THE REVELATION

Maya and Ishwar were both eagerly looking for it to dawn, for both of them to get married. After a fairly long courtship of nearly five years, they were able to convince both their parents to agree to the match. They desired the wedding to be a simple one as both of them believed in austerity and thought that the money could be put to better use.

At daybreak, it was a radiant Maya in a soft pink saree with fragrant jasmines adorning her hair who stepped out of her room to meet Ishwar who was waiting for her at the doorstep. Together with a couple of friends, they first went to the temple where their parents were waiting. Garlands were exchanged and to the chanting of Vedic mantras, the Kanyadaan and Saptapadi took place, with Ishwar tying the sacred knot.

Seeking the blessings of all elders, they then made for the Registrar's office and got the marriage registered. The jubilant couple celebrated with family and friends and as planned, left for Mauritius the same evening for their honeymoon.

Both families, had by this time ironed out their differences and got to know each other. Both Maya and Ishwar had been in the Medical College together and were fortunate to serve in the same hospital after having finished their post-graduation. They had taken a week's leave for the wedding and with dreams of a happy future, alighted at the S.S. Ramgoolam airport.

The newly wedded couple reached the resort and enjoyed their brief stay. On their return to Chennai, they first went to meet Ishwar's parents, who were eager to welcome them. Ishwar's mother had decorated the entrance with huge kolams and had prepared a delicious feast. Maya was impressed with the grandeur of the house which was in the posh locality on the East Coast Road with a beautiful view of the sea. They were to spend the night there and leave for their hospital only the next morning. 

After dinner, both of them went on to the terrace breathing in the cool air and admiring the undulating waves of the sea before them. It was a full moon day, which made it even more beautiful. They spent time exchanging sweet nothings till their parents reminded them that they had to pack up for work the next day and it was high time they went to bed and had some rest.

Reluctantly they came down and tried to sleep. For some unknown reason, Maya felt uneasy and restless and kept tossing and turning the whole night. As soon as she saw the early rays of the sun, she got up and got ready to go to the temple. She wished to thank God for uniting with Ishwar and also seek blessings for their future. Everyone was fast asleep and she silently stepped out of the house and informed the security guard, driving to the temple which was about ten km away from the house.

She had a good darshan of the deity and sat down to meditate for a few moments. All of a sudden there was a hue and cry with people rushing into the temple screaming. It took a while for her to understand that a powerful earthquake off the coast of Sumatra had set off a tsunami that was wreaking death and devastation all along the coast of the Indian ocean.

Maya panicked – Ishwar's house was bang on the coastline. She hurriedly drove back home, but what she feared had happened. The road had been barricaded and no one was allowed to proceed as the water had not receded and the turbulent waves could be seen reaching great heights even from a distance. All the damage had been done in a matter of minutes. It was a good two hours later that her vehicle was allowed, but she had to get off quite a distance from the house, rather than from the site where the house once existed.

It did not take long to realise that her dreams had been shattered. Ishwar along with his family had met a watery grave and she had escaped Nature's wrath as she had gone to the temple. As luck would have it, her parental home was also on the coast in Nagapattinam and it was not long before she received the news that the same fate had befallen her parents too.

Thoroughly disillusioned, shaken, and hopeless, it took a while for her to steady her nerves and decide the further course of action. There seemed to be no way to trace the bodies as they had been carried away by the fierce waves. The government authorities extended all possible assistance, but now there was nothing that was left to be done. She decided to resume duty at the hospital to be of assistance to the numerous people who needed it.

Numbed, exhausted, shocked, and broken, she arranged for a call driver as she did not have the tenacity to drive on her own, and left for the hospital which was a good six hours drive from Chennai.

It was late in the evening when she reached the hospital as they had to take several detours due to the devastation caused by the Boxing day tsunami. Strangely, Poigainallur, where their hospital was located had not at all been affected by the killer waves. The sand dunes which had developed over the palm leaves caused tall sand dunes and the sand binders that grew all over the dunes had withstood the ravages of the tsunami waves.

She was relieved to have reached the hospital in one piece and got to work right away. Very few knew what had befallen her, but respecting her privacy did not probe into the matter. The team worked late into the night, rendering first-aid to the victims.

When she retired for the night, all her pent-up feelings found a release, when she sat on her bed and wept inconsolably. In any case, there was nobody around to wipe her tears. Towards late in the night, she calmed herself and rested a little, to tackle the next day's work.

Being a bold and brave person, she lost herself in work through the undercurrents of the grave tragedy were persistently nagging her. However, the plight of those who had lined up in the hospital was even worse. She discharged her duties mechanically and got up to leave when she felt someone tugging her sari.

She looked down to see a small kid about two years old, with tears in his eyes. She tried to find out who he was but drew a blank. The child had come in the vehicle which transported several injured persons that morning. All those who had come had been treated and had left in the same vehicle, but there was no one to claim this boy.

On an impulse, Maya drew him close and decided that she would bring him up. Apparently, he was homeless and orphaned in all probability. She walked toward the Dean and expressed her desire. There were the legal aspects to be complied with, but the Dean was supportive of her decision and assured to extend to her all help in this regard. He also made her comfortable and offered his sincere condolences. He also suggested that she report to another wing of the Hospital which had been recently opened so that she can start afresh and try to get over the irreparable loss that she had suffered.

Maya readily accepted and took Kirit – the name she gave the little boy, to her room. She gave him a bath and dressed him in one of her kurtas. She then got him something to eat after which the poor little boy went to sleep out of exhaustion. She got one of the ward boys to get him some clothes and packed her things to move to the new wing of the hospital.

Kirit seemed to be happy with her and would cling to her incessantly. The feeling was understandable after the trauma he must have undergone. The child in him was excited to see the new set of clothes and above all was happy to be with someone who cuddled and caressed him making him feel secure.

Years went by and soon Kirit had to be schooled. Maya took more than ordinary care in his studies and extra-curricular activities, so it was no wonder that he was an all-rounder, excelling in all fields. Kirit was the be-all and end-all of Maya's life and she spared no effort in doing her best for him.  

It was the December of 2019. Her former Dean was visiting this hospital wing to distribute clothes and gifts to the children of the staff for Christmas. It was the fifteenth anniversary of the tsunami and also her own wedding anniversary. Kirit had grown to be a fine boy and was in the X standard.

After visiting the hospital, the Dean went to the school attached to it. He wished to meet Kirit and was talking to the Principal about him. When the Principal mentioned him as Dr. Maya's son, the Dean interrupted to relate the circumstances under which Maya had taken Kirit with her on a fateful day.

Just then, Kirit was entering the Principal's room but stopped when he heard his name being discussed. What he heard was a true revelation! He could not believe what he heard, but he knew every word was true. His love and respect for Maya now knew no bounds. What a noble soul! Having lost her life partner and everyone in her family, Maya had taken him as her son and he too had no reason to suspect it. While his bonding with Maya intensified, Kirit felt a gnawing feeling within him to trace his roots, but did not know how to go about it.

As luck would have it, the government was organising events to extend financial assistance and allot housing to those rendered homeless by the tsunami. At the time disaster struck, temporary homes had been constructed for the surviving victims, but now they had constructed houses with pre-fabricated cement concrete bricks which would withstand all weather conditions. Some of Kirit's schoolmates had volunteered to help in the distribution activities by conducting a survey and listing the victims as also the next of kin of those who had lost their lives.

Kirit jumped at this opportunity and sought Maya's permission to join his classmates. He had however, not disclosed his ulterior motive. Maya was happy to send him and after the usual caution tips of a mother sent him with the others. They were away for more than a fortnight, but there was nothing to worry about as the school teachers had also accompanied them.

It was when Kirit was away that Maya felt discomfort in her chest. The ECG detected an abnormality, which would have to be confirmed by an angiogram. Maya agreed to undergo the procedure and was on one hand, relieved that Kirit was not around, otherwise he would have started worrying for her.

The angiogram revealed multiple blocks which could not be set right with angioplasty but warranted a bypass surgery. Maya was informed of it and as she had none other than Kirit, a young boy, the Dean took it upon himself to authorise surgery and treatment.

In the meanwhile, the teachers accompanying the student team were surprised and amazed to see the interest shown by Kirit. It did not take them long to find out why. When they came to know what he was looking for, they sympathised with him and were also willing to help him. Within a couple of days, they could trace Kirit to be the only son of Abdul Rashid and Ruksana who met the fate of many others on Boxing day.

With this revelation, Kirit recollected the ease with which he would sit bent on his knees, even as a child, which was the sitting position of Salah! He also related his taste for non-vegetarian foods his friends would bring to school, though he would not partake of them. 

Maya had arranged with the priests for performing the ceremonial rite of Upanayanam when he was in his seventh year itself and he would religiously perform the Sandhya vandanam daily. Kirit was also very friendly with the pastor of the church near their school and would learn the scriptures from him too! Now that he came to know that he was born Rehman son of Abdul Rashid and Ruksana, he was interested in learning all about Islamic worship.

Reveling in his discovery, Kirit was proceeding for dinner with his friends when he got the news that the bypass surgery on Maya was not successful. He broke down and was consoled by class fellows, returned home to see the lifeless body of Maya, who was more than a mother to him.

Kirit was reminded of the gruesome tragedy of December 26th, 2004 when Maya lost everything and everyone. He could relate to that situation now. Maya was everything to him. Losing her so suddenly was a rude shock.

Others around him had got into action. He followed whatever the priests said and lit the funeral pyre, observing all the customs till the thirteenth day according to Hindu traditions. He also prayed and read from the Bible and apart from this also approached the Imam to recite Sanaa and other Islamic prayers according to the rituals for the deceased.

Kirit sensed a feeling of satisfaction of having bid a fitting farewell to his mother, who had always felt guilty that she could not perform the obsequies for her husband, parents and parents-in-law.