The sun rays kissed my face and I turned my face to the
other side to continue sleeping. Although I could hear the professor proceeding
through the lecture, I didn’t really bother to wake up. Economics didn’t attract
my attention ever and the professors just didn’t care who listened and who
slept through. A few minutes later, I
felt a hand on my shoulder gently shaking me, “Wake up, the lecture is over.”
I opened my eyes and sat up. Almost everyone had left the
class.
“Adjust your hair and let’s leave then.”, he continued.
“You go Haider, I don’t want to have lunch today.”
“Why?”
“Just don’t feel like it.”
“You’re running temperature.”, he said placing his palm
against my cheeks.
“I know. That’s why I don’t want to eat. You go have lunch,
I’ll join you for the next lecture.”
“You should go home Reva.”
“Attendance…”
“I’ll speak to the HOD. Don’t worry. But you go home. C’mon!”,
he pulled me up by the arm.”
“Don’t pull, I’ve got cramps.”, I hunched back on my seat.
“Sorry sorry. But you’ve got it down too?”
“Yes.”, I said, “everything together.”
“Come, lets go to the clinic and then I’ll drop you home.”
“You don’t have to. Just go have your lunch.”
“You just shut up and keep walking.”, he said holding me by
the shoulder.
We took a bus home and it was pretty empty. With fever
getting the better of me, I fell asleep on the seat leaning against him.
“He’s vomiting blood.”,
says the doctor, “there’s not much time left.”. My mother, father and aunt ask
the doctor to try everything possible and the heartbeat dies out.
I woke up with a jerk. The wind flew through the strands of
my hair and the cars ahead took right to enter the domestic terminal of the
airport.
“We’re just near airport. There’s still around ten minutes to your apartment, go to sleep.”
“I just had that dream again.”
“Your uncle passing away?”
“Yeah.”
“You have to get over it Reva. It’s been a month almost.”
“I’ve tried but it’s so hard on me that…”
“I understand but you have to live. Death is a part of life,
accept that. People die Reva. Even I will die.”
“Haider please! Don’t talk of your death now. That would be
killing me.”
“I’m sorry. But, try to move on. For your parents, for me.”
“Stop worrying about me so much.”, I looked at him.
“You’ve got huge dark circles from lack of sleep.”
“You’re changing the topic again…”
“Yes. Get up, we’re nearly there. And be careful.”
Reaching home, I fell on my bed and refused lunch. Mom
gave me medicines and by evening the fever was around 100F. I slept through the
rest of the evening and woke up late. Head felt heavy and eyes were burning
again. Dad was back from the clinic and upon taking my temperature he
advised me to stay back home the next day. The fever was increasing he said.
Worried about maintaining the 75% attendance, I took my phone and sent a text
to Haider.
“Will you convince my dad to let me go to college tomorrow,
please?”
“Your fever must have increased that means. No way. Listen
to him and rest.”
“Why don’t you just listen to me?”
“You listen to me and stay back home.”
“You’re ordering me like you’re my boyfriend!’
“I’m your best friend and that’s enough. Go to bed now.”
“My attendance!”
“I’ll talk to HOD sir again tomorrow.”
“I don’t know what to say now.”
“Yeah you’re running out of excuses. Listen to this, I woke
up this evening from a short nap and coughed up blood. I don’t know why.”
“WHAT???
Go to the doctor. Tell uncle. What’s happening?”
“Calm down. I’m sure it’s nothing serious. I’m feeling
fine. You take rest now please.”
“How can you ask me to calm down? You coughed up blood! I
need to see you.”
“See me?”
“Yes. Who knows what might happen!”
“Reva… calm down.”
“Doctor,
please do your best!’
“I’m
trying ma’am, but his condition isn’t improving. There’s no hope.”
“Doctor
please!”, my mom begs.
“Nothing
can happen to Haider. Doctor please!”
“Reva!... Reva!!”, mom shook me up, “you’re dreaming with your
eyes open.”
“No no I was just lost in thoughts.", I said, fighting back my tears.
Why did Haider have to cough up blood all of a sudden? A dreadful feeling crept
within me. It felt like death was trying to suffocate me and turn me into dust.
My phone beeped five times in a row and I checked there were numerous messages
from Haider. Laying back on my couch, I read them.
“Where
have you disappeared?
Yo
Reva!
Are
you okay?
Reply
dude, I’m getting tensed.”
“I’m
here, don’t worry,”, I typed,” I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“NO!”
“I
need to see you.”
“I
myself won’t go to college. I’ll go to the doctor for a check-up. You too stay
back home and rest.”
“Oh
okay then. I’ll stay back. Meet you on Monday. Good night.”
“Take
care. Good night.”
I switched off the phone and went to bed.
“Why are you here in the class???”, he shouted the next morning as I entered, “You said you
wouldn’t come.”
“And you said you wouldn’t come!”, I said feebly.
“Exactly! Then why did you come?”
“I just took a chance. I felt that you might just come here before
the appointment with your doctor because he opens the clinic at 11 and we have
class from 9 every morning.”
“Why? Are you crazy? You’re sick and…”
“I don’t care. I wanted to see you. You coughed up blood and it’s
not funny. Uncle coughed up blood and died and it wasn’t funny!”, I shot back
breaking down in tears.
“Reva…”
“I needed to see you because we never know what might happen when
and I just wanted to see you… you’ll never understand!”
“Please calm down.”, he held me close, “I’m okay. Really.”
“Why are you here by the way?”, I asked still sobbing.
“To talk to the HOD, show him the medical report by the college doctor and ensure you get attendance on medical
grounds.”, he smiled.
-Reva.
