Happily Ever After

Chapter 5

At least there were two months before college started. I think the drug lord sent us two months beforehand, so that we can adjust to the lifestyle over here. Speaking about the lifestyle, England is so different from India! I wonder if I can ever adjust to these things. A splendid week passed. I was talking to Adira when I heard my phone ring. Not ring, vibrate. It shook so violently in my pocket that I just had to take it out, even though I didn't want to. It was the drug lord. He had no business with me. So why was he calling me, right now? I answered it, because it may be important. Adira looked at me, as if to ask why. "Namaste! Is this Niru?" the caller asked. I said yes. Then the caller brought me some devastating news.

I dropped the phone at that instant. I fell on the sofa. I muttered, "I should have known this. I should have never left India." There was a grave silence. Adira broke it by asking "Kya?" (What?). Ma was sick. That was all I could tell her. Ma was having a kidney failure. "I should go back to India. Ma needs me." took my arm and tied a black cord with three gold beads and hugged me. She looked at my eyes, and said, "Jao." (Go). I couldn't bear this. This was so emotional. I hugged her back and ran to my room. But not happily. I lied on my bed, shed tears and thought, "God, you are supposed to make things right for me, not bad." I started packing all my things and got dressed up. I went out with all my things and looked at Adira, who looked at me with a neutral smile. She watched me as I left. She had told the man what happened, so he helped me to get back to India. He had booked the night flight for me. A sudden journey.

I boarded the flight at 9:30 pm. As I boarded, I heard a voice saying, "9 hours and approximately 45 minutes..." at the back of my head. It was Adira's voice. I would land at 6:15 in the morning. No! Not 6:15! It should be 10:45 am. I didn't want to watch a movie even. I just lied on my seat, thinking of what I was going to do next. Strange. That question never appeared in my head before. Even when Pa died. Because Adira was there to console me. She is not there now, I told myself, so I have to think on my own. Before I could think, I fell asleep. I woke up early in the morning and went to the restroom. I can still remember the lame scene I did, to talk with Adira. The plane boarded. I went into the airport, sat on a bench and called the drug lord. In a while, he came to pick me, and we went to the hospital Ma was in. I was taken into the ward Ma was in. I couldn't help but cry. I fell on my knees and hugged Ma, looking at the state she was in. She started stroke my head and said, "Beta," (Son). I cried more. She said that I shouldn't have come back to India but I said that I had to. I decided to stay with Ma until her last breath, ready to sacrifice my education.

Days passed, then weeks passed. Ma was growing weaker and weaker. She used to cry while sleeping, that it was painful and that she would rather die. A month passed. She didn't grow stronger. She was becoming frail. I couldn't tolerate it. One day, she started breathing hard and I had to shout for the doctor. The doctor put the nebulizing mask on her but it didn't make an effect. It looked like she was trying to tell something, so the doctor removed the mask. She said that she wanted to die, and that her last will was for me to go to college. She closed her eyes and exhaled, never to breathe or open her eyes again. It was all so sudden, that I couldn't believe my own eyes. I fell on the drug lord's shoulder and cried. The funeral was held soon, since the drug lord thought that it would affect me. I got over it, having gotten over my Pa's sudden death. I shed tears as Ma's body was being burnt. After the funeral, the drug lord took me into the house and said, "Your mother's last will was for you to go to college. And I shall send you." I was about to question him when he shot me a warning look. "Ok...." I said, and went into the washroom. I looked at myself.

Howdifferent was I? I had even grown a beard! Vaah! (Wow!) I went into mylong-abandoned room and lied on my bed. How good was it to be back here? I heldmy hand and gazed at the cord Adira gave me before I left. I remembered all ofthe fun times we had. I remember climbing to her room with a blanket rope,giving her guitar lessons, my English lessons, the first day we met and all.Fun times, fun times. And Ma. Just remembering her brought tears to my eyes.So, college would start in a week. I don't know how I am going to Englandagain, but I know the drug lord will manage it somehow. I am going to go backas a whole new, changed person. I am not going to depend on others for my joy,I will be self-sufficient. The week passed. The drug lord dropped me to theairport. He was like a father figure to me. I waved him good bye. He gave mesome money to exchange and enter into our account. I told the drug lord to tellAdira that I will be attending a university in India, if she asks. The collegewas to start day after tomorrow, and also, my new life, if my plan works.