Karthik’s mobile beeped. It was early morning and Karthik was half asleep. He wondered who would have smsed him at time. He thought it must be some wake up / sms forward. He walked to the desk and picked his mobile and saw who had left the sms. It was Vignesh’s sms.

“I will there in 20 minutes time” – Karthik replied to his sms and started immediately.

Karthik started on his bike. It was raining but he was determined to reach there in 20 mins. It was a very well known location to everyone in the city. He went straight to fifth floor and saw Vignesh waiting in front of the ICU. There were a lot of relatives and family members of Vignesh’s friend Vijay.

“What happened?” – Karthik asked.

“He was supposed to join a new company in Bangalore on Monday. He went for shopping to buy things on the last moment and while returning home, his bike met with an accident yesterday night on Velachery highway. A good Samaritan helped him and admitted here. He has suffered multiple head injuries and is in ICU”

Vignesh’s friend was a professional acquaintance to Karthik. All studied in the same college but different branches of engineering. Vignesh and Karthik were classmates. Vijay and Vignesh were bus mates. Karthik came to know about his friend only at work. He used to work in the same office as Karthik’s. Only couple of days back he came to know about Vijay’s FAREWELL day at work and Karthik wished him good luck for a new venture.

Karthik was slightly getting dizzy seeing the people and emotional events happening around him. It was never a place to visit. Vignesh accompanied Karthik to a nearby tea stall. As they were sipping their coffee, Karthik asked Vignesh

“Where is Srinivasan? Why hasn’t he come now? Is he not in town? Is he in US by any chance now?”

“No, he is here. I called him up and he said he was not allowed to come by his parents as they have a religious family function at his home.”

Karthik didn’t want to continue talking about it further. Srinivasan was Vignesh and Vijay’s best friend. All three were very close and were best buddies since college. They can be always spotted together. Last time, Karthik saw them together in a reception, a year back. First Karthik thought there must have been some misunderstanding between the three. Being his best buddy, he thought Srinivasan would be obliged to be here at this moment ahead of him especially when his friend was in a serious condition admitted in hospital. They went back and were waiting in front of ICU to hear from doctor.

As the neatly dressed doctor came out of ICU, Karthik slowly stepped backwards as he didn’t want to hear what the doctor was about to say in fear.

Few Weeks Later,

Karthik at work met Prem, his former project colleague. Prem was a highly disciplined and  religious person. He was more into religion for his age and Karthik was always in awe at his knowledge on religion. He used have a Lord Shiva picture as a desktop picture. Karthik knew every year, Prem would go to a temple and he would give prasadam and asked him why he didn’t give prasadam this time around.

“I didn’t go to the temple this time. I had to cancel the trip at the last moment because one of my colleague’s brother passed away. I have to start again the whole fasting, so I decided to go during off season in March and that time I will give you the prasadham“

Karthik was happy to hear that Prem decided to look beyond religion. Even today many religions see death as a bad omen and Karthik hopes that some day people will use their heart and question these customs rather than blindly following them.

************************************************The End ************************************************

About the author Nirmal: Nirmal is a long standing pal of mine. He is one of the people who pestered me to start a blog. He has a blog where he talks about people he interacts in his life. His central theme has been relationships, soccer and movies. He also writes short stories. This is one of them.

I published this story in Shalini’s blog six months ago. This blog has been declared self-defunct, hence no links are being put. She writes well and speaks out her mind.  A good debater as well. Its difficult to beat her in debates. Now let the story begin…..

Eight year old Valli was walking with her kid brother Muthu to home. They pass a lungi-clad gentleman smoking on the side walk.

Muthu to Valli: Why don’t we try a puff? Eh!

Valli: We shouldn’t. Mother will skin us alive!!! Besides, we can’t buy them.

Muthu: Why not?

Valli: It’s illegal for Mani, the shop keeper to sell cigarettes to children.

Muthu (Sour-faced): That is not fair.

The children reach home. Muthu throws away his school bag and settles infront of the TV set.

Valli to Mother: Why is it illegal to sell cigarettes to children?

Mother looks at Valli and smiles: You and Muthu are growing. So are other children. Smoking a cigarette will impair your growth. That’s why the government has imposed a ban.

Valli: Oh!

Valli joins her brother in watching the evening cartoons. The father overheard the conversation from the front yard.

Father: Why didn’t you tell Valli that kids cannot make informed decision? That’s why its illegal to sell a cigarette to a minor. The same reasoning applies to voting. Isn’t it?

Mother (Looking at her kids): I didn’t want our children to know their father is ruining himself and others despite making an informed decision.

Hearing the retort, father coughs up in his own inhaled smoke. He flicks the ash of the cigarette.

Father: Hmmmm!

*********************************************THE END************************************************

I published this story as a guest columnist here, a few weeks ago.  The owner of that blog being a nice guy, would permit me to use his space. His blog delves on relationships and music. Now onto the story!

Déjà Vu

Ma and papa were fighting again. I was a mute spectator all the time watching them throw accusations which I never comprehended. The fight finally ended and ma leaves home in a fit of rage. Papa shows his anger by smashing the photo frame to smithereens. The photo had ma, papa and me huddled together near a cozy fireplace. Papa walks furiously back and forth for a couple of minutes. He then approaches me and holds my hands.

“Listen, Revathi. The things I am going to tell you might shock you.” said papa. “I never wanted you to know this. There is a man called Srikrishnan. He has done very bad things to us….How do I tell this?….That guy has bewitched your mother. I think he gives some kind of freak drug which makes yours mother swoon.” said papa. I was flabbergasted. Papa rants on, “He is a Biotech scientist…..cooks up drugs in the lab…his next plan is to brainwash you…”

Papa continues to tell an unbelievable story for 10 minutes and sobs. Every teeny weenie thing he talked about seemed ridiculous to me – a 10 year old kid. Despite the story appearing seemingly way out of the world, my eyes were slowly welling with tears.

Papa also leaves the house for the day. He said he has some business to take care off. I didn’t see him for the rest of the day. The next day after coming from school, ma says we are going to the hospital.

Revathi: Is papa coming with us?

Ma: That is exactly why we are going. Papa is in the hospital.

Revathi: Why? What happened?

She never replied. At the hospital, I saw papa on the bed wearing a patient’s gown. His hair is disheveled. He appears very groggy due to sedation. He beckons me to approach him. Ma pushes me forward knowing that I was reluctant. But, I felt the scene was too overwhelming and I make my way out of the room. Ma follows me out.

Revathi: Ma! What happened to him?
Ma: Dear, I don’t want you to get scared. Pa will be ok. He is just unwell. The doctors will cure him

I was scared. I didn’t know who to trust after the crazy story pa narrated. Do I confront ma? Ma seemed to read my mind. She hugs me.

Ma: Pa is very very sick, sweetie. He has schizophrenia.

Revathi: Schizo….?

Ma: It’s a psychiatric disease and it makes him hallucinate. He imagines incidents that would have never happened, but he will believe that it did happen in reality.

Revathi: (Sniffing) Ma….

Ma: Papa was not his usual self during the past few weeks. I observed him doing queer things when he was alone. He used to talk alone. Sometime he just stares at the blank wall. After yesterday’s fight, I approached our family doctor……..Oh, Revathi..I know it’s hard on you.

I must say that I was badly traumatized. It had been an emotional roller coaster ride for the past few days. I visited papa a lot in the hospital. His lips were swollen. The tongue was blistered. One of the side effects of taking lot of pills, I presume. I overheard the doctors telling ma something about the shock treatment giving good response.

After 2 weeks, papa came back home. He never talked about the bio tech scientist ever again. It was difficult, but slowly our lives returned back to normal.

2 years later

Revathi: But ma, I don’t want to come.
Ma: Will you stop fussing! Mythili’s family will be hurt if you don’t come. They are all eager to see you.
Revathi: *mutter*
Ma: Let’s have a deal, shall we? If you come with me, I promise that I will buy that dress which you wanted a lot.
Revathi: Mmmmm. Ok.

So, I tag along with ma. Sigh! Life did come become back to normal after pa’s treatment. There were fights between ma and pa, but it was never like the one they had 2 years ago. These days the fights usually revolve around relatives. But, why did I have a weird feeling about this. I am pretty sure I heard the name Mythili before. When ma and I reached the house we were supposed to visit, I saw the owner’s name etched in front of the house. “G.B. Srikrishnan. B.Tech (Biotech) Illam”