- Anisha Ray
The Sharmas were a family of five. Their days would begin with Shyam, the bread-earner of the family leaving to work at the construction site while Jyoti, his wife and Pari, their 13-year-old daughter went to work in houses and domestic help. The leaky and damp roof, Pari’s education pending since she was 10, Shyam’s Father’s ailing knee- these were their reasons for their daily struggles and sacrifices. The torn and worn-out clothes, the sleepless nights of their stomach rumbling- they didn’t bother them, as they hoped for better days to come.
“Jyoti, throw away the water, the bucket is full.” Said Ram, Shyam’s Father while massaging his knee with watery eyes. It was a Wednesday evening in the Sharma Household and Jyoti was cooking dinner. Since it was raining outside, she had to cook indoors in a modified kitchen stove. The room was smoky as the smoke struggled to escape from the room through the small window in the room. Pari was washing the clothes while waiting for her Father by the doorstep. Her Grandmother was sleeping on the cot.
“Maa, when will you Abba come home?” Pari asked while looking back at her Mother.
“He said he’ll be late. Since we’re close to the amount needed for your Grandfather’s surgery, he decided to look for another job today.” She replied.
“Ah! Jyoti I told you I don’t want this surgery and all, use the money to fix this headache of a roof here”, Ram said while getting up.
“Dadaji wait!” Pari exclaimed as she got up to help her Grandfather walk. The rain had slowly stopped. As they slowly walked outdoors, Bindu, Shyam’s Mother woke up. She slowly rose up, sitting on her bed. Bindu had lost her eyesight 4 years ago. The Doctor said it could be healed surgically, but she refused the surgery. “I have seen the world in my time, how can I spend so much money, only to see it again? I’m old and my time will be up soon. Let me just chant His name in peace in my last days…” she had said.
In the present time, she touched her arms and felt the tiny and itchy bumps on them. Mosquito bites. She slowly looked up and called out to Jyoti, “There are so many mosquitos here”.
“Oh Maa, you’re awake! Would you like to have some tea?” Jyoti said startling up.
“No, I’m not hungry now. Psst, look at these mosquitos” Bindu slapped her arm while trying to kill a mosquito sitting on her arm.
“Yes Maa, Pari’s Father was complaining the other day. What can we do? It’s monsoon after all”
Jyoti walked outside the house to wash her hands.
“Jyoti?”
“Yes Maa, I’m right here.”
“I want to sit outside, is it still raining?”
“No Maa, come I’ll help you.”
Jyoti helped the old lady sit on a small stool outside their house. The sun was setting and the little children of Dharavi were running back to their homes, laughing and smiling. Ram and Pari were approaching their house in slow steps.
“Shyam’s Father?” Bindu called out as she felt someone’s presence near her.
“Yes yes, I’m here. God, it’s so cold today!” He replied while stepping indoors.
“Cold? It’s so hot! I’m sweating all over.” Bindu said wiping the beads of sweat from her forehead.
“Bah! You must be out of your mind then!”
“Me? You are the one who is out of his mind!”
“Okay, okay stop fighting now,” Jyoti said while walking towards Ram, “Are you feeling okay Papa?”
“Yeah yeah I’m fine, don’t bother yourself”
“No let me check first” Jyoti put her hand on his forehead and was surprised.
“Papa your head is burning! Why didn’t you tell me you had a fever?”
“I-I-” Ram was silent.
Two hours had passed by. It was dark outside now. A knock was heard at the door. Jyoti opened the door and found Shyam. He looked exhausted after a day’s work and job-hunting. As he walked in, Jyoti poured him a glass of water. As he sat down heavily and drank she fanned him with a hand fan.
“How was your day? Did you find a second job?” She asked him.
“It was fine, I got a job at the tea stall beside the Chemist. They asked me to deliver the tea to the shops and everything. They’ll pay me 20 rupees per hour.”
“That’s so less, but it’ll do.”
Shyam then looked up to his Father and said, “Abba, how are you feeling today?”
“I’m fine, don’t worry about me-”
“No Papa, you’re not. He has a fever, the pain in his knees are getting worse, he needs to see a Doctor” Jyoti interjected.
“Hmmm… We’ll go see a Doctor tomorrow then.”
It was the next day. The Afternoon sun was shining with all its might. Bindu was sitting and humming to herself when she heard someone enter the room. “Who’s it?” she asked in a panicked voice.
“It’s me” Ram replied, “Shyam just dropped me home.”
“Oh what did the Doctor say?”
“He said it’s because of the knee only.” Shyam sat on the cot beside her.
“Okay then”
Two hours passed by and Jyoti and Pari came home.
“Maa, Papa, there’ll be a health camp tomorrow nearby. Why don’t we all go?”
“I just came from the hospital, why do you want to go again and waste money?”
“Papa it’s free of cost. It’s by some NGO or something to help us out. Shouldn’t we use this opportunity?”
“Hmm that’s true.”
The next morning, Jyoti, Ram and Bindu stood among the other residents of Dharavi near a well set up Health Camp. They were waiting in line to meet Dr. Deepa Dutta. When it was their turn, Jyoti helped Ram and Bindu sit in front of the Doctor who was smiling brightly at them.
“Good Morning. I’m Dr. Deepa Dutta, how may I help you?”
Jyoti looked at Ram and he gave an approving look to her.
“My Father-in-law” She began, “has been severe knee pain and swelling. And he’s had a fever since the day before yesterday.”
“Hmm… Did you consult any Doctor?”
“Yes, we saw our neighbourhood Doctor. He said it’s because of the surgery Papa needs to have.”
“What surgery? Can I see your reports and prescription?”
Jyoti was confused.
“Reports…? Umm… he said all this verbally to us. He didn’t give any reports.”
“Hmm… Mr. Sharma, let’s examine your leg now, shall we?”
Dr. Deepa got off her chair and bent down as she carefully examined Ram’s knee.
“Okay, Jyoti I want you to take your Father-in-law to the next tent and give his blood sample. We’ll conduct a few tests and get back to you. Please come again tomorrow.”
“Okay Doctor, thank you very much.”
The Next Day, Jyoti and Ram sat before Dr. Dutta as she carefully scanned through the reports in her hand.
“Okay, so according to the reports, my guesses were correct.”
“Is Papa okay?” Jyoti asked.
“Don’t worry Jyoti, your Father-in-law has Chikungunya. It’s a viral disease transmitted through mosquitos.”
“Oh… Doctor, what should we do?”
“I’m writing the medicines in the prescription, show it to the chemist tent outside, they’ll give it to you accordingly. Take this medicine after meal every day with water, 3 times a day. You have to take it for 10 days. Drink a lot of water and fluids to prevent dehydration. Try to avoid mosquito bites, especially in the monsoon season.”
“Thank you very much, Doctor.”
Jyoti helped Ram walk outside the tent, smiling about how well they were treated. The little children around the camp chased each other and laughed and played as they headed to the chemist, feeling hopeful.
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