Only Son(Atul Sharma) Only Son


A tear trickled from the corner of the eye of Subhash. Hemlata his wife could see this standing helpless outside from the glass window of the private room of the hospital in which Subhash was struggling for his life. Subhash got a heart attack on hearing about his only son Arun’s sudden death in a car accident. The impact between the car of Arun and a truck was so damaging that he was killed on the spot. Subhash had just arrived from his office and was enjoying his evening tea with Hemlata when he got this dreadful news. At first Subhash could not believe his ears.

“How could this happen? I had just in the morning asked him to drive carefully as Kamaya his wife is expecting a child next month. They say God has his own ways to punish us. Is this God’s way of divine retribution for some sin of mine, of which I am still oblivious? My only son is no more…" And then Subhash felt a sudden pain in his heart. He could no longer stand and fell on the ground. He felt the cold marble floor of his house. He could see Hemlata running out of the house from the corner of his eye for seeking help.

Then as Subhash got his consciousness back, he found himself lying in a bed in a hospital with lots of machines buzzing around him. Arun derived his livelihood by selling these machines to various hospitals. Now these machines seemed cruel to Subhash, as they will always haunt him by coercing his senses to recall his only son.

Hemlata could no longer think. She was more worried about her daughter-in-law Kamaya who was still oblivious of the mishaps that happened in her life. Hemlata had not yet informed Kamaya about... She knew Kamaya’s delicate state of health might not be able to withstand the onslaught of losing her husband.

Suddenly Subhash started to breathe frantically. Hemlata on seeing this shouted for the doctor. A male nurse on hearing her shouts ran to call the doctor. A middle aged Doctor soon emerged on the scene running towards Subhash’s room. He injected some medicine into Subhash. Subhash could now breathe easily. His eyes steered towards Hemlata who was standing there as a mute spectator, her lips constantly praying silently for the well-being of her husband.

The doctor asked Hemlata to leave but Subhash in a meek voice asked her to stay.

“Have you informed Kamaya about…," Subhash could not hold his tears back and the doctor again asked Hemlata to leave as the more he will talk the more his chances of survival get slim.

“Will I be able to see my grandchild Doctor?” asked Subhash in a mild but probing manner.

“Yes you will be, Sir.”

Then the Doctor left the room for the husband and wife to talk, as he knew Subhash did not have much time left to live. This was his third heart attack and his heart was not responding well to his medication.

Subhash started to speak though he had to strain himself much for this but he did not want the last chance to talk to Hemlata to get wasted away.

"Hemlata I think I will not be able to survive this time. I do not know what wrong I have done that God has given me this cruel punishment. He snatched our only son from us. I still feel him here in this room amidst this weird buzzing of the machines…" Again, Subhash’s eyes could not hold back his tears.

“Please do not strain yourself. You will be okay soon. You have to see the face of your grandson Subhash,” said Hemlata with a lump in her throat.

Subhash took a long sigh. He could feel his heart straining to pump the blood to his veins. He wanted to live. He wanted to bring up his grandson so that he is able to relive the childhood of his only son.

“I think Hemlata you should make some excuse and try to hide the death….”
Subhash cleared his throat and said again, “I think Hemlata you should hide the heart rending news from Kamaya till our grandchild is born. Promise me Hemlata promise me.”

“How will I hide from Kamaya? Sooner or later she will get to know about it, Subhash.”

“Tell her that Arun has started a new company in U.S and I have also gone with him to help him.”

“But where are you going Subhash?” asked Hemlata as she wiped her tears.

Hemlata could not elicit any response. She just saw Subhash staring at the ceiling as he lifted both of his arms for a hug from the almighty.

After a few seconds, Subhash’s arms fell on the bed with a thud. His eyes still wide open. Hemlata did not call for the doctor, as she knew that she now stands alone in this world, as both her son and husband are in a new world inaccessible for the inhabitants of this world.

She got up from the chair and somehow balanced her staggering legs to start a new life with Kamaya and her soon to be born grandson.

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