Chapter 19: chapter 19

There were no signs of improvement in the health of my father-in-law. His oxygen levels kept fluctuating. He refused to take anything into his mouth. My husband was having a tough time administering us. Ultimately, an oxygen cylinder was procured for him at great cost. His condition deteriorated. My husband called every known hospital to withhold a bed for him but there was no positive reply from the other end. Finally, with the help of his friend, my father-in-law was admitted to the "Sadar Hospital", the only centre accepting covid patients in our town. He remained under supervision. He insisted Raghav stay with him at night in the hospital. He ate food only from his hand. My mother-in-law sent "Khichri" the only food which he was able to swallow heartlessly. My husband accompanied him to the toilet. He was growing feeble. He walked with support but was able to move. The deaths and suffering in the hospital were scaring him. None of our relatives had the courtesy to visit him in the hospital. Everybody prioritized their lives no matter what.Meanwhile, my younger son tested negative in his second examination after spending a week in isolation. I and my elder one tested positive again adding more days of confinement and illness to our calendar. We were administered a second round of the same medicines which were sucking all the blood from our bodies. My hands and feet turned pale while coming in contact with water. A peculiar observation. Meanwhile, my younger one left his solitary confinement and went to reside with his grandmother.  He took care of us as my husband was unable to check on us at times. Day and night he was worried about his father. He was on medicines but ignored the food. The doctors and nurses were performing their duties but there were no signs of improvement. One such unusual night, my husband came home for dinner after feeding his father and getting him to sleep leaving him under the care of Raghav. No sooner did he finish his food, than he gets a call. It was Raghav on the other side, "Bhaiya, uncle is breathing heavily. He is removing his oxygen mask from his mouth which may prove dangerous. I am incapable of managing him. He is growing impatient every second." "Call the doctors or nurses", he shouted. "Nobody is there. I think they had gone to sleep", replica Raghav. He clamped his fist and said, "Try to keep him entertained by talking to him, I am coming right now." He didn't choose to ride his bike to the hospital rather he chose to drive his four-wheeler. As a sign of some misfortune, the car didn't gear up in one stroke. He checked the oil and other technicalities, but nothing worked the car did start after about fifteen minutes of steaming the one. Terrified, he reached the hospital in split seconds to find my father-in-law unattended. He called the doctor who was supposed to be his night guard. The doctor complained, "One of my relatives has been admitted, it's an emergency case. I may not be able to attend on your father." This enraged my husband tremendously. He decided to quit the hospital whatever the case. He couldn’t see his father suffering anymore. He contacted several hospitals in Jamshedpur. Finally, he came across only one hospital accepting covid patients where only a single cabin was left. He argued with the warden in getting a discharge since they were unwilling. He paid off the bills and took all his belongings and prescriptions, medicines, and injections in his car. An ambulance was hired. Raghav accompanied my father-in-law who was laid on stature in the ambulance. My husband followed them.