Last Hour - Part 2

Story so far -

A young nurse - June D'Souza opts to work in an old age home, rejecting all other lucrative offers from various Multi - Speciality Hospitals. On the first day of her new job she befriends a sweet old lady called Ms Sheena. Read on, to know more about June's experiences in the Home.

Room 110 was now like a second home to me. Ms. Sheena was sitting on her bed when I brought her orange juice.

”Ma’am, my posting is going to change. I will be posted in the second block from tomorrow.” I told her.

“Oh….” Her face fell.

”But don’t worry it’s just for two weeks. I will come to see you whenever I’m free.” I said.

She smiled and said, ‘’I would love to have you as a daughter ….may be in some other lifetime.”

She was lost in thoughts for sometime. I sat near her and held her hand.

”Ma’am, can I ask you some personal questions?”

She said, “Go on.”

“Why didn't you get married?”

“Yes…I once was.” Her face became pale as I took her down the memory-lane, “but we had a lot of problems. We could not understand each other. He trusted others more than me. Instead of standing for me he always stood against me. He was always finding faults in me and everyone else around him provoked him to do so. It is very easy to complain but very difficult to comprehend….unfortunately most people like him choose the easy way. I felt as if he never loved me. I tolerated as much as I could, but finally, decided to part ways with him.” She sat staring at the window with a dead expression on her face.

“I’m so sorry….I should not have asked.” I said as I felt really sorry for her.

She regained her composure and said, “Oh, it is okay. I have a secret that I have never told anyone. But I really feel that I should share it with you.” She was smiling like a naughty teenager.

“What?” I said, as the weight of suspense crushed me.

She told me to bring her album from her drawer and I did so. She opened it and took out an old photograph of a boy about 15 or 16 years old.

“Who’s he?”

“The love of my life”

I looked at her in awed surprise.”Where is he now?”

“I don’t know. He once was my neighbor. His family had shifted to Singapore a few days after this photograph was taken. At that time I didn’t reveal my feelings to him, hoping that I will tell whenever we meet again. I am still waiting for him. May be…. this is my last and only wish.”

I had no idea what to say so I kept staring at the photograph silently. The guy was quite handsome. He held a small piece of steel- bar like something in his hands. I could not make out what it was. I looked at her. She was sitting quietly like a placid ocean with a sweet smile on her face….lost in thoughts. I decided not to disturb her and tip-toed out of the room and closed the door behind me.

That night also, I could not sleep. I wished, with all my heart, that I could somehow fulfill her last wish.

My mother woke up from her deep slumber and muttered, “You are spending sleepless nights, since you have started working in that old-age home of yours. What’s it? Are you in love with some old guy?”

“Oh Mom just shut-up” I said as I switched off the lights.