes and trying to focus on anything other than the pain.
A short while later, he heard the familiar sound of his kids bursting through the front door, their voices filled with energy and excitement. "Dad! We’re back!" they shouted, their voices echoing through the house.
When the kids didn’t find Sid in the kitchen as usual, they grew curious and concerned. They made their way to his bedroom and found him lying under a duvet, his face etched with pain.
Rey was the first to speak, his voice laced with worry. "Dad, aap theek ho? Aaj aap itne thake hue kyun lag rahe ho?"
Sid managed a weak smile, though it was clear he was struggling. "Beta, aaj pith aur kamar mein bahut dard hai. Tum dono fresh ho jao aur ek cup coffee bana do mere liye."
Without any hesitation, Miu and Rey rushed to freshen up. They knew their father was in pain, and they wanted to help in any way they could. After washing up, they headed to the kitchen, working together to make a cup of coffee for Sid and preparing some snacks as well.
They returned to Sid’s room, Miu carrying the tray carefully. Sid slowly sat up, propping some pillows behind his back, and accepted the cup of coffee from Miu.
Rey sat beside him and asked, "Dad, aaj itna dard kyun ho raha hai? Kuch zyada heavy kaam kar liya kya office mein?"
Sid took a sip of his coffee, savoring the warmth before he replied, "Haan, aaj kaam thoda zyada tha, aur body thak gayi hai. Kabhi kabhi dard itna badh jaata hai ke control karna mushkil ho jata hai."
The kids exchanged concerned glances, realizing just how much their father was pushing himself every day. They quietly finished their snacks with Sid, not wanting to add to his burden.
Later that evening, the kids decided to take over the dinner preparations. They insisted that Sid rest, and he reluctantly agreed, too tired to argue. Miu and Rey worked together in the kitchen, making a simple dinner while trying to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb their father.
Once dinner was ready, they called Sid to the table, but they could see the fatigue in his eyes. After they all had dinner, Sid took his medicines and returned to his room, lying down again with a relieved sigh.
Rey and Miu took on the responsibility of cleaning up the kitchen, something Sid usually did himself. They loaded the dishwasher and started cleaning up, but as always, it didn’t take long for a sibling squabble to break out.
"Rey, tumhara plate udhar rakho, yeh mera side hai!" Miu snapped, pushing him slightly.
"Miu, itna mat chidho, sab kaam main hi karta hoon," Rey retorted, pushing back.
Sid could hear their voices escalating from his room. He sighed deeply, muttering to himself, "Ek toh yeh dard jaan le raha hai, aur uske upar yeh dono bacche ekdum shanti nahi dete."
After a few more moments of their bickering, Sid couldn’t take it anymore. Slowly, he got up from the bed, holding the edge of the bed for support. He walked towards the kitchen, his posture hunched as he clutched his lower back.
When he reached the kitchen, he scolded them in a firm voice, "Udhar main dard se bistar mein karaaha raha hoon aur idhar tum dono jaghar rahe ho. Can't you both show a little kindness towards me?"
Rey and Miu immediately fell silent, their faces turning guilty. They hadn’t meant to upset their dad, especially not when he was in so much pain.
Sid watched them for a moment before sighing and turning to leave the kitchen. His anger was evident, and the kids could sense it. He slowly walked back to his bed, his movements stiff and painful. As he lay down again, he groaned, "Ahhh, yeh dard kab khatam hoga?"
He lay there, trying to find a comfortable position, but the pain was relentless. He shifted his legs from side to side, hoping to find some relief, but nothing seemed to help. The exhaustion was overwhelming, but the pain kept him awake.
After finishing the kitchen chores, Rey and Miu quietly made their way to Sid’s room. They climbed into bed beside him, one on each side, and wrapped their arms around him, trying to offer comfort in the only way they knew how.
Sid kept his eyes closed, but he could feel them close to him. He spoke softly, his voice filled with a mixture of love and frustration, "Har waqt agar Dad chahiye, toh Dad ki parwah bhi kiya karo. Sirf pareshan karna nahi hota hai Dad ko."
The kids pouted, snuggling closer to him, clearly feeling bad for upsetting him. Sid, despite his pain, couldn’t stay mad at them for long. They were just kids, and he knew they loved him deeply.
He sighed, his voice softening as he spoke again, "Acche se chaddar odho, main baar baar uthkar raat ko chaddar nahi de sakta tum dono ko."
The kids quickly got themselves properly under the blanket, making sure they were covered. They hugged Sid tightly, and within moments, they were fast asleep, their breathing steady and calm.
As the night wore on, Sid’s pain ebbed and flowed. Every now and then, one of the kids would throw the blanket off in their sleep, and Sid, despite his own discomfort, would slowly get up, grimacing in pain, and cover them again. The father in him never rested, even in sleep, always checking on his children, always making sure they were safe and warm.
Finally, as the night grew deeper, Sid’s own exhaustion caught up with him. He drifted off into a light, restless sleep, his mind still alert to the needs of his children, his love for them stronger than any pain he might endure. And in that quiet, dark room, with his two most precious people beside him, Sidharth Oberoi found the strength to keep going, knowing that no matter how hard the day might be, he would always do whatever it took to take care of his children.
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