The time when you don’t have someone you need

Why don’t we have our dearest ones in the time we need them the most?

It all started with the heavy downpour in Mumbai, poisoning all the food around leading to all water-borne dieses and in the end a money-making machine for the doctors.

My friend was in town for vacations. We met for an evening snack as he was leaving the following day for his next 3 month semester. The rains consciously poisoning only my food put me to bed. Initially it was just a minor pain in my stomach which I expected to be alright by the end of the day.

Papa was not in town; we had a heated argument just before a day he left and hence we were not talking. Mom and my younger brother were going to leave for Nasik to join Papa the next morning. They were apprehensive about their travel plans initially but I pushed them to go for it because Dad had a lot of work-pressure and he could definitely do with some moral support by his side. I guess Dad needed them more than me at that point in time. Besides, to be honest, I also wanted some time all by myself. I was left to repent over my decision by second day because my condition had deteriorated by then. After 3 days of intense pain, mumma-dad finally took me to the doctor. To top it up the genius that the doctor was, he declared the viral infection would take at least 3-4 days to settle down. 3 MORE DAYS! Was he out of his mind? Either case I still had to suffer more. I had important appointments the next day how would I make through!

Things didn’t end here. I vented out all my frustration on my Mumma which left us to not be on talking terms too. My pain was simply refusing to subside. Stubborn just like me! Papa left all of his work and immediately came rushing home, but I just didn’t stop crying. Who knew it would get so bad. Mumma just pretended to ignore and just carried on with her daily chores. She did all the nursing in-directly through the maid and papa. But I didn’t need a nurse; I needed mumma to be by my side. I needed her to pat me and assure me that everything was going to be fine soon. An affectionate hand on your head is just what you need at times. Mumma not being there by my side was more painful than the agony I was going through health-wise. The pain increased; papa just rushed me to the hospital. The doctor advised me to get admitted as the oral medications would take time to start taking effect but my immediate pain could be controlled by injections. I refused. Wasn’t the torture enough already that I now had to bear the needles too? I anyways took an injection; spent a few hours in the hospital waiting for the pain to curb down then came home.

I am now somehow thankful to God for making me go through this as it showed me the real faces of my friends who claim to love me, care for me… well none of them were there with me for these 5 days! It was the time I needed them desperately. I kept calling countless times and all I’d get in response would be a bloody “take-care”. I mean how nonsensical that is! Out of all the people the person because of whom it all started was least bothered and went mad at me for calling up & crying! He just didn’t give a damn; I guess he was too busy partying.

Mumma was still not talking to me. Everyone I needed either had their own problems to deal with or simply not concerned. Yes! All these people are the ones who claim to care. Where had all the concern vanished now?! I’m yet to figure out. It was only papa whom I fought with was taking complete care. It was like papa was now transformed into mumma.

I have no words to thank papa enough. Every time he’d come and pat me to make sure I was okay I’d feel guilty about the other days fight.

All I learnt after this episode was that how many ever friends one has; it is always your family who will come first running to you when you need them. Their love is always unconditional. The cramps still refusing to get better but with papa around me I’m sure I’ll be fit as a fiddle soon.