7.50 AM:
Today, as usual we heard the horn of the autorickshaw at around 7.50 am and my son ran downstairs and my dad followed him in the lift. I was watching from the third floor, my son coming out of the building along with my father and autorickshaw driver, Anil, telling my dad something, apparently about my sons new shorts which were to be exchanged in the school. I observed that Anil was wearing a different shirt, a light blue colored shirt, compared to the khaki colored shirt which he generally wears. After my son got into it the auto left the premises by 7.55 or so.
9.50 AM - Shocking news:
At around 9.50 am I received a call from Anil, asking me to pick my son in the evening from school. When I inquired I heard him saying somebody died and it appeared to me that he was telling about his son. I was not sure if it was his son, also because he was doing his duty of picking school children a few minutes back as usual. I wanted to ask him if it was his son, but could not gather courage. So, just inquired whose son he was talking about. He, very emotionally, told me that it was his son and also told me that his son was just 5 days old. I felt very sorry and asked for his address, before I hung up.
Paying last respects to the baby:
I got ready and left the house to see him and en route stopped at an ATM to collect some cash because, as usual out of my laziness I could not pay his salary in time. His house was at Amberpet, in the lane opposite to Mukarram cafe.
I reached his house and found an old man carrying a small baby wrapped in a cloth, coming out of Anil's house. From behind Anil was coming and there were tens of people crying inconsolably. The scenes were heartrending. Seeing the baby at once welled up my eyes too. Anil looked shattered but wished me in the usual manner, by raising his hand and gesturing a Namaste. They all were proceeding to a big vehicle, DCM van, parked outside the lane.
Some startling revelations:
I checked with Anil when his son died and I was really moved and touched by what he told me. He told that at around 8 am, while he was picking up school children, he got the message from his house that his son
When I asked him the reason behind the death, he made some startling revelations. The first revelation was that his son was admitted in Niloufer hospital immediately after he was born (in a different hospital), around 5 days ago
The second revelation was that the baby's mother was already in another hospital as she underwent some surgery, probably after the baby's delivery and she was very weak. She was not even informed about her son's death.
He also told me that this baby was the only child and was conceived after 8 years of their marriage. He broke down very frequently and I did not ask him much about the exact cause of the death. When I gave him money he hesitated as I was giving a little more than his salary and upon my force he took it. Earlier also, when I was giving money for the month of May he did not take it as he does not pick children in may.
I wanted to scream on top of my voice, 'How can the baby die when he was discharged from the Hospital just last night claiming that the baby recovered fully? Is the Hospital responsible for the baby's death?'
Is it right to take a snap of the baby?:
When the people were climbing the van, while Anil was talking to me, I wanted to check if a photo of the baby was taken or not. If not I wanted to take a photo and give it to Anil later. But I was worried if people would object. I checked with an old man sitting in the van if anybody took the snap, he said nobody took after death. At the same time a lady, sitting next to the old man probably overheard our conversation, got up and took a snap. I felt relieved.
Silly and disgusting tradition:
Finally, after all boarded the van while Anil was boarding a lady shouted, 'hey where are you coming?' Anil was shocked. She, then continued, 'you are not supposed to come as you are the father.' I got irritated and told her that Anil is the father and he has every right to see his son for the last time and he was more important than others here. She kept quite and Anil got into the van, while gesturing Namaste to me in his usual manner.
Preciousness of life:
In Indian context it really saddens us even more when we see that a baby was born after much longing and lots of prayers only to die and there are people who abandon their new born babies and some even throw their babies into garbage bins/containers.
Again, the mother of the baby is struggling for her life and there are people who are throwing away their lives in spite of being blessed with perfect health and also possessing all the amenities under the sun.
May God give Anil and his family enough strength to come out of the grief and trauma soon and also hope that his wife would recover fast and continue with her life normally.
It is so painful Kiran...Praying god for Anil to give strength to live rest of his life.
ReplyDeleteTears in my eyes as I read..God please give them strength to get through this agony...loss of child is the worst punishment ever for a parent!��
ReplyDeleteIts really tragedy Kiran..
ReplyDeleteIn India we people are very adjustable even we never get our services from public centres. We never question the system. we are very adjustable. How many times we get losses by system even we never hurt the system. We are very kind people we never hurt others by questioning about system about tradition about values and about helping.. we are very kind and adjustable.. We never blame anyone for our loss. We just blame the fate which we can never see.