The Vulture’s Record



He has left his own house without taking anything with him. There was, of course, nothing for him to take. He was moving alone on the dark road - not bothered about his shaken old legs but for his shaken values. The world was useless for him. His entire life was flashing back in his eyes.

It was a brutal coincidence when Jr. Doctor Inder raised his voice against his son, Aditya - city’s top nephrologist - and he heard the conversation. ‘Inder, you don’t understand. Do you want to say, we should stop treating him because he is very old and will certainly die in a month or two?’ said Aditya. Inder replied, ‘Sir, his son will lose one of his kidneys and even then this old man will not survive for more than a month or so and you know it well.’ Aditya screamed, ‘I have noticed for quite some time, you start preaching me every now and then. Family is rich. They are willing to spend money. Old man is lucky to have a son who is offering his own kidney. And moreover, they are paying me to do my job. You also better do yours. And remember; don’t allow family to meet with old man. Say that you are keeping him in hyper-care.’

Two years ago, when Aditya’s decision of calling off the raise in his fee had become news in local newspapers, I only coerced it on him. He had increased his fee and I decided to sit on fast. He always wanted to get money; I could never convince myself to let him live his life. He is my son. Oh, the amount of ownership and the burden of values! I remember that day also when he screamed at me naming it my tantrum. I just wanted to say that if you can’t afford to feed your family in this much fee, don’t have burden of me at least. Unfortunate are those who are suffering from diseases and if God has given you ability to alleviate their pain, don’t make yourself expensive for them.

I still remember when Mishra had suggested me to allow the access of a confidential copy of legal documents to Sujaan Singh – one of the parties fighting in the court for their rights on the land- for twenty thousand rupees and pay Aditya’s fee. ‘Both the parties fighting are corrupt and according to me, taking money for some favour from a corrupt person is not wrong. Anyway you will use that money for something good, not for your luxury. This money will help your son become a doctor and he will do well for society like you have done so Far.’ Mishra argued.

I had chosen to sell Sarita’s necklace over taking bribe. Sarita’s necklace, hmm…, I had given her in our first anniversary and she admired my choice of gift by saying, ‘I would love to sport this even on my death-bed.’ I asked her never to appreciate my gift this way; we will be together till eternity. Later in her life, she wanted to sport it on Aditya’s marriage ceremony but neither Aditya nor I let her enjoy this wish. Aditya celebrated his marriage on papers and I had to sell her necklace for his fee long before his marriage. Aah, she chose to depart for her everlasting journey leaving me alone.

Kavya is a nice girl but I could never understand how her love flourished for Aditya in the limitations of her dad’s wish. He always wanted her to marry a doctor and she did the same. Soon, her dad’s desire soared high and now he wants Aditya to be the God of kidney replacement. Perhaps, since he himself is a known surgeon of heart, though he couldn’t save Sarita once she got cardiac arrest because of Aditya’s on-paper marriage.

I however would have been happy if Aditya had tried his best to alleviate the diseases without eagerly jumping to replace the kidney to increase his numbers. I never wanted to see his name in any records book for maximum number of kidney replacements. Oh my Lord, you have given my son the skills to alleviate one’s pain; do bless him with a drop of your much known and praised virtue- mercy.

The next day morning local newspapers read – ‘Well-known surgeon Aditya’s dad passed away, body found on a narrow dark road’. The statement followed by lots of words eulogizing Doctor Aditya as a specialist in his field. It seems there was nothing good to write about the personality of the man departed.  

- Amit Roop

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