21 Days - Day 17

"When will I get back to the room?" a small voice quipped.

I looked up from the charts. Smita was doing well, considering the scare she had given me yesterday. Her vitals were looking good and she was able to take semi-solids today. My guess was that she should be normal, or as normal as she is ever going to be in a day or two.

"Two days max. You will be back in your room by then" I said, cheerfully.

There was silence for a couple of minutes.

"You never take leave uh? I always see you in hospital. That too so late. Wont your mom shout at you for being outside for so late?"

I didn't know what to feel or to say to her. Whether I should tell her how my 'planned' leave yesterday went haywire and left me back at the hospital. Whether I should tell her that doctors,especially in their early stage of career had never-ending shifts. Whether I should be glad that she still thinks of me as being young eough to get reprimanded by my mom. Whether I should be sad that whether young or old I dont have a mom to reprimand me anymore.

"No. She wont shout at me. She knows that my work keeps me late." I managed with a smile.

"What does your dad do?"

It looked like today was going to be a tough question day for me. The questions by themselves were innocent, but each question brought back suppressed memories in me. Memories that I had fought hard to keep it from boiling over and taking over my life.

"Nothing. He is retired now."

"What did he used to do"

The questions were not stopping. I didnt know what to say about my dad. I had tried my best to forget my dad. Been trying very hard for the past 10 years. Trying to forget the day he came home with Sheila aunty. Trying to forget the day that he and mom had a fight. Trying to forget the day me and my mom moved out of the house on Cardinal road and into that single bedroom apartment in Officer's quarters. The day that my mom died. Seeing a blurred image through my tears of my dad coming there drunk.

"He was a manager in a bank. That was long ago. He is retired now."

"Oh..ok. My dad is a manager too. In Softech. Very big company, you know. But I dont like it. They keep sending him abroad. Often he goes away for months and I dont get to see him. It must be nice for you to be able to see your dad every day."

"Ha ha .. ya ya it is" I laughed, thinking when was the last time that I had seen my dad. It had been 3 years ago.
 
"So you saw your mom and dad yesterday? " I asked, slightly curious.

"Oh yes. Mom came in the morning. She bought me a new sketchbook and set of oil paints. She was looking very tired but stayed with me till lunch time. After I ate that gooey stuff they gave as lunch she left. That gooey gooey thing was terrible. Tasted like chalk. Yuck"

" Yes I know. It has to be that way. We cant put any spices in the food for you. That's why it is plain." I said and paused,"What about your dad?"

"He came in the evening. He was also looking tired. I guess running around between home and hospital is making them both tired. He bought me a new dress and promised to get me the new cycle that I have been asking for. Isnt that great? been wanting to ride a cycle for so long. Mom never allowed it. But she doesn't know that I have been borrowing from my friend at school and trying it in school."She said with a mischievous grin.

"Good good. It wont be long before you are out of here and riding that cycle" I said.

"Let's see", she said with visible excitement.

I wished good night and left the ICU.


Day 18