Raj sat down in the air-conditioned doctor's office. He felt a little nervous. He purposely didn't tell his father, he didn't want to trouble him now – not today.
"Raj I received the results last week, but I sent them back again to be re-tested – I had to be sure. But then I got the images from the CT scan and it was obvious to me"
"What is it?" He was curious but wasn't worried. How bad could it be?
"Raj you have a spinal cord cancer – a lymphoma of the spinal cord."
"I have cancer?" Raj was so shocked by this that he felt dizzy.
"Yes – it's in its advanced stages too"
"How? What – How did I get it?" Raj asked the question but couldn't keep his mind in one spot to hear the answer properly. He was devastated. The next thing he heard shattered his world into pieces.
"The prognosis is bad Raj." His doctor said seriously.
"How long? Can it be treated?
"It's progressed so far that treatment might be useless but I will get you onto corticosteroids as soon as possible – how long, well I can't say exactly. If treatment works out you could live as long as four to five years, if not then maximum a year and a half or two years."
Raj was lost again in his little world. The words four to five years and a year and a half ran through his head. Neither seemed like a long time. How could he tell his parents? How could he get married like this? Knowing he would live only for a short time. He didn't Love Mahi, but he wanted her to have a good life, married to someone who will grow old with her. How could he tell his father?
Raj left the doctors office, feeling so low that he could barely walk. The doctor had offered to call him a taxi, because it might be too dangerous for him to drive in this condition, but raj had declined the offer. He needed to be a lone. He thought for a long time, and finally decided how he would go about everything.
A few hours later he walked out of his house carrying most of his belongings. He got into his car and drove away. He would resign from his job and find work as far from there as possible.
Back at Mahi' house, the preparations were going well. She was getting ready and was excited to be with Raj. He may not want her now, but she was hoping that after their wedding night, he will be fine with everything. She smiled to herself as she admired her bridal jewellery. The phone started ringing, she ignored it. Someone downstairs would pick it up, she thought. Moments later her mother was calling.
"Mahi! Mahi!"
She quickly ran downstairs to see what was going on
"Mahi, its Raj's father on the phone. He says Raj is not at home"
"Of course not, he's probably getting ready somewhere" She replied casually
"No his belongings are all gone"
"What? Oh don't worry Maa he probably packed for the honeymoon!"
"His father doesn't think so, he says Raj has run away"
"I don't think so, he will be here!" She sounded a bit desperate and panic stricken.
"Mahi, darling – I think he's gone" her mother said feeling hopeless.
"No Maa! NO!" Mahi said and ran upstairs.
Raj's father put down the phone with Mahi's mother. He didn't know why his son has caused him such dishonour. His chest started hurting a bit. He rubbed it as he got up and walked toward his room. He fell asleep feeling disappointed. A few hours later his mobile started ringing.
"Hello"
"Its me"
He put down the phone on Raj. He didn't want to talk to his son. The phone ran again soon after.
"Don't call me again!"
"Papa, listen to me! It's important"
"Raj, you have shamed me – I can't face anyone anymore"
"I have my reasons"
"What reasons? Go on explain to me why you have destroyed my name"
"I couldn't marry her papa, she would have been a lone anyway"
"What does that mean?"
"My test results came back – The doctor, well he said...." Raj sighed. He didn't know how to tell his father.
"What is it Raj?" his father was worried now. Raj didn't sound like himself.
"I'm a little sick" This was the best he could do; he didn't want his father to get a shock.
"What? What sickness Raj – tell me!"
Raj couldn't tell him, he would get sick if he heard.
"I'm sorry dad, I'm sick and I can't get married – I love you" Raj put down the phone.
YOU ARE READING
Dancing with destiny
Romance"No Anna will be my wife" Jai argued. They were playing a game they often played - houses and families. "How? I am the oldest and I get Anna" Raj pulled at her arm. Jai joined in and pulled from the other end. It was like tug-a-war and she was trapp...
