Chapter 22: chapter 22

I learnt about people doing a lot of social services for the pandemic-hit victims but in my locality, the scenario was exactly different from what I had been hearing. My house remained unswept. I had to push myself to do the domestic chores for maintaining health and hygiene. However, I remained aloof from the kitchen. My younger son assisted his grandmother in the kitchen in every possible way. He washed and organised utensils on the rack, and served us tea and meals. Generally, I was on a liquid diet consuming orange juice which Raghav brought for us every day. My mother-in-law somehow managed to cook chapati and potato curry for us and sent khichri to the hospital at night. Sometimes she tried to mop and clean the floor. There were times when my husband was unable to check on us, we went without food. Early morning of  23rd April 2021, I was lying on the bed striving to befriend sleep with many unsuccessful attempts. My younger son came and sat beside me wiping his tears. His eyes were red and swollen with tears. He spoke to me admits his tears, "Mother, grandfather is no more." I was startled, dazed and perplexed, unable to comprehend what I heard. I helped myself to sit on the bed and enquired to demonstrate my amazement, "WHAT?" He cried profusely and gathered himself to speak again. I sulked at his sudden outburst of emotions. I was that unlucky mother who could not console her gloomy son because the deadly virus was still there within me. I wanted to touch him, and hug him tightly but was restrained for the fear of transferring the virus to him. Already we had our share of turmoils.  I didn't want him to suffer twice. He told, "Last night grandfather was taken to Jamshedpur, at six in the morning, he breathed his last.....".He couldn’t continue further, as his words were punctuated with tears of separation from his beloved grandfather. He had been his favourite. Their late-night cricket match indulgences were unforgettable moments to cherish. I was falling short of words to console him. I was not in a state to swallow the news appropriately.  My father-in-law's face flashed before my eyes all the time. The little time I spent with him while nursing him, and serving him revolved in front of my eyes. I surveyed his behaviour, way of talking, and actions. It was difficult to accept the news. I had the notion that he was still among us ignoring the truth. I was unaware of all that happened the previous night. I probed my son to find out the affairs. He furnished me with the little information he received from his grandmother. I implored further, "How is your grandmother?" "She is attending to the recurring calls", he replied. I called my immediate relatives to transmit the news. My elder sister sympathised with me saying,"Remember you have not recovered. Don't lament too much about the loss. Prioritise your health over anything. Don't lose hope. You have your family to look after. Nothing can transpire without the will of God. Keep your calm. Your father-in-law had died ripe. There are many you passed away too soon."That was a mature talk indeed. Her reassurances acted as a relief. I didn't know how to react to the situation. All my emotions were subdued because of the prolonged infection and sick atmosphere at home. My elder son was informed in his half-sleep. He neutrally listened to his brother. I could see his eyes well up with compassionate tears. After a moment, fathoming the depth of the matter, he enquired, "Who will look after his shop?" The question was valid but I have no answer at that time. What a coincidence, my father-in-law left for his heavenly abode on the 23rd of April and today on the twenty-third of November I have revealed his death news in my narration and in the twenty-third part of this series I would be talking about all that occurred on the same day.