Love Brings You Home

Anika’s earliest memories were filled with the warm laughter of her grandmother, Amma, who would hum lullabies while brushing Anika’s hair. Amma’s hands, wrinkled but gentle, held her through every scrape and tear, through every story and storm.

Growing up in a small town, Amma was Anika’s entire world. It was Amma who encouraged her to dream big, to study hard, and to believe that she could achieve anything. When Anika expressed her desire to become a doctor, Amma’s face lit up. “You’ll heal people,” she said, her voice full of pride. “You’ll make the world better.”

Anika held onto those words as she left for the city to study medicine. Years passed in a blur of lectures, sleepless nights, and hospital rounds. Her talent and determination set her apart, and she quickly became known for her skill and compassion. Patients adored her, colleagues respected her, and she was hailed as a rising star in the medical field.

But amidst her growing fame, she often found herself yearning for Amma’s warm embrace and the comforting smell of her grandmother’s cooking. Calls home were short and infrequent—Anika always told herself she’d visit soon. There was always time, wasn’t there?

Then came the day she had long awaited: she returned home, her medical degree in hand and her heart full of pride. She couldn’t wait to see Amma’s face when she told her about the lives she had saved. But as she stepped through the door, her joy turned to dread.

The house was eerily quiet. Her mother, usually bustling around the kitchen, sat still in the living room, her face pale and tear-streaked.

“Where’s Amma?” Anika asked, her voice trembling.

Her mother didn’t answer. She only pointed toward the bedroom.

Anika rushed in, her breath caught in her throat. There, on the bed, lay Amma, motionless. Her skin was pale, her frail chest no longer rising and falling.

“No, no, no,” Anika whispered, dropping to her knees beside the bed. She reached out, trembling, but the truth was undeniable. Amma was gone.

Her mother finally spoke, her voice choked with grief. “She had cancer, Anika. We didn’t tell you… we didn’t want to worry you. She didn’t want you to come back for her. She wanted you to follow your dreams.”

Her uncle, who had been helping care for Amma, met her at the door. His face was lined with sorrow, his eyes brimming with tears. Anika’s breath caught.

He hesitated before gently placing a folded piece of paper in her hand. “I’m so sorry, Anika. Amma… Amma passed a week ago. She didn’t want us to tell you. She left this for you.”

Anika stood frozen, the world around her crumbling. Her hands shook as she unfolded the letter, Amma’s familiar handwriting blurring through her tears.

My dearest Anika,

"By the time you read this, I will have left this world. Please forgive me for not telling you about my illness. I didn’t want you to stop chasing your dreams for me. Watching you become a doctor, seeing the way you wanted to help others, has been the greatest joy of my life. I was never alone—I had your love in every step, even when you were far away."

"I didn’t want you to rush back to me, my child. My journey was meant to end here, but your journey is just beginning. Remember, the world needs your light. Carry my love with you, and never stop healing others the way you’ve always dreamed. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you."

"Be brave, Anika. I will always be with you."

Love, Amma

Anika pressed the letter to her chest, her tears falling freely. She had dreamed of healing the world, but she had been powerless to save the one person who had given her everything.

For hours, she sat by Amma’s empty bed, her heart heavy with grief and regret. But as the days passed, her sorrow transformed into determination. Amma’s words had given her purpose.

Anika’s heart shattered. She was a doctor, celebrated for her ability to save lives—but she hadn’t been there to save the one life that mattered most. She had spent years learning how to heal others, only to realize she had been powerless to heal Amma.

Anika vowed to honor her grandmother's memory. Months later, she opened the doors to a new hospital, named after Amma, dedicated to providing care to cancer patients—especially those who couldn’t afford treatment.

Through her work, Anika fulfilled her grandmother’s final wish, carrying her love and spirit into every life she touched. And in the quiet moments, when she stood beneath the name etched on the hospital’s walls, she felt Amma’s presence, guiding her, forever proud.

She cried for hours, holding her grandmother’s cold hand, whispering apologies and unspoken words into the empty room.

But grief didn’t break her—it fueled her.

Months later, Anika stood at the gates of a new hospital she had built in her grandmother’s honour. The walls bore Amma’s name, a tribute to the woman who had inspired her. It wasn’t just a hospital; it was a sanctuary for cancer patients, a place where those who couldn’t afford care could find hope.

Every patient she treated was a promise to Amma—a promise that no one else would have to lose their loved ones in silence and helplessness.

The world knew her as Dr. Anika, the celebrated oncologist. But in her heart, she was still the little girl sitting at Amma’s feet, dreaming of a world where love and healing could go hand in hand.

And every time she walked through the hospital halls, she felt Amma’s presence, her quiet pride lingering in every corner.