So Long Harini*

9 May,2007.My mother is to undergo a surgery today.Nothing major really,just an annoying umblical hernia that had to be set right.But sentimental as we all are at home,for us,this operation is not just any other visit to the hospital.
Right,so Amma's bags are packed and my sister's taken her to the hospital.My father refused to say goodbye to his wife.He doesn't want to see my mother again until after her surgery.He just wants to stay at home and 'take charge' of the house while she's away.We all know this is just an excuse.He just doesn't want anyone of us to see that he is scared,least of all the woman fell in love with all those 30 years ago.
It's afternoon now and I'm in ward number 4008,waiting for the surgeon to come.Meanwhile my mom's already clad in the hospital gown.She's a brave woman my mother...telling her two daughters to behave while she's away.The stretcher came in just then and wheeled Amma away to the operation theatre.My sister's trying very hard to be normal."Tra la la la la....how much is 8 plus 4 Chiru? 12?...that's right".Why my dear sister who hates numbers is counting now when I was counting on her for moral support is beyond me at the time.
3 o' clock.Somehow the two of us sisters get down to the OT entrance and stand by Amma one last time before she's to be taken in.We hug and kiss her.She tells us to be brave.Wasn't it supposed to be the other way round???
I'm scared.Two people I knew of had died the previous week in this very hospital.Yeah,I'm shit scared.I don't show it though unlike the brave journalist,my sister.She's wailing now just as Amma's being taken into the OT, her voice calling out to us....'don't be scared'.This is like some hysterical scene from a Karan Johar flick.And I'm in it.

It's 4ish now.I scream at my sister for crying,while I wipe my own tears away."You don't know how much I hate hospitals.Our family has had such horrible experiences
with them.When I lost my little brother,almost lost you...Can you blame me for being scared?" she asks me."It's just a hernia surgery Akka,nothing to be scared about".I hold her tight and we stare out of the window,crying hard...oblivious to the many pairs of eyes staring at us.Sounds like some mawdlin movie scene eh?

Around 6 in the evening .Akka's sleeping in the ward.I'm trying to read Lord Jim.The ship is sinking...
6:30.My father's here.We've heard from the surgeon that everything's alright.We haven't seen Amma still.
6:35.Amma's come to the ward..Her face has lost all it's colour,her hair is wet with perspiration.She's exhausted.We lift her on to the bed now.And then the four of us are left alone.Then,in complete movie style,Amma turns to my sister and opens her parched mouth and whispers ever so quietly ,"Get married soon puta".

That was it.That was when I almost fainted.I couldn't let the others see me so I just made my way to the only chair in the ward and slumped down on it.The emotions of the day had overwhelmed me.I wanted to cry with relief,laugh at the hokum that was unfloding in front of me,take away the pain that Amma had to bear...mostly I wanted to eat something.I hadn't eaten anything the whole day.
I could end with a cliched 'What I learnt most that day was that no matter how much we guys quarrel ,we will always be there for each other blah blah...'But then again,I don't want to run the risk of having all this turned into some all's well that ends well family drama movie.Copyrights strictly reserved.

*Harini:My mother's hernia was nicknamed thus.