"Sunita! Sunita, listen!" Pamina, the beloved neighbor, shouted as she ran towards Sunita. "Your husband is vomiting again!"
Sunita's heart sank. She had been hearing those horrible sounds for days now. Let me introduce you to Sunita-a 61-year-old construction laborer from the small village of Baramati in Maharashtra. A mother of two, abandoned by her children, Sunita works tirelessly to support her ailing husband, Ramesh. Wearing a faded Maharashtrian sari, her feet clad in cracked, worn-out slippers, she is a picture of resilience.
(Sunita rushes home, removing her slippers at the door, and moves toward the kitchen.)
Sunita: "Aho, my dear! Didn't I tell you to eat lunch? Why haven't you eaten yet?"
(She opens the kitchen door, searching for untouched food.)
While drinking water, she hears the familiar retching sound-Ramesh vomiting again. Her heart tightens with worry. She runs to him.
Sunita: (while cleaning up the mess) "That's it! We're going to the doctor today. I won't hear another word!"
Ramesh: (struggling to sit up, his voice weak) "I'm fine, really... At our age, these things are common."
(Sunita stands up, her face a mix of determination and frustration.)
Sunita: "Manish, Savarkar's son, told me that Dada needs to see the doctor, or things might get worse."
(Ramesh lies back on their broken bed, worry etched on his face. He knows their financial situation is dire, and even a doctor's visit feels like a luxury.)
Ramesh: "These youngsters, they worry too much about small things..."
(Sunita brings a glass of water to Ramesh.)
Sunita: "Aho, I won't listen to you. We're going to the doctor."
Ramesh: (trying to drink the water, his hands trembling) "But why waste money? We can't afford it..."
Sunita: "I have borrowed 100 rupees from Setti Manek Chand."
Ramesh: (his face turning anxious) "Again? We've already taken so much from him. How will we ever repay it?"
(Sunita's eyes fill with concern; she knows their debts are mounting, and with only 200 rupees a day, it's hard to make ends meet. But what choice does she have?)
Sunita: "I don't care. We're going to the doctor today."
YOU ARE READING
Sunita : The 61 Years Old Marathon Runner.
Historical FictionSunita, a 61 Year-old construction worker from the small village of Baramati, fights every day to make ends meet while caring for her ailing husband, Ramesh. With her children gone and only a meager income to rely on, she faces an impossible choice:...
