Chapter 8: chapter 8

The girl seemed determined in asserting her point," They should have taken care right from the beginning. In this pandemic situation, anything unforeseen can happen. This was her second issue. She delivered her first child normally and this time she had a major operation at the cost of her life." I was listening carefully to their talks without responding. A sudden sense of agony took over my body. I pitied the lady who died and her newborn daughter who had to survive without her mother thenceforth. The sensuous predicament of her husband and elder son flashed before my eyes. I always become speechless and saddened hearing the death news of anyone. I am concerned about the family that had to undergo all the grief and trauma due to the loss of a dear soul. Death is that hard, inevitable truth of life which cannot be avoided. Every living thing born must die one day, be it animals, plants, birds or humans. I observed the bereavement closely for the first time when my husband's maternal grandmother expired at our place and I had to perform her rituals in the absence of her daughter-in-law who couldn't come as she resided overseas. The pang of sorrow I received in touching her lifeless body while giving her last bath is still fresh in my mind.The woman interrupted her daughter to seize my attention, "Poor baby, the elder daughter-in-law clutched the newborn wrapped in a cloth, hugging her close to her bosom. It was a heart-wrenching sight. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I left the place. The funeral will be carried on tomorrow. God bless the family, a very bad hour for them...tch...tch.."I nodded my head joining in sharing sympathy with her and went inside the house to intimidate my in-laws and husband about what had transpired. My in-laws showed sympathy for the lady who died but didn't put forth too many questions. They are not as expressive as me in those matters. Maybe because of their long experience in life. Furthermore, at dinner time I discussed the case with my husband furnishing him with the minutest of details I inferred about the family. He felt sorry for the lady's husband and children. I confided to him, "That lady preferred to stay in her house all the time. Never did I see her showing outside. I am acquainted with her co-sister as she comes to the adjacent shop often. Her father-in-law had suffered a paralytic attack for ten years. He is confined to the bed, depending upon his wife who spends all day attending to him. Destiny has played a cruel game. All my heart goes out to the newborn." In September 2020, my mother-in-law caught a fever. She gulped paracetamol taking it to be a usual sickness. When the fever didn't subside she consulted her doctor who prescribed some medicines and asked to get a rapid test done if the fever persisted. She kept on taking her medicines. She felt better in the morning but at night the fever returned. She attended to her shop duties likewise feeling better in the daytime. My husband suspected something wrong and advised her to stay at home. It was very difficult to convince her to remain indoors in case she got the infection. She lost interest in eating food and prefered to eat only fruits. She drank electrol water which saved her from dehydration. She coughed continuously and cleared her sore throat every time after rigorous coughing. The symptoms were obvious but I made a mental note in persuasion, "It might be an ordinary fever. We had lighted the diyas and clanged the vessels on the decree of our honourable Prime Minister, there are no chances of the deadly virus entering into our house."