HER LAST WISH

Part 31

Mom had a discussion with Dr Raza to understand Astha’s condition. She was concerned about her. She asked everything, about her disease, her condition and the further cost of her treatment. Now I knew I had one more shoulder to let me
through this difficult period. Sargam was there to take care of Astha, so I decided to drop Mom home. I had no money left with me, and this problem demanded immediate attention.
We left for home. There was silence inside the car. I knew my mother well; there was something going on in her mind, and I chose to keep quiet. I could guess the reason for her behaviour. Finally, we reached home. It was locked from the
outside.
“Where is Dad?” I asked my mother. My father was a retired man, and he was not someone who leaves home without any reason. She didn’t say a word and took out the keys from her purse.
“You don’t know? That’s strange,” she said. “I thought he only keeps things from me. Anyway, he will be here in a few minutes. You can ask him.” Any
discussion about him always ended like that. We had tea. I felt that I had no idea about the sacrifices a woman makes in her
life before this day. I was looking at a woman, who despite being emotionally drained out did her job, handled her wasted marriage every day, looked at her useless son and even then chose to be silent. I was seeing things more clearly now, being a husband as well as a son. My thoughts were interrupted after
fifteen minutes when Dad arrived. He carried a bag. I asked him about his whereabouts and he ignored me.
“Who is with Astha?” he asked
“Sargam,” I answered.
I told him about Mom’s visit to the hospital and her chat with Dr Raza. Finally, I told him about the money requirements.
“Additional two lakhs per day!” he exclaimed.
“Vijay, there is something you need to know.” He was calm, but I could sense that something wasn’t right. “I had incorrectly anticipated the worth of this
house. It’s a twentyfive-year-old property, and I can’t find a buyer to pay us over twenty lakhs. I have already given you ten lakhs and have another ten that you
can take whenever you want.” He sipped the tea served by Mom.
“Sanjay, the total expense of the medical costs would range somewhere around forty-five, including everything, right?” my mother asked.
“Yes, treatment in a private hospital is very expensive.”
“Can we talk to our relatives?”
“I can’t think of anyone who can lend us this big an amount?” Dad said.
“What about your jewellery?” he asked.
“Ha-ha. Right!” she laughed sarcastically. “If you remember, ours was a love
marriage, and I hope you remember the circumstances in which we got married. I could never purchase anything in the name of jewellery for myself,” Mom replied.
It was the first time they talked about their marriage in front of me. The last time they had discussed something like this was when the tenth girl had rejected
my marriage proposal. It was kind of amazing to see how a problem can unite a family.
“Vijay, do you know anyone who can help us in getting a loan?” Dad asked.
“I know one of Astha’s friends, Daniel.” That’s the only name that came to my mind.
“Vijay, the bank never gives a loan to a person who does not have any security
to give,” Mom said while rejecting the option.
“What about the principal of your college? You can ask for a personal loan
from your college,” my father suggested.
“I don’t think so. I am not even sure if he would let me continue with the job,” I said.
Suddenly, my mom got up and said, “Excuse me. I have to submit an article.”
Sometimes I wonder why my mom always gives so much importance to her work. It was kind of weird for me, given the matter at hand. Was she the same person who had cried for Astha a few hours ago?