The Sin And The Sentence!

Vimala is worried because Anand is still not home and it is pouring outside! Vimala kept calling his phone number, which was turned off. It was growing dark outside and she was becoming increasingly concerned.

"What is for dinner, Ma?" asked Prithvi as he got home from work. When he noticed a tensed Vimala, he inquired, "Ma, what happened?" She took a deep breath and almost burst into tears, "Your Papa's cellphone is switched off... I'm concerned now"! She peered through the window grill again but there was no sign of Anand. "Ma, give me something... I’m feeling so hungry… let him go to hell… everyday drama these days… the battery might have drained out ", Prithvi said. “Shut up! have you grown this far to talk about your father like this?”, Vimala remarked “Like what, Ma?” he asked!

Vidya, who was putting her baby to sleep, came out of her room when she heard her husband shouting. "Ma, I'll feed him... you find out about Papa," Vidya said as she served him food.

The doorbell abruptly rang. Anand stood outside, thoroughly drenched, while Vimala hurried towards the door. "What happened to your phone? I called several times, but it was switched off?!” Vimala went inside to fetch a towel. Anand exclaimed in low voice, "I misplaced my phone!" Vimala grew agitated when she heard this. While changing clothes, Anand suddenly realized , "Oh my God, where is my wallet now?" This time, Vimala was joined by Prithvi and the two of them began teasing Anand. "It appears that you have donated these items to your old girlfriend," they both giggled.

Vidya was breastfeeding her infant son late at night, around 2 a.m. Suddenly, she noticed someone opening and entering her room. Since the room was completely dark, she reached for her phone and turned on the light. When she realized it was Anand, she was taken aback! She sprang out of bed immediately. "Oh my God!" she said aloud. Prithvi awoke from his slumber after hearing her yell. "What brought you here?", he inquired. "Please go out of this room...don't you have any shame coming to our room without knocking!" she screamed and asked. "I am sorry… I was looking for the toilet, but by mistake..." Prithvi shoved Anand out of the room even before he could finish talking. Anand was taken aback. Vimala also arose, switched on all the lights and entered their room. Vimala asked Vidya what had happened. "please send him to some old age home or a mental hospital?", she paused for a moment before continuing, "If he continues to stay here, I'll go back to my house… I know I’m not safe here"!, Vidya wept and shut the door.

Anand went back to his room and attempted to sleep but Vimala on the other hand did not let him sleep and began grilling him. "How dare you enter their room in the middle of the night?", Vimala asked an obviously upset Anand. "It wasn't intentional... at least you should understand me!", Anand tried to persuade her. “No, I won't!' I'm sick of your theatrics...I now know exactly what you're up to these days!”, said Vimala.

Everyone had breakfast the next morning, except Anand, who is yet to get up. Ravi, one of his friends, arrived about 10 a.m and inquired about Anand. They had a music troupe and Anand was a main vocalist in it. “Sister, where is Anand? I tried calling him and his phone was switched off... we have a Ganesh Chaturthi programme today?”, Ravi said. “He misplaced his mobile yesterday… last night he slept late”, Vimala continued, “He has a lot of extracurricular activities at night… and hence gets up late now a days”, Vimala paused. “Just wake him up, please”, requested Ravi. “By the way, do you have a theatre troupe?' Vimala asked a question. “No”, replied Ravi. “Plan for a theatre troupe also and take him as well... He is a good actor... He proved it last night”, with a sly grin Vimala informs Ravi of this and enters the room to call Anand. Ravi was perplexed by her remarks about Anand. She called him but no answer! Since there was no response from hi, Ravi and Prithvi entered the room. They also called, but no response either. Ravi grasped his hands and checked his pulse, which was completely silent!

Anand's residence is surrounded by people. Prithvi was ready to begin planning for the final rites when his uncle Rajat unexpectedly showed him a diary in which Anand had written several devotional songs but one page in particular piqued his attention. 'Things to do: (1) wake up Prithvi at 8 a.m. to go to work (2) ensure he eats something before going to work (3) inform Vimala or Divya whether he arrived at work comfortably, and (5) to make sure Prithvi gets adequate meal before going to bed’.

"He had Alzheimer's disease!" Rajat explained, "as a result, he misplaced his phone and wallet... nothing stays in his memory and he constantly forgets anything, so only I think he scribbled these reminders in the diary to take care of you!", Rajat added. Prithvi's eyes welled up with tears as he remembered his father's concern, especially the care he received when hospitalized when he was just 7 years old, the lines written in the diary and the recent incident when he mistakenly entered their room!

While the Ganesha Chathurthi procession passed just outside Anand's house, his corpse was being engulfed by fire and enveloped in thick air!