Chapter 35: chapter 35

I was perturbed at this revelation. I maintained my composure and explained, "Right now I am unable to make any arrangements. Tomorrow I will come with the driver to bring you back home. Till then please cooperate with them."He sounded restless. He mumbled, "Alright, keep the phone, keep the phone, let me see what they do. I have told them, I don't want to stay with them anymore. They leave me alone all day in the room. Pritam is deputed at the hall to see to my needs. I can't understand why they are not relieving me. Every second they come stealthily to peep amidst the curtains to see what I am doing. They were talking to hire a driver and send me off. Let's see what they do."I was startled to learn all these facts, although he talked childishly. They were taking adequate care of him in terms of his domestic needs. All I could declare before dismissing the call was," Can you come along with the driver if they leave you tomorrow? "" Yes", he had replied.The next morning I found him standing at my threshold with his luggage. His sister's husband had come to drop. He left soon after taking his breakfast. I observed no change in my husband's demeanour. He was smiling sarcastically in an unusual manner. My kids also anticipated what I observed. I checked his medicines. The doctor might have written to thrust half a tablet but the tablets were not in equal halves. It looked as if someone was providing him with the medicines in a hurry.I thought it better to ask him a question. I inquired, "Did you have these medicines prescribed by the physiatrist?"He simply nodded and said, "There is no need for these medicines. They are only sleeping pills as mother says. I sleep incessantly under its effect. The gastroenterologist provided the best medicine. I felt better after its intake. I will take the leftover syrup."There was no use in examining him further. Within a fraction of a second I understood, he was not taking his anti-depression pills as diagnosed by the doctor. I pulled out the prescription from his bag and managed an appointment with the physiatrist. Luckily, he responded to call him at noon. I waited eagerly for the clock to strike twelve. The doctor picked up my call on the second round of continuous ringing. Our conversation was short and crisp. I guessed the doctor was a man of words. He assumed him to be an extremely busy human being who had no time for other things in his life.I asked, "Sir did you ask him to stop your medicines?""No, you have to continue giving him these medicines. He will cure only with my prescribed medicines. I had also asked them to tell me if the doses are too high or low for him. I will provide alternatives. Don't stop the medicines at any cost."I rolled my sleeves to take charge of the situation completely. I read the prescription precisely and matched the medicines with the help of my sons. Thenceforth I turned out to be his medical nurse. It was hard to nurse him with the pills. I uttered all sorts of complications and side effects of not taking the medicines to inject the pills. For breakfast, I rolled out three thin chapatis, baked them properly, tore it into small pieces and prepared a mixture with two ripe bananas, sugar and boiled milk. This was his regular breakfast during the term of his long covid days. He prepared to eat only the banana chapter mixture nothing else.