Chapter 63: His Son Will perform His Last Rights
Aunty Mehra woke up, her bones ached, she had eyes bags, she looked at the time, it was 8 pm. She took out her phone and removed it from silent mode, she didn't bother checking uncle Mehra's phone, she had switched it off earlier on.
Aunty Mehra stayed in bed for a little while before she got up. She went to the bathroom, brushed her teeths and took a hot bath. After dressing up, she went to the fridge, took out the leftover food and microwaved it. After microwaving it, she ate silently.
After eating, she picked up her phone and phoned the driver to come take her back to the hospital. On their way to the hospital, she asked him to stop at a supermarket, she bought some fruits for her son after which they continued their journey to the hospital.
When she got to the hospital, she asked the driver to go back that she would be spending the night with her son in the hospital, but the driver declined. He told her that he would wait for her no matter how long she stays.
She didn't have the energy to exchange words with him, so she let him be. She took the fruits and went inside the hospital afterwards. When she got to the ICU unit, the doctor informed her that her son had woken up earlier.
That she could go in and see him briefly. The doctor also mentioned to her that it is best she lets him recover before she tells him about his father's demise, that if she does tell him now, it would affect his recovery process badly.
Ok doctor, she replied, wore the hospital's protectivewear and went inside the ICU room of her son. When she got inside, her son's eyes were closed but he was not sleeping.
He was very weak, he could not move. Earlier on when he woke up and saw the nurses taking care of him, he looked around with his eyes looking for his parents. He was too tired to speak but the nurse understood his looks.
She quickly told him that his parents stayed with him, they went home to freshen up, and that they would be back soon. She made sure not to tell him about his father's demise, the doctor had instructed her not to, no matter how much the boy asks about his father.
As soon as aunty Mehra got to his side and touched him, he opened his eyes and fraily called out mum. Tears welled up in aunty Mehra eyes as she responded and called son.
She gently hugged her son, and told him that mummy is here now, that he should get better quickly. When Aunty Mehra stopped hugging him, he then asked her, mum what about dad?
Your dad stayed with you all through your surgery, I went home, when I came back to the hospital after your surgery, I told him to go rest at home, that I would come see you when you wake up. She didn't tell him he entire truth.
Will he come see me soon? he asked. Son don't you worry, your main priority is to get well and recover fast. I will let him know that you are doing ok, aunty Mehra replied. Ok mum, he responded.
After a while she washed up the fruits that she had bought for him, she bought seedless grapes, the ones soft enough for him to eat. She fed him the fruits. He ate, she then helped him up and held the cup for him to drink water.
As she placed down the cup of water on the stool beside her son's bed, her phone began to vibrate. When she was coming into the hospital, she put it on vibration mode so that if it rings, it would not disturbed her son.
She took her phone from her purse, looked at the caller ID, it was her brother in-law calling. She figured that because she switched off Uncle Mehra's phone, that is why her brother in-law had to call her instead.
She excused her self from her son's ICU room, to answer her call outside. Hello brother in-law, her voice was coaxed. Purhab detected it but he imagined, she is going through a lot because of her son. So he did not read any meaning into her coaxed voice.
Hello sis inlaw, how is my nephew now, is he recovering? Purhab Mehra asked. He is recovering and getting better, he has woken up after his surgery, aunty Mehra replied. Am glad to hear that, what about you and my brother, how are you and has he woken up aswell?
Am doing fine brother in-law but you brother my husband...before she could finish her sentence, she started crying. Don't cry sis inlaw, Purhab comforted her and continued with a worried voice, tell me now, what happened to him?
She continued to cry then she said, brother in-law, your brother, your brother didn't make it alive, the doctor said he had a cardiac arrest during the surgery, he is no more. As she Finished her sentence, her tears flowed more, she cried more.
Purhab Mehra was shocked at such a bad news, he froze for a while then suddenly with a sad voice, to comfort his late brother's wife he said. Sis inlaw, please don't cry anymore, be strong for my nephew.
I would make arrangements to bring his body to India. Don't you worry about anything. When my nephew has fully recovered, I would personally fly over there to bring you, my nephew and my brother back home.
I will be the one to inform dad and mum about this, don't worry about anything sis inlaw, please be strong. As he said this words, tears flowed from his eyes as well, his little brother was gone. He wondered how their dad and mum in Udi Village would react to this bad news.
Thank you brother in-law, I would be strong for my son and your nephew, aunty Mehra replied. Take good care of my nephew, if you need anything, am here, you can always ask me, I would arrange for you to have bodyguards, Purhab said.
Ok brother in-law, thank you, if I need anything I would ask you, currently my son is in the ICU and am outside of his room, I want to go back inside and take care of him. That is alright sis inlaw, take care, Purhab Mehra replied and hung up.
After he hung up, his tears continued to flow, he was pained and sad that his only blood brother was gone forever, he didn't have a sister, he was now the only surviving child of his parents.
Lakshmi who just came out of the bathroom looked at her husband and asked, as she was asking she moved closer to him to comfort him. Dear why are you crying? I have never seen you cry so openly in front of me before. Did something bad happen? what is the matter?
Purhab looked at his wife Lakshmi who was sitting beside him, he hugged her immediately, his tears began to flow more. Dear I just finished speaking to sis inlaw. My brother is gone, he is no more, he didn't make it, he died of cardiac arrest during the surgery, he is gone forever.
Lakshmi began to cry with her husband, the couple cried together and comforted their selves. After sometime they put themselves together.
Purhab then spoke, I wouldn't be able to go to the office from now on, I will put Yuvrag in charge of he company temporary. If he does well I will just retire, but if he doesn't, I will have to continue as the CEO until he learns about managing the business properly.
Dear we have to find a way to tell mum and dad and convince them to come back home. I think we should travel to Udi Village the day after tomorrow to inform them, my brother was their son, they have ever right to know about his demise as soon as possible.
Lakshmi looked at her husband with a teary eye and replied, I agree with your arrangements, it's best we tell mum and dad in person than over the phone. Yuvrag will be managing the company, he wouldn't be able to come with us, Desha would, her exams are not close, we should take her with us.
Dear I agree Desha should come with us but we would have to Inform both Yuvrag and Desha about their uncle's demise later this evening, Purhab replied.
He paused and continued, about sister in-law, I would arrange bodyguards for her, and when my nephew has fully recovered, I would fly over there to go bring him, sis inlaw and my brother home. Then his son will perform his last rights.
That is a great idea dear, but what about the board of directors? I think you should have a conference call with them, that Yuvrag will be managing the company from now on temporary, Lakshmi said.
I will do that dear, but first I would inform Yuvrag of the new development concerning the company when he comes back home later tonight. For now I need to let him know I won't be going in to the office today.
Purhab took his phone from the stool at the side of his bed and dialled Yuvrag's number. Hello dad, Yuvrag answered. Yuvrag my boy, I won't be coming into the office today, please take charge of things at the office, and come back home on time, your mum and I have something to tell you and Desha, Purhab spoke.
Dad is everything alright? You don't sound well, I would come to your room now, Yuvrag replied. No son, you dont have to come up to my room, dont worry, your mum is here, just have your breakfast with Desha. Inform her of the meeting with the both of you later tonight and take charge of things at the office, Purhab said.
Ok dad, I would inform Desha and take charge of things at the office, Yuvrag hung up and left his room, he went downstairs, when he was about eating, Desha came to join him. They exchanged Namaste greetings, and ate their meal.
All through breakfast, Desha didn't see Purhab and Lakshmi, so she asked Yuvi. Where is mum and dad? They didn't come down for breakfast. They are fine Desha, you don't have anything to worry about, but come home earlier today, dad and mum have something important they want to discuss with us, Yuvrag replied.
Okay Yuvrag, Desha replied. As they were leaving the house, Desha looked up to see if her parents would come downstairs, she also wondered if they are fine. Am sure they are, she said to herself, Yuvrag even said so himself. Yuvrag drove his car to the office, while the family driver drove Desha to the University.
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