Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and places mentioned. All the places are fictional and any resemblance is a mere coincidence.
The doctor closed the file that was placed in front of him: Mr Abhijeet you are lucky… (Abhijeet looked at him) aap ny defected gene inherit nahi ki… you are perfectly healthy…
Disha released the breath she had been holding from who knows how long. She thanked god many times for sparing her elder son. While Abhijeet just closed his eyes in pain. He felt intense shame and self-loathing that he was spared by the progressive degenerative gene that had affected his brother. Why was he spared? He wished he could share his brother's pain but he can't. Fate didn't allow him to experience the same pain his brother is going through. Why did this happen? Why was he spared and Daya suffered? What if he could change places with Daya? Couldn't he do something for his little brother?
Abhijeet was involved in his train of thoughts of why's and if's when his ears caught the words of the doctor that contained his brother's name. He put all the thoughts aside and concentrated on what the doctor was saying: Daya ki DNA reports k results to expected thy.. they confirm our diagnosis… or biopsy report also show liver scarring… (The three entities present in the silent room looked at him with tensed expressions) aap pareshan na hon liver damage hai lekin fatal nahi hai, that is a good thing… [well, liver damage is a bad thing] treatment mai abhi koi changes nhi hongy… (Doctor continued his discussion with some consolations)
Abhijeet just gave a quiet nod and left the room with a simple "Excuse me".
Disha and Rahul looked at the way he went.
Abhijeet stood by the laboratory where his brother was again giving samples for different test procedures. He looked at Daya and his tightly closed eyes due to the pain as he was giving a blood sample for another test. The doctor had said that now they would have to take different tests every few days to determine how the treatment is doing. The flinch and scrunched-up nose in the pain of Daya again dipped him in the depth of the guilt of being healthy while his brother suffers. He punched the wall angrily; again "WHY" was going on a rampage in his mind.
Disha came out of the doctor's cabin and saw him standing on the laboratory door. She sighed and went to the lab, she knew she can't reduce the guilt her elder son is going through. She didn't have words to comfort her big boy, well what can be done? she can't stop blaming herself for everything how can she say her boy to do something she can't do. For now, she doesn't even know if she can ever stop blaming herself at all.
Abhijeet had seen how his mother stopped before him for a second but left without saying anything at all. He knows that his mother cries when she is alone, she is bearing a pang of guilt bigger than his. He sat on the bench present there. He sighed and closed his eyes while attaching his back with the same wall that had been the target of his anger.
Rahul came out of the cabin some minutes later, after seeing Abhjeet's posture he understood the matter. He just grabbed his arm and took him in his cabin. He pushed Abhijeet on the chair and stood in front of him with arms crossed on his chest.
He questioned Abhijeet sternly: kb tk chaly ga ye sb? Hain?
Abhijeet looked at him with vacant eyes: mujhe nahin pata...
Rahul chewed every next word he spoke: tumhare is tarah se sog manane se khud ko blame krny se sab theek ho jaega?
Abhijeet looked at him: tum kya samajhte ho main pagal hun? bewaqoof hun? Mjhe situations ko deal krna nahi aata? (Rahul looked at him in pain) Main Ek rational Soch rakhne wala CID officer hun… Mujhe har tarah ki situation ko deal karna aata hai… main… (he took a deep breath)main acchi tarah jaanta hun ke sab jo kuchh ho raha hai hai usmein kisi ki koi galti nahin hai… (in a trance) pehly mai sochta tha k yeh fate, taqdeer sb bekar hai, insaan apni taqdeer khud likhta hai… jo chahy kr skta hai jesy chahy zindagi guzar skta hai… (looked at him with stone eyes) lekin aaj mai hi kehta hun k insaan jo chahy kr lay taqdeer ko nahi hara skta… "Fate does exist, everything that happens is fate. We are just the pupets in the hands of fate"… sb kuch janty boojhty mai… (he took a sigh) mai nahi samjha paa raha khud ko… main apne dil se yeh guilt nahin nikal pa raha hun… tumhay kya lagta hai sab itna aasan hai… keh diya or gaya… (shook his head in no) "NO" mai shayad kabhi apny aap ko is baat k liye maaf nahi kr paunga k mai aik sehat-mand zindagi guzar raha hun or mera bhai… (in wet tone) wo itni takleef mai hai or mai usky liye kuch nahi kr paa raha… mai kese khud ko maaf kr dun? jb meri Maa nahi khud ko maaf kr paa rhi mai kese khud ko maaf kr dun… Maa raat ko hum sy chup chup k roti hai, wo iss sb ka doshi khud ko samjhti hai… (asked him) tumhy pata hai? (Rahul gave him a sad look) chand dino mai meri Maa borhi ho gai hai… pata nahi kabhi wo iss guilt sy bahar nikal bhi paye gi k nai… (in a soggy tone) itna asan nahi yeh sb humary liye… esa lagta hai k aik lamhy mai humari zindagi kya sy kya ho gai… (looked at him) you know what? Mai koi bhi keemat ada krny ko tayar hun bs humarai zindagi pehly jesi ho jaye… aik choti si hasti khelti family… I can pay any amount for it… (asked him) kya tum lota skty ho humy wo waqt? (Rahul just looked away in response) nahi na… hum janty hain k yeh sb humari taqat sy bahar tha lekin hum majboor hain… hum nahi khud ko maaf kr paa rhy… we feel guilty for something which is beyond our hands… (he hid his face in his hands with tears in eyes)
Rahul looked at Abhieet in pain and hugged him silently with a meek "SORRY".
"We rationally understand we are not to blame, but the guilt mechanism does not" - John Tooby
A week had been passed since Daya's treatment started. Today, he had developed the measles' resembled rash with a mild fever. His whole body was itching badly, Disha was rubbing his body softly to relax him. He couldn't even scratch himself.
Daya spoke in his distinct tone while forwarding his arm towards her: ider… bi… (she scratched his arms softly) karish…
Disha said to him with a soft tone: abhi thori dair mai bhai aa jaye ga to hum doctor k pass chalain gy… (Daya just closed his eyes)
Abhijeet came home after 8 PM. Till then Daya's fever had turned for the worst.
Disha to Abhijeet in panic tone: Jeet jaldi chalo hospital … Daya ka bukhar km hi nahi ho raha hai…
Abhijeet nodded and started the car, Disha was sitting on the backseat with Daya. Abhijeet in tension was looking at back in intervals to find his tense mother and in pain brother.
Daya was almost semi-conscious when he was rushed to the emergency ward while having a seizure attack.
Disha and Abhijeet were waiting outside the emergency ward when Rahul emerged from it. Disha's eyes were continuously shedding tears while Abhijeet was supporting her emotionally through his strong grip on her hand.
Abhijeet with a strong voice tried to comfort her: kuch nahi hoga Maa, theek ho jayega chotu… (Disha just gave him a silent-teary look. Abhjeet took her in a tight half-hug.)
Rahul came out of the emergency room and said the words that they were longing to hear: theek hai Daya… don't worry…
Both family members took a sigh of relief.
Rahul after seeing their almost-calm faces initiated: hum yeh medicine continue nahi kr skty…
Abhijeet in shocked-tensed tone: kyun? Kyun nahi kr skty… (Disha had clutched Abhijeet's hand tightly and looked at Rahul in tension. Abhijeet tightened his grip to assure his mother that everything is fine.)
Rahul asked them to follow him: aap log mere sath chalain…
Abhijeet nodded and took Disha to Rahul's cabin. After settling down on the chairs Rahul initiated his explanation without any further ado.
Rahul in complete professional tone: Daya has developed a reaction to penicillamine… asan shabdo mai Daya ko medicine suit nahi ki…
Abhijeet asked him in an earnest tone: phir ab…
Rahul in the same tone continued: ab hum aik week k baad dubara penicillamine introduce karain gy aik km dosage k sath…
Abhijeet in surprise presented his next question: lekin abhi to tumny kaha k Daya ko yeh medicine suit nahi ki ab keh rhy ho phir sy yahi medicine dogy… (in suggesting way) tum koi or medicine kyun nahi dy dety…
Rahul: tumhy yaad hai humny kaha tha k iss disease k treatment k liye do medicine use hoti hain… penicillamine or trientine… India mai sirf penicillamine hi available hai or Daya ko suit nahi ki… hum aik hafty baad doba…
Abhijeet cut him hurriedly: to tum dusri medicine manga lo na…
Rahul sighed: yeh sb itna asan nahi hai Abhijeet…
Abhijeet in bewilderment: kya matlab… aik medicine hi to mangwani hai mere bhai ilaj k liye…
Rahul took a deep breath with: yaar sbsy pehli baat medicine ko import hony mai km sy km pandrah din lag jaaty hain… us k ilawa sari legal processing, government approval wagera mai jo time lagta hai wo alag… or dusri baat yeh k yeh medicine bht expensive hai agar suit na kari to wo alag… iss liye mai chahta hun k agar penicillamine hi set ho jaye…
After a short round of silence, Abhijeet spoke: or agar na set hui to?
Rahul attached his back with the chair: to phir hummy medicine import hi karani pary gi…
Abhijeet: to kya jb tk Daya baghair treatment k rahy ga?
Rahul said in an assured tone: nahi… issi liye hi mai kuch nahi to medicine k import k liye application submit kr dunga ta k jb tk hummy confirm ho k humny kis medicine ko continue krna hai km-az-km humary pass approval to ho na import ka… mai trientine ki import ki legal processing or government approval ki sari formalities jald sy jald krwata hun… (in hesitant tone) bs tumhy aik kaam krna hoga…
Abhijeet asked him instantly: kya?
Rahul in the same tone: tum bs paisy arranged rakhna jesy hi sari formalities ho jayein gi hum order place kr dain gy…
Abhijeet nodded: theek hai mai sb kr lunga tum bs amount batao…
Rahul continued: aik pack mai qareeban aik maheena guzarta hai tumhy taqreeban do lakh rupay ka intezam krna hai first order k liye… sari processing, legal formalities or transportation mai itna expense hoga…
Disha gave a shocked-tensed look to Rahul and Abhijeet, they belong to a middle-class family. Anirudh had left a home behind while his pension and Disha's job were enough for them to spend a good life. But right now she was worried about what would happen? They didn't have this kind of money. How will they bear such kind of expense in this prevailing inflation? She was engrossed in her world of thoughts when heard her boy saying.
Abhijeet in determined tone: theek hai ho jaye ga… (Disha looked at him in shock) (Rahul looked at him with sad expressions; he also belongs to same class so he can understand what Disha and Abhijeet must be thinking right now. Arranging for this kind of sum is a difficult task for the people like them and if it is needed on monthly basis then it is even more difficult) (seeing the gazes upon himself Abhijeet tried to change the direction of the conversation) Daya ko discharge kb tk mil jaye ga?
Rahul helped him in changing the topic while Disha sat there in tension thinking various ways they could use to arrange the sum: haan mil jaye ga, fever thora control ho jaye to ly jana ghar…
Abhijeet nodded: theek hai phir mai aata hun thori dair mai mjhe kaam hai thora…
He was going out of the cabin when heard the voice of his mother: Jeet ruko…
He turned and asked: G Maa…
She approached him with fast steps: haan mjhe tujh sy baat krni hai…
Rahul understood the air and excused himself: aap log baat karain mai aata hun aik patient ko dekhna hai…
Abhijeet looked at Disha and made her sit on the chair: Haan Maa bolo…
Disha in a tense voice started: hum kaha sy layein gy itny paisy? Humary pass to koi savings bhi nahi hain… or hr mahiny itna kharch… (she was continuing in tension) or meri to job bhi chut gai hai na mai kahi ab job kr skti hun… hum kesy Daya ko treatment dilayein gy… kya mera bta esy hi tarapta rhy ga…
Abhijeet held her from shoulders and gave her a small jerk: kya ho gaya hai Maa… kya boly jaa rhi ho aap… (looking at her teary eyes Abhijeet hugged her tightly) mai hun na… aap kyun fikar karti ho? Mai aapsy wada krta hun k hum Daya k liye sb karain gy chahy usmy jitna bhi kharcha ho…
Disha broke into bitter cry after listening to it. Abhijeet just patted her back silently to give her strength. After some moments of comfort, she separated herself from Abhijeet.
Disha wiped her face: mere pass kuch jewellery hai… or sath hi mere baba ka jo ghar tha, unhony wo mere naam kr diya tha apny dehant sy pehly… hum wo sb sale kr dety hain…
Abhijeet held her hands: Maa abhi aap us sbki fikar mt karo, mai issi liye bahar jaa raha tha… or abhi kuch bhi sale krny ki zaroorat nahi hai, aik lakh mere account mai hain baki k paison ka bhi mai kuch na kuch bandubast kr lunga… aap bilkul chinta na karain…
Disha still in worry: lekin hum kb tk esy guzara karain gy, Daya ko uss medicine ki zaroorat sari umar k liye hogi… hum kahan sy layein gy itna paisa… (prayed) mai to Bhagwan sy pratna krun gi k uski pehly wali medicine hi continue ho jaye…
Abhijeet secured her hands in his grip: sb Bhagwan pr chor dain Maa, usny pariksha mai dala hai whi bahar nikaly ga issy… iss sb ka bhi koi na koi hl nikal hi aye ga… (he left her hands with) mai zara aata hun abhi thori dair tk… tb tk aap Daya k pass bethiye… (while wiping her face) or yeh sb baatain soch kr pareshaan mt hoiye ga… please… (Disha gave him a teary nod) aata hun… (and Abhijeet left from there determined to find a solution to there problem)
"The treatment was so expensive
that he couldn't afford
The treatment was so painful
that he couldn't afford" - Joshi
A/N:
Sorry Everyone for being this late. Giving the longest chapter of the story as compensation.
I have been busy as it is wedding season and some projects are going on.
Glad you people are liking the story. Hopefully, everyone will give the same response in this chapter too.
A special thanks to Coolak Api for providing me with valuable information.
All the facts are as true as I researched about them. And treatment in India does cost this much if Trientine is used.
Next update will also come soon after 40 reviews.
Take care... Stay Safe... Bye Bye...