Meeting A Stranger

It was raining since morning today. I was about to leave for office when I heard the loud shriek of Sudha. She had fallen on the floor unconscious. I lifted her up quickly, sprinkled water on her face. She came to her senses but her body was hot due to high fever.

“How many times I have told you to take care of your health. See the condition you are in. Had you followed my instruction would it have harmed you?”

For some days Sudha’s condition was bad. She got fever frequently. I had taken her to the doctor but I did not know why her condition was not improving.

“Today I have such an important meeting, and you will make me go round the doctor”. I was getting angry. Sudha was not at all taking care of her health. I give her medicine, but she would forget to take it.

“Let us go to the doctor. I shall take leave for half a day. I shall drop the children in their maternal grand mother’s house. You take rest in the house.” I told lifting Sudha.

“No dear, my mother is old and the children are young so how can we leave them with her for so long?”Sudha argued.

I knew that she would speak like that and make me angry.

“OK, you come down, I shall be waiting in the car”.

I went near the car and waited for Sudha. I knew that even without any job she would take ten minutes.

“She has to be admitted, she probably has dengue. She looks very weak.” The doctor told writing the prescription.

“She has to be admitted” the doctor repeated the same words in a soft voice.

“But…”

See, we cannot take risk. All of you wait outside. I shall let you know after making all arrangements for her admission.”The doctor told interrupting me speaking.

I was still in anger, I have to cancel my meeting. Had Sudha taken care of herself, this situation could have been avoided. 

“I shall drop the children in grand mother’s house. Who will take care of them, when you are here.” If there is something urgent please let me know through phone.

While returning I got delayed due to traffic jam. In the meantime I got a call from Sudha informing me that she had been allotted a room. I was tired by the time I reached the hospital.

“Uf, why did Sudha get this fever now? How to manage till she remains in the hospital? While thinking all these, I don’t remember how my steps took a turn towards the park in the hospital.

Keeping the cigarette in my hand I don’t remember how long I sat there. It had become dark. Just then someone came and sat by the side of me. I had not seen him coming. But when I looked at him I found that he was also looking at me. He smiled. I nodded my head lightly. He was looking like a rich man. I had not the habit to talk to strangers.

“You look disturbed.” The stranger wanted to start the conversation.

“Yes” I wanted to end my reply. I was not in a mood to talk to anybody.

“Has anyone of yours got admitted? He continued to talk.

“Yes” I gave a reply reluctantly.

“I am here for the last 3-4 years”.

 I was stunned hearing him. I am getting crazy sitting here for a day and he is sitting so peaceful. Is he joking or making a fool of me? Whether he belonged to some gang, I started imagining.

“Whatever you think are wrong. I have someone in Room # 416. My name is Roshan, Roshan Kumar and yours?” As if he had studied my mind.

“Myself Vijay Raj”.

“Why are you so angry, Vijay Ji?” He asked me showing the intimacy.

“Nothing” I still wanted to avoid some kind of acquaintance. After all what is the use of talking to a stranger? I have to take leave to perform hospital duty. Has to look after children and make a budget for two months. The man looking rich may not have any of these problems. That may be the reason he sits here and wastes the time of others.

“I must leave” Telling this I got up and moved towards the room of Sudha.

Sudha was lying on her bed. Her body was weak and face had turned dark. Hearing the sound she looked towards me.

“Children are fine” I told her before asking.

What about you? She asked faintly.

 “You take care of yourself; I shall take care of myself”.

 “Here we have good staff. You need not worry. You may even go home if you like.”

 “No, I am staying here.”

 At night, after Sudha had gone to sleep, I do not know why I went towards the park.

“You have come again.” A known voice came from somewhere. When I turned and looked back I saw the same person standing at the back whom I had met earlier. 

If one has to spend time it is better to have someone to talk. My time will be spent nicely. Only the family members of the patients probably are allowed entry at night. I calmed my mind.

“Do you come here everyday?” I asked.

 “For the last three years, I come daily. How many days have you to stay? He asked smilingly.

“Three to four days.”

“You are lucky”

What luck do I have? I could miss my job..The salary would be cut. The house will be in disorder. All these because my wife could not take care of her health.” I told everything in a single breath.

“Who takes care of you?”He asked.

“Sudha, my wife”.

“Then why don’t you take care of her?”

“I take care, see I am now here in the hospital”.

“If you take care of her then why do you get angry? You can take care even with love.”

“See, I was angry, now I am only upset. With all responsibilities including the hospital duty”.

“You make a round of the hospital because you have someone of your own. With your own family and children you are upset. What will you do if they are not there?”

It was funny for me to hear such things from a stranger. I felt a little bad for unnecessarily talking to him. I sat silently."

Seeing me sitting quiet he too kept silent. But he stretched his talk further.

You may not like my words now. But when you sit alone, ponder on my words. Today your wife is sick. You know that she would come back. You have your house, family and children. But on one fine morning when you get up and find yourself alone, will the job or salary give you the love of a family? Today your wife is sick. Tomorrow you may also be sick. But there will be difference of just one thing. You and only you will be the most important person in the world for them. Right? "

I could not say anything after hearing his questions. I knew that whatever he was telling was the truth.

I may not be able to give time to my family, but I cannot think of this world without my wife and children. His question had baffled me.

"I loved talking to you, but now it is time for me to go. I might have felt your words bitter, but all your words are absolutely true. I love my wife very much. See you again”, saying this I moved forward.

Then I remembered that I did not ask anything about him, but just kept on talking about myself. I should have thanked him. When I turned back, he had already gone.

"If I get him tomorrow, I will definitely tell."

When I came near Sudha, she was awake.

"You will get well soon" I told her lovingly. I was consoling myself more than her. I knew how lonely my life was without Sudha. She is not only a part of my life, but my whole life. Sometimes this feeling is given by a stranger as to how far you have gone from your life.

“I shall bring the children in the morning as I have already taken leave. You get well, that is enough. "

Sudha was quiet but I could see her face glowing suddenly.

“I will be well by tomorrow. You will see.” She said smilingly.

Really Sudha was better than before on the second day. The doctor gave her permission to go home. Now I wanted to say thanks to my one night friend.

I was waiting for the discharge paper that ... Then a nurse told the staff "Room number 416 is empty, call their relative."

An unknown person came and sat there. I asked "Are you a relative of Roshan ji?"

He looked at me and said, "I am the staff of his company, he has no relatives, so I have to see everything." Look, now I have to take his body as well. And "yes" - how do you know Roshan ji? "

I was silent...

THE END

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