January 10, 2005
 

And then he was gone

Three weeks ago, Raju mama and Asha mami visited us at our Bangalore home for a weekend. We had a good time, with them regaling us with stories of days gone by. He particularly enjoyed the rasam he had in addition to playing with Jaagruthi, who seemed to have taken a liking for him especially since he looked a bit like Appa. Last Saturday, mama passed away after suffering a heart-attack. He'd been in hospital since the start of the year and was due to have a bypass operation on Saturday, which got postponed by the doctors of Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad, for some bizarre reason, to Monday. He didn't get past Saturday. Apparently, in spite of his condition, he was moved out of the ICU and there was no doctor available on the floor in the morning when he suddenly began sweating. It was all over before a doctor could be found.

Given the circumstances, and going by what my parents told me, it seems a classic case of death due to neglect. And yet, the doctors cannot be charged with being responsible for a criminal offence in such situations. Apollo Hospital, Delhi, had been pulled up by a consumer court last month for negligence.

It was extremely painful when I heard that that his body would be taken to Madras. Mama was now a body! I still am unable to come to terms with it. The pain that my other relatives are going through will become completely obvious and visible to us when we go there this weekend. The trip was originally meant to be a Pongal trip. Obviously 'Pongal' will be furthest from everyone's minds.

Mama's laugh is was a real whole-hearted one. So its very ironic that it was the heart which gave way in the first place. It is ridiculous that he is now spoken of in the past tense. I sincerely hope that mami, Lakshmi and Raja find the strength to get on with their lives. I also hope that Thatha and Paati manage to be convinced that there is still a reason for them to live, having lost a 60 year old son when they are alive. I hope all - amma, appa, Satish, my mamas, mamis, chittis, chitappas, cousins who lost a brother, a brother-in-law, a mama, a perippa will find it possible to console themselves and move on. Its easy for me to say it. I am not sure when I will be able to. I am certainly not sure how we'll face upto them this weekend.

Labels: death