Cancer Ward, Bed Number 334.

Cancer Ward Kottayam Medical College 2 pm, 2011.

"I need some water"..

Her voice was too feeble. They run to the nearest water purifier to get some water. Karthik, the only son of her was busy with his mother's demands and needs in the sick bed.

Prashoba, was a very healthy lady. She worked hard to sustain her family after the death of her husband Aravind. Aravind passed away when Karthik was studying at the second standard. In her twenties she became a widow. But nobody could defeat her. Small job in the Village office that was the central income that family.

Karthik continued his studies and now doing his MBA at Calicut university.

But fate is unavoidable. Prashoba got cancer in her Liver. So many treatements. Radiations in Thiruvanathapuram RCC. Doctors opined that to be in kottayam is suffient. She needs some pain killers only that much. The course of Radiations being completed.

Last sunday Prashoba becme too weak. She could not take the breath. So, Karthik got some ten days leave from the university to look after her.

Now she is in the cancer ward of Kottayam Medical College bed number 334.

"Are you fine"

I asked her. She looked at me. What a powerful face she has?

"You are from?"

I was little bit hesitated to answer it. It's because i have no exact location to tell. Then also i tried to convince her, i am not that much a bad stanger.

"I have a patient here"

"Oh.. "

"In sixth ward"

"What happend to him?"

"He had the problem in his legs"

"Now"

"Amputated"

"How old he has?"

"My own friend at his twenties"

Prashoba was just falling to small sleep.

Medical college Casualty , 2.45 pm, 2011.

TV screen was so big. Lot of little children were playing under the TV Stand. A lot of people were waiting there inorder to get the entry to Patient Wards.

Then i saw him in a white shirt. His hair was hust covering his eyebrows. I followed him. When i reached the entrance of Cancer ward, the guards aked to me the entry card. I was little frustrated. I forgot to tale that from the reception.

what i have to do?

go back again to reception. It will take long time again. Okay, let anything happen, i just entered to the cancer ward without looking at them. Fortunately guards were conversating with a nurse who had some papers on her hand.

"Hello Karthik"

Hearing the name from an unidentifed source he looked back and went on. I called him again. Then he noticed that it was me, and i was too close to him.

"Who are you?"

"I am Praveen"

"How do you know my name?"

"I spoke with your Mother"

"For what"

"just visited her"

"you have any patients there"

"yes, one of my friend, in sixth ward"

"I cannot understand"

"what"

"sixth ward is in the down floor"

"yes, You are right"

"then why you came to this ward"

I have no answers to him. I just followed him agian.

I saw some nursed and doctors were standing beside of her. Karthik rushed to her bed.

"What happened doctor?"

"Karthik be calm, Let's hope for the best"

I could see some nurses were trying to give her oxygen.

Now her breathing is so long. I could hear the long breath. Karthik was crying. I jsut took his hand.

I looked at her. I felt that she was looking at me again.

She jsut raised her left hand in order to say something.

i said to Karthik to touch her hand and give her a last kiss. But he was crying.

i touched her left hand

so warm it was.

slowly slowly her breathing came to an end.

i saw the light in her eyes looking at me and Karthik.

Now i cannot hold her hand it was so cold.

Karthik was crying aloud. Everybody came to that bedside.

"Is anybody with you Karthi"

"Mother's brother Reghunath"

He gave me the phone number. I called him and conveyed the matter.

Karthik was so thankful to me. He is calling me everyday. Now he consider me as his own brother.

Reception Medical college, Kottayam.

"madam, will you please tell who is the new patient in bed 334."

"you are again .."

"yes"

"One, Samuel from Madras"

"Okay"

"Excuse me Madam"

"yes"

"Is sixth ward opened today"

"yes"

"thank you"

Cemetry. Fort Kochi, Latin Cathedral Church

"you come again praveen"

"yes Ma"

"how are you today"

"Ma. i have to go, one samuel is there"

"In my bed 334 "

"yes"

Vyttila Hub, Eranakulam

"ticket..ticket"

"One Kottayam, Medical college"