Two days and two nights passed in confusion, depression, and helplessness. In my own house, where I had spent my childhood and youth, I was feeling uneasy and like an alien.

Two days before I had received the telegram that my father was unwell. I had immediately rushed to my father’s house in the village. During my journey, I was going through strange passions and thoughts which could be described as disturbing, frightening, and definitely not pleasant. The journey lasted for about six hours, and the road was full of ditches, making it more uncomfortable for me. Notwithstanding all that, my only worry was my father’s illness. I was sure that the elder brothers, Kishan and Raj, must have reached there but I was wrong because when I reached there I was informed by the mother that they had not arrived yet. I was surprised because they lived in a nearby town and it would have taken them only an hour to reach there.

I had already passed two days and two nights waiting for them. Frequently my eyes turned to the front door. I did not know what to do in that situation because I had no idea how to help my father. If something happened to my father, I would be helpless in doing anything.

My father had been lying unconscious for two days and there seemed to be no improvement in his condition. My mother informed me that a few hours before my arrival, my father had taken his medicines but after that he neither moved nor opened his eyes. He was breathing normally but there was no movement in his body, it was almost paralyzed. My mother was quite worried and it added to my discomfort.

All my attempts to shake him and talk to him went in vain because there was no response. I had spent most of my time sitting beside his bed. I hoped that he would open his eyes or at least turn his side but nothing like that happened.

The entire house was enveloped in gloominess and disturbing silence. We were breathing but feeling the suffocation which was invisibly haunting the house. When we talked we talked in whispers. Pinki, my younger sister, and Vicky, my kid brother, had hardly spoken to me in past two days. Their faces told everything. I was amazed how a restless boy like Vicky could be so silent and reserved because he could hardly stay a minute without saying something.

In the evening at about 6 o’ clock, I got up and left my father’s room; I came into an adjoining room. Vicky was reading a book and Pinki was doing embroidery on an old cloth piece.

There were neighbouring children playing in the street outside. Their voices reached the room through the open window. They were playing hide-n-seek and some of them were hiding behind our boundary wall of the house.

My mother seemed to be annoyed and she shouted at the children and ordered them to go away. The children did not realize that there was a sick old man inside the house and they were disturbing the people in the house. When the children did not pay attention to my mother, she closed the open window.

I began to feel back ache and I was in desperate need of rest. Though I wanted to sleep, I did not show it to my mother because she would tell me to take rest and I did not want to leave my father alone in that condition.

Perhaps, she sensed that I was feeling uncomfortable so she said, “Shall I bring a cup of tea for you?”

“No, mother, I don’t need anything…” before I could complete my sentence, I saw her enter the kitchen. I was sure that she would be back in a few minutes with a hot cup of tea for me.

Anger was growing and I felt that it was going to be difficult to control myself. Kishan and Raj should have come before me. They were irresponsible and careless. I was worried about my father. How could I take my father to the nearest hospital without their help? I had no experience and I did not know how I would do all that.

Meanwhile, the mother returned with a cup of tea. My resistance failed and I said, “Mother, Kishan and Raj must have received your telegram. Why haven’t they arrived yet?”

“I don’t know but I am sure they must have something important to do there, otherwise they would never hold back,” said the mother, trying to convince me, perhaps, sensing that I was angry and annoyed.

“I have reached immediately and I live a long way from here?” I protested.

“They have their families and it is not easy nowadays to leave all that so easily,” said the mother.

I began to think about my children. Their exams were nearing and I was supposed to help them with their test papers but I gave priority to my father and rushed to the village.

We were distracted by a knock on the main door. I was sure that Kishan and Raj would be there but I was wrong. It was Rama auntie at the door. She is a neighbour.

“How is he feeling now?” she said in a worried tone of voice.

“No improvement…” said my mother, equally worried.

“Has he opened his eyes?” said Rama auntie.

“No, he is lying unconscious…” my mother began to weep.

“Control yourself, everything will be all right. Keep faith in God and He will take care of everything,” Rama auntie tried to assist my mother in those moments of despair and helplessness.

Silence ensued for a few seconds and then Rama auntie said, “I know you have not cooked anything. Come, I will cook food for you.”

She looked at me and said, “Come son, Brij, come with me to my house. Eat something and then come back.”

She did not wait for my answer and said to Pinki and Vicky, “You two, get up and come with me.”

We did not give any response so she said, “All right, I will send someone with the food. It is almost ready.”

A part of my father’s face twitched and the mother looked in my direction. There was a definite movement on the face. His lips were trembling. My mother moved closer and said, “Listen, open your eyes. Look, Brij has come to meet you. Don’t you want to meet your son?”

I took my father’s right hand in my hands and said, “Father, this is Brij, your son. Are you feeling better, father?”

The movements of his lips suggested that he wanted to say something so I bent down.

“Kish…an…and …Raj…” he whispered.

“They will be here any instant,” said I.

He looked at the mother and then at Pinki and Vicky and whispered, “Take care of your mother, my son. Love your little brother and sister. I am leaving them with you…”

My mother begins to weep. I try to console her, “Mother, nothing will happen, please don’t weep. He will be all right soon.”

I was absolutely wrong because the very next movement my father’s head fell on left side on the bed. His breathing stopped forever.

I began to weep loudly. Pinky and Vicky embrace the body of the father and begin to cry in the top of their voice. My mother’s condition is unprecedented.

Suddenly, I feel that someone is pressing my shoulder. I open my eyes. My mother is sitting near my bed, “Brij, my son, you fell asleep? Get up and eat something and then go to sleep.”

Thank God it was a dream. I rushed into my father’s room and found him there, though there was no improvement in his condition.

“Mother, shall I call the doctor?” said I.

“He will not come in the evening but he will come tomorrow morning,” said my mother.

For all that, I picked my bicycle and reached the doctor’s house. My mother was right. He told me to give my father his medicine. He promised to visit us in the morning.

Next morning, when my eyes opened it was past 10:00 am. I jumped out of bed and rushed to the mother. The doctor had not arrived. I got ready and reached the doctor’s house in a few moments.

When I came back I found my brother, Kishan and Raj, in the house. After the exchange of greetings, it transpired that they were busy in their office work and it was almost impossible to leave.

I was surprised because I had left everything, even my wife and children, back at home and rushed to see my father.

My elder brother Kishan took control of everything. There was slight improvement in my father’s condition. Kishan changed father’s clothes and washed his face and limbs.

Brother Raj seemed to be a bit lethargic. He did not talk much. There was something which was going in his mind. I was a bit relieved because I lacked the courage to face that situation alone. Now, in the presence of my elder brothers I felt secured.

After one day of that, our father tried to change his side in the bed and he did succeed. I was worried about my wife. She had been suffering from lung infection and she needed regular treatment. My children must be feeling quite helpless in my absence.

My brothers understood my position and they advised me to go back to my wife and children. I decided to go back by evening train.

In the afternoon, I was sitting beside my father. My mother was massaging his feet. I rallied courage and began, “Mother, when he is perfectly all right, I will take him along to the town. He will stay with us for a few days. Change of environment will do him a lot of good.”

“Let him recover first,” said the mother, “where else can we go? Our sons are our only hope in this world.”

That evening left the parental house. Next morning I was back with my wife and children. After two days I received a call from mother and I came to know that my father’s condition had suddenly deteriorated. I could not control myself and began to weep. My mother was weeping on the other side.

“I will reach there tomorrow, mother.”

“No, your brothers have taken him to the city hospital. I will call you tomorrow. Take care…”

Next morning, a village neighbour called and informed me that my father could not be saved.

I reached the village with my wife and children. After the cremation we came back home. My elder brothers and their wives and children were also there.

In the evening, my mother came to me and told me to follow her. I obeyed her and entered my father’s room following my mother.

“Your father has left a letter for you…” said my mother and handed me a fat envelope.

I looked at her with uncertainty but I took the envelope and opened it. I opened the letter and read the contents very carefully.

“They are already talking about it, Brij,” said the mother.

“What mother?”

“About your father’s land and property…”

“Who?”

“Your elder brothers and their wives…” my mother had tears in her eyes.

Through that envelop I came to know that my father had bequeathed seventy percent of his property, land, and cash to my children and remaining thirty percent was to be divided between my two brothers, Kishan and Raj.

“Mother, I don’t want this. It is unfair…”

“No, my son, it is your father’s last wish and you must respect his wish…”

“No, mother, I will hand over this property to my elder brothers but I will claim my mother and my younger brother and sister…”