It was like every other evening when I had just arrived from the office after a long day at work. Returning home back with a severe headache, I was almost drained up with the energy levels dropping faster. Waving a quick “Hi” at my Mom, I asked, Amma, could you prepare something for me quickly?
She was like, Why so soon?
Am really tired maa, I’ll have a quick munch and then ensure a sound sleep. Soon, she agreed upon and asked me to wait for some fifteen mins. Saying so, she left to the kitchen, while I had to freshen up. Just after having a quick bath, I picked up my phone and rushed to the bed to have a small nap. Having switched to one of my most loved playlists, I almost fell half asleep. While the songs were on full course, there popped up a few notifications; but then I was too lazy to have a look at it. The notifications kept coming one after the other.
Ting Ting.. Ting Ting.. Ting Ting.. It almost shook my nerves, literally irritated. Feeling low, I soon grabbed on to my phone and turned off the Internet.
Ahh, now I can have some peace, having said that, I carried on my nap. A few minutes after which, there came this call – On the display “Bestie Calling” and I was like, should I pick up? Why is she calling at this time?
She wouldn’t turn up quite often but then once if she does – then there’s something important. So, I picked up;
Hello, Yup! I whispered
In turn, she replied in a sullen voice – Could you please come over to the cafe? I need to meet you right now.
Being quizzed up, I quickly questioned. Is there anything serious?
I could hear no reply, I kept on re-playing the hellos for quite some time until when she shouted, If you can, Come now, else I’ll handle.
Saying so she hung up the call, I was clueless. But I knew something was serious.
Soon, I had to jump at my wardrobes to pull out something to wear, on the search; there came my Mom’s voice. It’s done, come and have your food. I was already late by then, so I decided to skip the Dinner, but Mom was terribly angry with me. I had no other option, but to leave quickly. With the helmet on, I rode as fast as I could to reach the cafe before her, coz she never likes to wait.
Holding on to the zig-zag turns, I somehow sneaked through the traffic and reached the cafe. Gladly, she hadn’t come. Taking a deep breath, I had asked the server for a cup of water. Having galloped it, he soon stretched out the Menu Card at me,
Sir, your order, please. Since the cafe was almost full, I couldn’t hold on without ordering something. I said “Two Cappuccinos” as hot as it could be. Soon the server had an unconvincing look at me,
No, he actually stared at me. But I conveyed the other person’s absence and made him agree upon the clause. I waited for a few minutes but then couldn’t resist more and so I called her to check where she was. The phone rang, kept on ringing, but no response. I knew, being in a worse mood, she would never pick up the call and in fact, she was terribly angry at me; so the answer was clear. With nothing else to do, I was daydreaming and that too at night. For some time, I was guessing upon the matter behind her call but none stuck to my idiotic mind. The clock was ticking faster, the time had flown sooner – the order came but she hadn’t. With two cups in front of me, I was still waiting for her presence. As I was still gazing at the cups, there came this call again – yes, it was her,
On picking up, I asked Hello, where are you?
In return, someone asked over the phone “who are you”?
I knew it wasn’t her voice,
It was of an old lady’s asking, do you know this girl on whose phone am speaking.
I said, Yessssss she’s my friend. What’s the matter?
She replied it’s a bit serious. Could you please rush to the Rex hospital?
A quick yet panicked Yes, Yes…. With Tears
I was like already in hell, feeling the heat. My cheeks turned red, my teeth started to shiver, while I almost turned pale. I couldn’t speak up properly, words got stuck; being terrified, scared, and what so to describe? All the deadly emotions had taken over me already. I had rushed to the hospital as fast as I could. Holding on to my nerves, I enquired,
Ahh,, Ahh Could you, help me, could you just let me know where she is?. (I was gasping my breath – couldn’t utter what I intended to)
The receptionists: Just calm down a bit and let us know the patient’s name..
Me: Oh yes, Oh yes, am sorry.. Anamika, It’s Anamika… Where is she ? Where is Anu? I shouted as if I was bleeding. But then, yes I was literally bleeding deep inside..
In a quiet voice, they whispered “She is been taken to the ICU.!!! And that was the end of my heartbeat. It did halt for a while to make me realize “I was half dead”.. Soon, I sprinted to the ICU to find the doors locked as always. I banged at the doors, shouting Anu.. What happened? Come out!
All that I uttered was Anu, Anu, & Anu…
On hearing me sound like a beast, someone had a hand at my shoulder. I turned back to look who it was, it was an old lady who seemed to be around 60- 65. She was the one who admitted her at the hospital, the one who called me over phone. She narrated me the entire scene with much grief,
Poor Anu was hit by a car that had totally lost its control. The speeding car showed no mercy to my friend as it ran over her and left unstopped. She was bleeding heavily, while none turned up to help her except the poor old lady. All through the incident narration, I was left with none but only tears to shed. I couldn’t hold to my emotions, without a word to utter I seated myself at one of the corner chairs holding on to the prayers. As I was seated worrying, the old lady came and sat by my side to say a few words, yes the words of hope,
Son, don’t worry she’ll be alright. She will be fine within some time. God is with you..
But these words didn’t convince me as I was still stunned by the shock.
She asked me – Did you inform her parents? For the poor lady didn’t know Anu was an Orphan who just had a good lot of friends and nothing more.
This one struck the old lady hard, I could see tears running through her cheeks.
This was plentiful for her to handle, and so she decided to leave handing me Anu’s phone & her most loved bag.
I was still waiting for the Doctor’s word, with none to accompany my loneliness. Being torn apart, I couldn’t still accept the fact that Anu is fighting her life out there. Meanwhile, a nurse had approached me for Anu’s ID card which I had to search in her bag. As I was looking for the ID, I could find a crumpled piece of paper. Yes, a paper with many strikes.
As I was nearing the end of the letter, my tears almost smudged the paper making it barely visible for someone else to read. I had no words, but only emotions, I felt like hugging her and shouting at her Anu, I haven’t loved anyone this much dear. I love you to the core.. I love you.. I love you so much Anu..
While the emotions were at the peak, the doctor just came out of the ICU to utter those words that I hated the most until now, Sorry, Anu is no more.. We couldn’t help her. Saying so he left, piercing my soul. I was frozen like never before..
Holding on to the paper firmly, I waited outside the ICU to utter a Yes, that she would have loved to hear in return for the letter. But then she never came back..
All that I remember now is her Letter and the White cloth that wrapped her body to Heaven.
©Ragul Prakash
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