Maitri

by Nandita Rani

  Their summer vacation was to begin in a week. They had all planned for a week-long outing with Saurabh. Maitri’s parents had offered to remain home this time. As per the plan, Maitri, Minal , Siddharth and Saurabh would pick up Nishu and Soni from Kolkata and then proceed for Mumbai. Saurabh had a friend in Mumbai who had arranged for their stay. They were all very excited about visiting Mumbai for the first time. Though Maitri had suggested only Minal and Saurabh to go for the trip, Saurabh had insisted on taking everybody along.

  A night before the trip, Maitri’s father had again complained of difficulty in passing urine. A compounder of an acquaintance was called home, who prescribed a Pyridium Oral for his condition. He felt relieved after an hour of taking the medicine. Minal wanted to cancel the trip keeping her father’s health in mind but Maitri convinced her of going ahead with the plan; she said she would stay back to take care of him.

  The next morning, they left for Kolkata without Maitri. Maitri’s father was still asleep when they left. When he woke up in the morning, he had already soiled his clothes with urine. He said that he was unable to control it. After his room and bed were cleaned by Maitri and her mother, he was walked to the washroom when he expressed the need to release again; it was the fifth time in half an hour that he had visited the restroom. Maitri called her cousin home for help.

  Maitri made her father sit in a chair a yard away from the washroom since it was becoming difficult for the ladies to move him to the washroom in time. They also felt that his body had turned heavier than before. The cousin arrived in an hour. By that time, her father had already begun to look pale due to dehydration. To keep him hydrated, Maitri’s mother kept giving him a concoction made of sugar, salt and water, which he reluctantly sipped. He also started complaining of a slight stomach-ache. Observing no improvement in the next hour, Maitri finally decided to take him to the hospital. Except for expressing the physical pain that he felt, he did not interact much with them.

  Maitri’s mother wanted to inform Minal but Maitri stopped her. She, with the help of her cousin, made her father walk down the stairs; they had great difficulty doing so as Maitri’s father had turned heavier- almost immovable. A couple of neighbours helped them sit in the cab. He was immediately admitted to the CCU by the hospital staff.

  Meanwhile, as they waited for the doctor to arrive, he was supplied with two bottles of saline. They were asked to wait outside. After an hour, the nurse told Maitri to go inside and see her father.

  Maitri’s heart sank, her eyes lingered on the nurse’s face as she tried to decipher her signal. She wanted to ask the nurse something; she moved her lips but could not frame an appropriate question. She got up slowly from the waiting room chair and dragged her feet towards room number 467, only to stop at the door. She felt weak, her knees wobbled. She wanted someone to hold her and tell her that everything was going to be fine, that they are going to lead a normal life again: her father helping out her mother again in the kitchen, her mother blabbering in anger each time he asked for a cup of tea, the family members meeting each other once every day at the dinner, her father digging his head in the newspaper the whole day again.

  Dominated by such thoughts, when she entered the room with a pounding heart, she saw her father lying on the bed with his eyes fixed at the entrance. He smiled as he saw Maitri. Maitri exhaled noisily and tears rose in her eyes. Quickly flicking them away before they could touch her cheeks, she paced toward his bed. She scooted a chair near his bed and looked into his eyes. His eyes were filled with tears, but a vague relief flushed his face. She whispered softly, “We are fine, papa.” He blinked and a tear-drop rolled down onto his pillow, touching his face. She then called her mother and informed her that the situation was under control. Maitri’s mother insisted on coming there but Maitri convinced her that it was important to attend the landline calls in case Minal called. Maitri then asked the nurse about the doctor’s arrival; she replied that he was on his way.

  The doctor arrived shortly and Maitri was asked to leave the room. She waited outside, while her cousin brought her a cup of tea and sandwiches from the canteen. She drank some tea but couldn't eat anything.

  Snapping her knuckles impatiently, her eyes were fixed at the ward’s entrance. She paced nervously in the corridor, alerted every time there was a commotion at the door. Exhausted from walking, she sat on the chair, closed her eyes for a minute and was soon asleep. In her dream, she saw a healthy image of her father, holding a young child by his arms and helping her take her first steps; she was not sure who the child was. She then saw him tossing the baby up in the air making her squeal in excitement. She saw the back of a lady. As she neared the lady, she got a glimpse of the photo-frame over her shoulder that the lady gripped tightly in her hands: the photo-frame had a black and white picture of Maitri’s newly-wed parents posing for the camera. Her mother looked pretty in her bride ensemble, with the nose ring dominating her face and her eyes downcast. Maitri’s father wore a suit, looking handsome; his face revealed an expression that was a mix of pride and happiness; his upper lip subtly turned upside displaying a hint of his bright white teeth. He looked straight into the camera. Wearing a pair of thick-rimmed glasses and donning a thin moustache, which kind of underlined his nose, he looked dapper than ever.

  Hesitantly, when Maitri tapped the lady’s shoulder, the lady turned only to reveal that she was none other than Maitri herself. The lady Maitri donned a bride ensemble too. Maitri snapped out of her dream at once. Beads of sweat erupted on her brows. She soaked the sweat against her sleeve and got up to fetch a glass of water for herself. As she slowly sipped through the glass of water, she noticed someone hastily coming out the room- it was the doctor. Throwing the glass in the dustbin, she rushed to him. The doctor asked for Sanjay Verma’s relative. Maitri nervously asked him if all was well. He asked her how she was related to the patient. Maitri quickly informed him that she was his daughter.

  “You brought him to the hospital in an unconscious state.”, the doctor said, scolding her for the delay in taking an action.

  Maitri, appalled by his statement, told him that her father was very much conscious when he arrived. She also mentioned about her interaction with him an hour ago.

  Her cousin also arrived by her side. She felt enraged by the accusation and shot back question at the doctor, “Call the nurse and ask if my father was unconscious when he arrived. What has happened?”, Maitri asked looking straight into his eyes.

  The doctor kept mum. Maitri kept staring at him; she nervously fluttered her eyelids on not getting a reply.

  “You ask him what has happened?” She screamed at her cousin.

  Her cousin held her. She shrugged herself free and dashed towards the room. The nurse tried to stop her but Maitri pushed her and moved forward.

  “He is not responding.” The doctor said, loud enough to stop her in her place.

  Maitri halted in her place. She turned and approached the doctor, “What do you mean 'not responding'? Not responding to what?” Her voice quivered when she spoke. “Not responding to what???”,she yelled again, not getting an answer.

  “Listen madam, your father had already slipped into coma when I came. He...”

  Lies. He is lying. Maitri mumbled while the doctor was still talking.

  “He did not respond when the nurse injected a needle. We then tried….”

  I want to see him. They have done something to him. Maitri turned towards the room and went inside, followed by her cousin and the doctor.

  She found her father lying on the bed in an unconscious state but his eyes were open. He was breathing but his eyes did not blink. She took his hand in hers: it was cold and dry, and the skin was loose and pale. He kept staring vaguely into infinity, with his eyes red as blood and full of water.

  Maitri breathed heavily in anger. She turned and held the nurse, shaking her vigorously. A scream left her mouth, “What have you done? Why is he like this? I want an explanation. He was fine when I last saw him.”<
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  The nurse shivered and looked at the doctor. The doctor called for another nurse from the next room. The other nurse tried pulling Maitri away but Maitri did not budge. Maitri’s cousin rushed inside and held her, but Maitri refused to let go.

  “I am not letting her free until she answers.” Maitri screamed at her cousin.

  “Maitri di, this is not going to help. Leave her.”

  The nurses still struggled.

  “I am calling aunty.”, her cousin said.

  Only upon hearing that did Maitri’s grip loosen. The nurse ran out to a corner far away from Maitri.

  “No. No. Don’t. Don’t call her now. Please.” Maitri stood shocked for a while, then covered her face and broke down crying like a small child, making noises that escaped her throat at equal intervals. Her body shook vigorously. She fell down on the floor, still crying. Everyone surrounded her in a semi-circle.

  “Please take her out. She is only hampering the process.” The doctor said to her cousin in an irritated tone.

  She was then led out. Maitri got a hold of herself, and instinctly called Minal to inform her of the situation.

  Sitting distractedly in the waiting area, her hair disheveled, her face smudged with tear marks, Maitri stared blankly at the worn-off hospital wall. She gradually slipped into sleep.

  “Maitri di... Maitri di…”, Maitri’s cousin jerked her.

  The nurse stood there with him when Maitri opened her eyes. She did not even realize for how long she had been asleep. She rubbed her eyes, forgetting her reality. The nurse extended her arm to hand something over to her. Maitri held the brown-colour paper bag and looked inside. The things in the bag looked familiar; she dug her hand in and took them out. They were her father’s clothes. Maitri stood up from the chair instinctively; she dropped the bag but held the clothes tightly in her hands.

  She looked around in shock. Her cousin moved forward to hold her, but Maitri took a step back. The nurse stood there at a distance from her. Maitri held the clothes and started walking hurriedly, and then suddenly slowed down. She turned to her left and then to her right like a lost traveler. Her eyes were dry with no hint of tear. She approached the water filter and poured a glass of water for herself, holding the clothes under her pit. She began to drink the water but suddenly stopped midway and threw the still-half-filled glass on the floor. She then dashed towards the room but slipped, falling face down. A cut appeared on her head and Maitri began to bleed. She rubbed her father’s shirt against the wound, staining the shirt with blood marks. She looked hassled by the turn of events. Clicking her tongue in regret, she looked at her cousin.

  Her cousin kneeled down near her. “Maitri di...”

  “Look what have I done?”, Maitri said, showing the blood stained shirt to him. “He, he is going to be mad at me. He likes it spotless.” She tsk’ed her tongue and sighed.

  “Maitri di!”, her cousin raised his voice.

  “Can you go home and bring another one quickly? He likes it spotless...” She mumbled, as if to herself.

  “Di...Maitri Di...”, her cousin shook her vigorously, tear falling from his eyes.

  “Ouchhh…You are hurting me.”, said Maitri, setting her arms free from his grip and rubbing them.

  He then grabbed Maitri by her arms and pulled her up, dragged her to the room and pushed her in front of the bed. He then moved forward to uncover the face of the fully shrouded body- unveiling the face, removing the sheet at one go. It was Maitri’s father.

  She looked at her father, turned to face her cousin and planted a resounding slap on his face. Staring blankly at him, tears suddenly began flowing incessantly from her eyes. Maitri stood expressionless for sometime before her gaze darted from her cousin to her father.

  She ran and hugged her father’s body, wailing loudly and uncontrollably. Jerking her father’s motionless body, asking him to open his eyes, Maitri hid her face in his sheet and kept crying till the nurses tried to separate her from her father’s body. She turned violent at this attempt.

  “What will I answer maa?”,she kept repeating in a muffled voice. Her wails turned into soft sobs when she got tired. Her face turned red, lips dried up, throat became parched, and streaks of tears were visible on her face. She refused to let go of her father’s dead body. She had never hugged her father in such a way before.

  ***

  Chapter 9: Justice for Baba

  Maitri’s mother couldn't accept the demise of her husband's news and went into depression. An affliction that looked like an innocuous bladder problem would take her husband’s life was something that her mind couldn't comprehend. She was bed-ridden for a month after her husband's death. They had to keep a full-time help to look after her.

  Although Maitri resumed her job after two weeks of the incident, she became quieter. The closest to her father of all her siblings, she missed him dearly. Minal and Saurabh’s wedding was also postponed by a year.

  More often than not, Maitri spent time in his room after returning from school. Being the eldest, she felt bogged down by the huge responsibility bestowed upon her due her father’s demise. She began spending sleepless nights, thinking of the herculean tasks lined up for her in her life. She felt the need to accelerate the process. Apart from taking care of her two youngest sibling’s studies, she was also to make sure of her sisters’ marriages in absence of their father.

  One time, when she sat alone in her father’s room, she came across a diary which had the names and phone numbers of all those people who were sacked by the company in the same way as her father.

  One of them had filed a WRIT petition in the Supreme Court demanding justice for the 25 employees.

  Maitri called up Mr. Makrand to find out the details. After talking to him, she came across the fact that the case was already on trial in the court and the next date given to them was in 15 days.

  Maitri decided to follow up the case, and so, went to the court after 15 days. Either the emplyee himslef or a relative of the employee was present in the court for the hearing.

  The trial began at 5 p.m. Maitri was closely following the due process when someone’s presence struck her. She felt everything crumbling inside her into singularity and felt the urge to run away from the room, but her feet did not move. She rubbed her eyes to believe what she was seeing. The lawyer representing the employees was none other than Piyush. Maitri tried avoiding an eye-contact with him. But when Piyush turned to grab some papers from his table, their eyes met. The time came to a still for both of them. Maitri got up from her place and ran out of the room.

  He practices in the local court, Koyel had once said to Maitri talking about Piyush’s profession.

  Immediately after the court trial, Maitri took a rickshaw and reached home. She had felt extremely uncomfortable at the sight of Piyush after 3 years. Her mind recapped through the memories she had with him- both good and bad. There were still clarifications remaining from both sides, but it hadn't mattered since they could never speak after Koyel had confessed her pregnancy to Maitri. Maitri had felt that there was nothing left to talk after that. Her mobile was flushed clean of both of their numbers; all the conversations were deleted by her. She took out her mobile and sifted through the gallery pictures to find an old memory. Her fingers stopped at a picture of her and Piyush in the restaurant of the day they had met after school. Piyush had taken a selfie in which Maitri looked conscious and reluctant to pose. How glad she felt now that she had posed eventually! That she at least had a record of a fond memory of hers with Piyush, unlike with Dipak, except for some family functions where her and Dipak’s whole family featured together. Nostalgia struck her. She lay on the bed with her left arm behind her head, holding the mobile in her right. She hadn't deleted the picture from her phone as it somehow soothed her every time she was in pain. She dug the mobile in her bosom allowing her tears to slide down the corners of her eyes wetting her sleeves. Was it so difficult to succeed in love?, she thought. Was love not meant for her at all? Was she go
ing to be love –deprived always?

  Every time she found a silver lining, there was something to cause havoc. Maitri felt a sense of anger towards her existence, towards the Almighty; He was the only one she could complain to.

  I am not going to the court again. She assured herself.

  She got up from her bed and went to her mother’s room. Her mother was fast asleep; she looked pale and weak. She was wearing a night-gown: something she abhorred.

  “Those ladies are hopelessly lazy who wear nigh-gowns during the day.”, Maitir’s mother always used to say.

  A subtle smile crossed Maitri’s lips on thinking of the remark. She went inside and carefully kneeled down near the bed. She gently wrapped her arm around her mother’s waist and rested her head on her chest, waking her up from sleep.

  “Maitri?”, her mother spoke faintly.

  “Maa, how are you?”

  “I am sorry, I just wanted to hug you...”, Maitri spoke, tightening her grip on her mother’s body.

  “What happened?”, her mother enquired, gently wafting her fingers through Maitri’s thick hair.

  Unable to speak with a lump in her throat, Maitri just shook her head vigorously, and buried her face in her mother’s body.

  Maitri’s mother passed away peacefully after six months of her husband’s demise. Although as per hindu tradition, a grieving family is not supposed to celebrate any function till a year of a close relatives’ death, fulfilling her mother’s last wish, Minal and Saurabh got married in a simple registered marriage two days before she died. Minal was the only lucky one to have received one of her parents’ blessings at the onset of her new life.

  After Minal moved out to stay with her husband, Maitri and her brother were the only ones left in the house. The house which appeared small for all the members at one time, was longing for people’s presence; it screamed of her parents' absence.