RECAP

Sameer receives a call from his father-in-law and manages to get away without answering too many questions.  Then Arjun calls him and his mother asks him to come to the hospital at once. Sameer is not sure who is in hospital and he worries about Mama being in hospital. At the hospital he discovers that Kavitha has been admitted to the gynecological ward.

CHAPTER 13

The guest!

The sunlight filtering into the room through the shaded window did not disturb either of the sleepers. Not that they were in deep sleep. The room had been allotted to them quite late, and since both the mother and the son had refused to go home, Arjun had left them at the hospital and gone back after midnight. Kavitha was sleeping, and anyway no one was allowed in the observation room, it being a gynec ward. The doctor was still awaiting the result of the medicine administered and all they could do was wait and hope.

It was around eight o’clock that the neighbouring noises woke Saraswati and she felt the despondent mood fall again like a mantle over her happiness. How was Kavitha? The girl was her uppermost thought and Sameer came to her mind only a moment later.

Sameer was stretched out on the sofa, his length spilling over the green upholstery. He wasn’t in deep sleep, his brows were puckered and arms crossed; a sure sign of a disturbed mind. Or was he? Saraswati felt she couldn’t say…after a half-night fitful sleep she tended to agree with Kavitha that they, well, Sameer at least was not ready for parenthood. But would it be a learning experience for him? Would he see his responsibilities at least now?

Sameer had looked scared last night…She had not spoken to him at all, and steeled her heart against any comforting gesture. It had been gross negligence on his part not to go to the railway station in time to collect Kavitha, and keeping himself disconnected with the family was the limit. He hadn’t behaved like a responsible head of the family, like the lone man of the house but a guest. Someone who didn’t have more responsibilities than be polite and accommodate himself!

Somebody knocked and Sameer stirred. He sat up to see the attendant woman who cleaned the room come in with a bucket and broom and other paraphernalia, and swung to his foot groping with his bare feet for the shoes. Saraswati too stood up and silently they walked to the end of the corridor to the observation room. Saraswati was reluctant to speak; Sameer was too ashamed of himself to do so.  They met the doctor just coming out of the observation room and felt pleasantly surprised to see her expression. She was smiling.

“I think she is responding to that medicine, Mrs. Saraswati. The bleeding has subsided considerably. I have just asked the nurse to move her to the room. I think you can relax now. The lady can go in and see her. Mr. Sameer, it IS Sameer isn’t it? You will have to wait till she comes to the room, to see her.” She walked away smiling and Saraswati watched Sameer’s expression change. The shame and desperation lifted as if it had evaporated and a slight smile and seriousness replaced it. Saraswati gave him the first smile in twenty four hours and walked in to see Kavitha while Sameer went back to the room.

Kavitha was awake and her face turned to the pastel paints of the hospital wall. She turned at Saraswati’s touch and smiled. Saraswati did not say anything; she just squeezed the hand lying limply in hers. Then she spoke,

“The doctor said…”

Before she could complete, Kavitha smiled again and the hand squeezed her back in turn,

“Yes! Are you happy Ma?”

Saraswati’s face revealed her answer, but she still had the shadow of concern blotting her brow. She was thinking about another problem child.
There were no barriers between the women; Saraswati knew she could ask Kavitha what was uppermost in her mind.

“Bete, are you still angry with Sameer?”

Kavitha did not say anything, nor did her expression change. But the hand retained its warm grip. A few moments passed without words. Kavitha then spoke softly,

“A little, Ma! But that will pass, we have someone else to think of now.”

“He was really worried yesterday, you know. I have never seen him like this after his father died.”

Saraswati bit her tongue, was she arguing her son’s case now? She didn’t want to, but …

“Ma …” Kavitha paused for a while…“Ma, we both know he won’t change so fast…”

The nurse now approached Kavitha and they fell silent.

In another hour, a stretcher trolley creaked into the room and Kavitha was helped on to the bed by the nurses. The medical team left with elaborate instructions on the capsules and diet and mobility instructions. The room was flooded with sunlight and somehow the day seemed to gather hope. The curtains of the room flapped in the gentle breeze that came in and the whir and the air of the fan seemed artificial. Saraswati leaned to switch off the fan.

An awkward silence fell. The family was alone now; Saraswati was determined not to speak till Sameer made his position clear. She started to turn away and move out of the room when she felt a hand grasp her fingers. Kavitha nodded briefly and held out her hand to Sameer. Sameer swallowed once or twice and moved to take her hand and said in a soft voice, “belated happy birthday Kavitha…er…I am so sorry about yesterday…”
Saraswati knew how much effort it took him to say that and her heart softened but not her face…not till she heard what Kavitha had to say to Sameer.

Kavitha’s face clouded for a micro second, but she smiled and said, “Ma, we have a guest for my birthday party, don’t we?”

Saraswati now smiled and said, “Yes, we have, and hope he or she remains with us.”

“It’s a he, alright!” Kavitha spoke lightly, and Saraswati smiled again…

“So you have decided?”

Kavitha broke into another smile and said, “Ah! Not that guest, we don’t worry about that guest till another seven months, Ma! But this guest here!” she shook Sameer’s hand slightly. Sameer looked sheepish but he too smiled, and the atmosphere lightened.

Kavitha continued as if she was used to asking the same things everyday,

“Sameer! I need my tooth brush and a set of clothes and something to eat as well…can you get me all that? I think Ma will need the same things too…”

Sameer turned away obediently, fully absorbing this new role, while the women smiled at each other…the guest would hopefully join the household sooner or later…till then they would keep on trying…

 

                                               ** THE  END **