Visalachi had told Kesavan about the old lady she was taking care of. She had been sick for a while, and now, the doctors said she was dying of Cancer. Kesavan looked perplexed. He did not understand what she meant but sensed the seriousness of the matter.
“Mama, what is cancer?” Kesavan put this question to Sabapathy mama, his neighbour the next morning, as they sat together on the verandah.
“It’s a terrible disease. No cure. People just wait to die when they get Cancer. It’s a killer.” Sabapathy settled back into his dreamy state in the cloth hammock he was reclining in. Kesavan sat staring blankly at the wall. As he shifted, the chair creaked under the weight of his immense frame. Kesavan knitted his brow as he tried to concentrate. The thoughts overwhelmed him. He sensed a throbbing headache coming on. Kesavan shook his head, as if to rid himself of all the thoughts coursing through his head. His mind cleared. But the depression persisted.
Then, all of a sudden, things became clear. He got up abruptly, startling Sabapathy. In quick strides, Kesavan made his way purposefully to Temple Street. Soon he stood panting and sweating profusely, at the front gate of Narayana Reddy’s house.
“Amma… amma,” Kesavan called out to his mother.
“What are you doing here? Go back home. Amma is busy. I will come back in the evening and make thosai for you.” Visalachi stood there, wiping her brow.
“Amma, that lady has Cancer. I don’t want you to be near her. Come home. You don’t have to work anymore. I will work. I will earn money and support you. Come home amma. I don’t want you to die.” Kesavan was almost in tears.
Visalachi hugged him. “Ayyo, asadu asadu. I have asked everyone. Cancer cannot be passed from one person to another. Nothing will happen to me. You go home now.” She patted his head. Kesavan stood there for a while. His head throbbed. Then he walked home slowly. As he passed Sabapathy’s house, Kesavan paused. Sabapathy was dozing in the hammock, his head lolling from side to side.
***
Visalachi had been sick for more than a week now. Kesavan sat and watched her all day. He was helpless. He was confused and angry because his mother was suffering.
“Its nothing. Just a cough. I have taken the saffron water. I will be alright in the morning. You go sleep.” But Kesavan could not sleep. He lay tossing and turning.
Kesavan awoke with a start. His mother was coughing and moaning. Kesavan hurriedly scrambled up and switched on the light. He was horrified at the sight. There was blood everywhere. His mother was lying on the floor. As he watched she spat out more blood. Kesavan ran out screaming. “Mama ! Sabapathy mama! Amma is very ill. Come now. Mama ! “
***
Kesavan’s head throbbed. The pain was unbearable. Events had moved at lightning pace. The hospital. The doctor telling him that his amma had Cancer. The worsening cough. The terrible suffering his mother went through. And finally, amma was dead. Gone for good. If only she had listened to him….
Kesavan’s head stopped throbbing. Suddenly everything was clear. Kesavan remembered the Ayya shrine at the corner of Mudaliar Street. He walked there now. At the shrine, he stopped. For a moment he gazed at the small statue, standing fiercely, dagger raised as if to strike. Slowly he grabbed the dagger.
The gate and front door was open. Entering, he moved swiftly to the side room. Pausing for a moment in front of the bed, he brought the dagger down in a massive blow. Blood splattered everywhere. The old lady died without a whimper. She was out of her misery. Kesavan watched her lifeless body. He felt a strange calm. The dagger dropped from his hand.
“Mama, what is cancer?” Kesavan put this question to Sabapathy mama, his neighbour the next morning, as they sat together on the verandah.
“It’s a terrible disease. No cure. People just wait to die when they get Cancer. It’s a killer.” Sabapathy settled back into his dreamy state in the cloth hammock he was reclining in. Kesavan sat staring blankly at the wall. As he shifted, the chair creaked under the weight of his immense frame. Kesavan knitted his brow as he tried to concentrate. The thoughts overwhelmed him. He sensed a throbbing headache coming on. Kesavan shook his head, as if to rid himself of all the thoughts coursing through his head. His mind cleared. But the depression persisted.
Then, all of a sudden, things became clear. He got up abruptly, startling Sabapathy. In quick strides, Kesavan made his way purposefully to Temple Street. Soon he stood panting and sweating profusely, at the front gate of Narayana Reddy’s house.
“Amma… amma,” Kesavan called out to his mother.
“What are you doing here? Go back home. Amma is busy. I will come back in the evening and make thosai for you.” Visalachi stood there, wiping her brow.
“Amma, that lady has Cancer. I don’t want you to be near her. Come home. You don’t have to work anymore. I will work. I will earn money and support you. Come home amma. I don’t want you to die.” Kesavan was almost in tears.
Visalachi hugged him. “Ayyo, asadu asadu. I have asked everyone. Cancer cannot be passed from one person to another. Nothing will happen to me. You go home now.” She patted his head. Kesavan stood there for a while. His head throbbed. Then he walked home slowly. As he passed Sabapathy’s house, Kesavan paused. Sabapathy was dozing in the hammock, his head lolling from side to side.
***
Visalachi had been sick for more than a week now. Kesavan sat and watched her all day. He was helpless. He was confused and angry because his mother was suffering.
“Its nothing. Just a cough. I have taken the saffron water. I will be alright in the morning. You go sleep.” But Kesavan could not sleep. He lay tossing and turning.
Kesavan awoke with a start. His mother was coughing and moaning. Kesavan hurriedly scrambled up and switched on the light. He was horrified at the sight. There was blood everywhere. His mother was lying on the floor. As he watched she spat out more blood. Kesavan ran out screaming. “Mama ! Sabapathy mama! Amma is very ill. Come now. Mama ! “
***
Kesavan’s head throbbed. The pain was unbearable. Events had moved at lightning pace. The hospital. The doctor telling him that his amma had Cancer. The worsening cough. The terrible suffering his mother went through. And finally, amma was dead. Gone for good. If only she had listened to him….
Kesavan’s head stopped throbbing. Suddenly everything was clear. Kesavan remembered the Ayya shrine at the corner of Mudaliar Street. He walked there now. At the shrine, he stopped. For a moment he gazed at the small statue, standing fiercely, dagger raised as if to strike. Slowly he grabbed the dagger.
The gate and front door was open. Entering, he moved swiftly to the side room. Pausing for a moment in front of the bed, he brought the dagger down in a massive blow. Blood splattered everywhere. The old lady died without a whimper. She was out of her misery. Kesavan watched her lifeless body. He felt a strange calm. The dagger dropped from his hand.
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