Accident

By Prabir Kumar Datta

Rosy was lying motionless on an armchair in the balcony gazing at the late autumn afternoon sky where the setting sun was playing with the scattered clouds with a feast of colors. She looked apparently calm but a huge wave of thoughts was making her restless and depressed in this late hour of the day.

 She was approaching her fifty first birth day next month with grey hair and wrinkles on her cheek inviting her to the realm of the oldies. She was not of course worried for that as with the age she has also attained lots of success in life too, but the reason for her breaking down today was her only son Vicky who had some time back left the house with a huff announcing not to come back again. More than that, the thing that has shattered her confidence was that most horrible sentence uttered by him, “You are a whore. I can’t even look at you.”

That comment from her own son whom she has so long brought up with huge struggle and immense amount of love and affection was most unimaginable. That with the advancement of age children become dwellers of different world was never unknown to Rosy. Even her son’s allergy about his Sandy uncle was also not difficult to understand, but the outside provocation would make him so much furious was beyond her dreams.

Normally in this closing hour of the office of SUCCESS MARKETING, of which she is the head, Rosy spends her time with the staff members in a very informal mood when they enjoy snacks and coffee together with lot of jokes, anecdotes and sharing of personal stories. The entire ground floor of the big house is their head office and the upper floor is used as her residence while a few other small offices in different towns are controlled from here. Rosy has such a cordial relation with all the members of the staff that sometimes they remain here for late hours until she insists them to go home. The company is not a mere bread earner to her. It is her second home, a place of love and a source of immense inspiration.

Now the company is a famous one with huge turn over and a big chain of happy clientele. But it was not an easy way for her to reach here from the day when everything seemed to have been destroyed twenty five years ago after the death of her husband in that frightening incident. All her hopes were lost and everything was in the doldrums with nobody to extend any helping hand. Had Sandy not come in her life as an angel at that hour of dire despair her entire life would have been a different story. With a small child in her lap she was wandering alone in the big world in search of a livelihood when Sandy held her hand, encouraged her and always stayed beside her to give her enough mental strength to start a tiny business from the scratch for which even the small capital was provided by him. Not only had he helped her in all her struggles for existence but also he left no stones unturned to look after her son Vicky, admit him to the school, take care of his education and all other needs at the cost of his own time, energy and money. That Sandy still did not have time to marry was partly due to his love and attraction to Rosy and partly out of a very strong sense of commitment and responsibility.

Even Vicky was also very much fond of his Sandy uncle from his childhood when he was carried on his shoulder to the playground or they played carom together. Sandy was the son of rich parents and had huge money and a heart to spend it. But he never was serious about his own career, nor did he do justice to any of the multitude of his talents which included painting, mountaineering, football, reciting and many others. He even had no complain about the past of Rosy when she lived together with Ayan who one day was killed in front of her and she was gang raped by a band of hooligans after which she conceived Vicky.

 Till today Rosy does not know whether there is the blood of either Ayan or any of those miscreants in Vicky. But Sandy, a newly acquainted person then coming forward just to help a distressed lady, never questioned about that even after listening to the whole story, for which Rosy is ever grateful.

 Vicky only knows that his father died in an accident. Although he used to have lot of affinity with Sandy all along, of late Vicky was behaving in an indignant way with him every now and then. Rosy had no idea about the reason initially, but recently she could know that it was due to constant provocation by one cousin of Ayan .Although he had no relation with her, he had met Vicky recently and had poisoned his mind by many concocted stories.

Today Vicky was getting ready for a pleasure trip with his friends to a nearby hill resort with his car to celebrate his twenty fifth birthday. Rosy was very anxious as his driving was rough and drinking in the party might make the journey more dangerous, particularly in a snow clad hilly road. But he was not in a mood to listen when Sandy intervened,” Vicky, please try to understand the worries of your mother. You have never become so unreasonable.”

Vicky did not answer to him. He told Rosy,” Why do you always want to spoil my celebration? Now I am not a mere kid.”

Sandy again tried to convince him,” This is not a question of spoiling the party. Just think of the reality. The road is not at all safe and you may be late to return.’

Vicky was planning that tour for a long time with friends and was very excited about it. He did not like Sandy to advise him and said to Rosy,” Nobody has to be over anxious about me. For God’s sake don’t make a fuss now. Let me go.”

“Please don’t behave like this. He is telling because he is concerned about you.”Rosy told.

Suddenly Vicky burst out,” Who is he? Why should he be so concerned? Just don’t try to tell all these bullshit again. I know everything.”

Rosy also became excited. Her son was making such comments knowing well the contribution of this man in his life. He must have been badly tutored by his uncle for a long time. But that needs to be stopped forthwith. She said, “Stop talking nonsense. What everything are you referring to? Have you not seen yourself what he did for you?  You are talking big today only because of him. ”

That was a fuel to the fire. Vicky started shouting,” Yes, I know everything. I know how my father died only because of you. I know all about your loose character. You are a whore and that man only helped you in dirty things. Otherwise how did you make so much money so quickly? Uncle has told me everything. I was never told the truth so long. Tell him not to poke his nose in my affairs. If he has so much concern about you why didn’t he marry you?”

Rosy was dumbfounded at his continuous flow of nasty words. Vicky’s rough behavior to Sandy in recent past did not miss her attention, but she thought that it was due to some temporary misunderstanding between them. But now it appeared to be much deep rooted. Sandy always has kept a safe distance from her just to avoid the discomfort of Vicky. He neither ever proposed to marry her nor did he agree to live with them in the same house in spite of repeated request from Rosy. Though he was everything to her life after the sad demise of Ayan, he never forced his claim only considering Vicky’s sentiment. But now Vicky himself is not only using all these abusive words about him but has not hesitated to call his mother a whore! His newly acquainted uncle and his fabricated stories have become more convincing to him than his life long experience.

She was so much broken down that she could not utter a single word. Showing enough discontent to both of them Vicky moved out with his bag and started car speedily causing a current of fear in her.

Sandy’s reaction was not explicit from his apparently cool face. As Vicky went out and Rosy burst into tears he tried to console her, “Don’t be so upset. After all he is still young. I’ll talk to him when he cools down a bit.”

Rosy did not answer. She was trying to recover from the shock and badly wanted to release her emotions on someone. The soft words of Sandy irritated her. Seeing her silent Sandy told again,” But you cannot forget your duty. Talk to him over phone after sometime. After all, the road is dangerous. If you don’t want then at least let me talk.”

Suddenly Rosy shouted,” Never! Why would you talk? Don’t try to be great. Why do you come between us? It is none of your business. You have done a lot of favor to me. I don’t want any more. Just leave me alone.”

Rosy kept on hurling bitter words on Sandy who was her only place to release emotions. Sandy was astonished at her unexpected reaction, but did not react. He himself was also very much hurt, but tried to be rational and allowed Rosy to continue. After sometime he got up from the sofa and said, ”I understand your sentiment. But you have to tackle the situation in a matured way whatever adverse it may be. You cannot give up. Take your time and think yourself.”

Sandy slowly went out leaving a nonplussed rosy suddenly feeling insecure after so many years. She saw her lifelong dreams to break into pieces like a castle of cards. The only man who was there to give her strength, support and encouragement was violently abused today both by her son and herself. She wept for a long time and when she came to sense a thorn of anxiety about the safety of Vicky and the unseen reaction of Sandy started pricking her. 

 Evening was already over when the phone came. Rosy was so much immersed in her thought that initially she did not receive it. She thought that it must be none other than Sandy who would now try to pacify her giving lot of reasons. Earlier also conflicts had taken place between Vicky and Sandy, but Rosy did not mind because they were mostly on small issues and were sorted out between them in no time. But of late Vicky’s attitude towards Sandy has changed to a sort of animosity for which Rosy was worried, but today’s incidence has surpassed everything. She was therefore in no mood to talk to Sandy at this moment.

But the mobile rang again. At last with lot of reluctance she got up and was at her wits end to get the message from some unknown person at the other end. A heavy voice informed that the car whose ownership was in her name had skidded off snow in the hillside road and had fallen four hundred feet downhill this evening. The rescue operation was on and the lone driver in the car was still untraceable. 

She was apprehending of something bad to occur, but never thought that it would come in this horrible way. That the driver was none other than Vicky was amply clear to her.  He must have been driving with an equally disturbed mind as hers. Whether he was alive now or not was also not clear.  Extremely puzzled, she fell on the sofa being almost senseless. After a few moments she gained strength and was at a loss what to do. In any problem in life she had so far always approached to only one person whom she had abused sometimes back with many harsh words. But now at this grave hour she could not think of anyone other than Sandy. Trembling in fear she dialed him and broke into tears while conveying him the news.

After two complete days of battle between life and death when doctors at last assured   that Vicky was out of danger but would require several days to recover, Rosy for the first time went home. During the past two days she got immense help and cooperation from the members of staff of her company and many others, but could not find any trace of Sandy anywhere in the hospital. That day on receiving her phone Sandy just uttered two sentences,” I am just now looking into it. Meanwhile take care of yourself,”

But after that she never met him till date. 

Rosy learned that Vicky’s car was hanging against a big tree at the slope of the hill. But as he was thrown out of the vehicle nobody could find him out at first. After lot of repeated efforts of rescue team in which many civilians also cooperated he was located senseless in a ditch from which he was pulled up with a thick rope tied on his waist. But it was such a difficult process that a few persons involved in the job were also injured. 

As Vicky regained his sense he found his whole body heavily bandaged so that he was even unable to even turn on the bed. His throat dried up completely and he moaned for water when the nurse came quickly with water and advised,” Don’t talk at all. Doctors have advised so.”

Vicky badly wanted to know how he came in this hospital. Faintly he could recall that he went to the hills, drank there a lot, but could not enjoy with friends due to huge turmoil in his mind. There was heavy snowfall that day so that everyone including the people of the resort advised them to return early. But he stayed back there alone not knowing what to do and where to go back. At last when it was fully dark he got up and started his car deciding not to go back home and take shelter somewhere else. He was driving in great speed in that hilly road full of snow without caring for his life so that what was obvious happened on the way. His car was rolling down the slope when he lost the sense.

Having cooled down Vicky now was feeling guilty enough for his behavior and careless action for which everybody was put to huge inconvenience. The cousin of his father whom he met only recently has made him believe many ugly things about his mother and Sandy uncle. Out of a sudden outburst of his emotions he used lot of filthy languages to his mother whom he has loved most in life and he was not able to come out of his discomfort till the position was corrected. He thought of begging apology from his mother at the earliest possible. 

But he could not still forgive Sandy uncle for whom his entire life has become tarnished. From the childhood everyone has asked him about his father and his relationship with Sandy uncle and he had to bear many bad remarks and mockery about him. Sandy uncle remained like an uncalled for guest in their family.  As long as he was a child it did not matter much to him. Now that he has grown up and has his own opinion in his personal matters, day to day interference of Sandy uncle was becoming unbearable to him. It is true that he had lot of service to him and his mother, but Sandy uncle had enough scope to allow him a life free from uneasiness by marrying his mother. Without caring for any identity he tried to be an insider in their family and get involved in all their intimate matters.

His mother might have enough gratefulness and soft corner to Sandy uncle and might prefer to allow him in all her affairs but Vicky felt that it was high time to tell him the truth frankly. He had an idea that his father was killed by miscreants and nothing more was told to him by his mother nor did he find it necessary to ask until he got that horrible information from the cousin of his father. Vicky accidentally got acquainted with him and he behaved with him so cordially that Vicky started loving him instantly. But the fact learned from him about his own birth was really difficult to digest. 

He never could imagine that he was a child born out of a gang rape of her mother and it was Sandy uncle who led her mother to a nasty life. From that moment he was so antagonized with him that he charged his mother directly about the truth of what he had learned. She did not clarify anything about his birth but was vehemently certifying Sandy uncle. That made him more impatient to get rid of that person from his life and incidentally all his anger was targeted to his mother also. 

However lying in the hospital when he learned that his mother had spent sleepless nights outside his cabin till he was declared out of danger, Vicky started repenting to the core of his heart and badly wished to weep at her lap. He had used lot of filthy words to his mother, but in spite of that she forgave him and did everything a true mother should have done. He convinced himself that the relation with one’s mother can never be ignored. If his birth was in such a heinous incident his mother had no fault in it. Even keeping the fact secret from him was also nothing but natural for a poor guy like her. He therefore made up his mind that he would no more be bothered about the history of his birth. The care and affection with which his mother had brought up him so far was enough reason to love her. 

But at the same time Vicky could know that Sandy uncle did not come to visit him even once after the accident. His absence in such an hour of crisis appeared to be totally unacceptable to Vicky. He behaved rudely with both his mother and him at the same time. But in an hour of fight between life and death how one intimate person can stay away like this just for the sake of sentiment was unimaginable to him. He could now well understand the difference between blood relation and an intimacy with an outsider. When he asked his mother about him she initially avoided the answer and at last on insisting again and again told,” You told him not to interfere. So probably he is staying away.”

“But I told bad things to you too. If you can come what is his problem then?”

“How can I say that? Everyone has his own option.” 

 Probably she is also hurt at behavior of Sandy uncle but unable to express her weakness before him. Vicky did not raise that topic again and he decided that he would not anymore be bothered about him.

 He was recovering fast as his wounds were not that severe as thought at the outset. Rosy now comes two times daily and talks with him with the same natural warmth as before. Both of them have come out of that day’s awkward incident. Vicky told her one day, “ I don’t like to be in hospital. Please take me home.”

Rosy said in a soft voice,” Surely you will go home soon. But you have to promise that you will never drive recklessly. If something like this happen again I shall not survive anymore.”

She was weeping, her hand on the head of Vicky who was trying to make full use of the moment. He was happy that his mother is with him now without the shadow of Sandy uncle obscuring their relation. He held the hand of his mother and said,” You have become thinner. Looks like that you are not taking care of your health.”

“Am I not getting old? You have to take over my load now and allow me to relax.”

“No, No. You cannot get old so soon. My mother is extra ordinary. I can’t compare her with anyone else”

“Is it so?” Rosy was extremely happy,” You are right. How can I be old unless you are grown up? Even at twenty five you behave like a child.”

Vicky was thanking God for his hospitalization which has given him such a nice company of his mother which he was missing so long. He promised within himself that once he goes back home he would never wound his mother. He would never think of his past which no more appeared to be more important than his present. Now that Sandy uncle has moved away out of his own after that event and his mother has also taken the fact easily he has no more hesitation and won’t pay any heed to what others say, so long his mother is with him.

After about a month on the day of his release there was quite a large gathering outside his cabin consisting of his friends and the members of the staff of their company along with other well wishers. They were carrying different sizes of flower bouquets and cards and were waiting patiently for welcoming him and celebrating his victory against the most dangerous fight of his life. Vicky was also very restless from the morning while preparing for returning home after a long time which at one time appeared impossible to him. His mother was busy in completing the formalities of the hospital and was expected any moment.

Rosy arrived hurriedly after about half an hour and told, ”Let’s go. Everything is over.”

While proceeding towards the car Rosy said,” Do you know, one of the persons who rescued you and was seriously injured is also admitted in this hospital?”

Vicky was really surprised. He had never heard of this earlier, He said eagerly,” In that case should we not meet him once and convey our thanks? How is he?”

“ I have heard that he is recovering, but there is a sad news. He had an injury in his spinal cord which may result to the paralysis of the lower part of his body. Doctors are trying their best, but nobody knows whether he will be alright at all.”

Vicky was very much upset at the news. The man who saved him risking his own life is now on the verge of being incapacitated. Emotionally he said,” But we must have to do everything possible for him. Only due to them I am here now. We can’t avoid our responsibility. “

“I am told that he needs exercise and physiotherapy under regular care and nursing.  But so far as I know, he has no fixed income.”

Vicky was excited,” In that case can we not take care of him? We have no dearth of money to help him. At least we can pay our debt to some extent by that.”

Rosy was delighted by his son’s sense of responsibility. She said, ”All right, then let us see him once. The visiting hour has started.”

They went to the other wing of the big hospital which was neurology department. As only one visitor was allowed at a time Rosy went first leaving Vicky in a sofa at the entrance. 

As Rosy returned she handed over the Card to him and said, “Go to cabin no three on the right side. I have told him about you. He is awake and waiting for you.

Vicky went before the cabin with great eagerness and from the glass he could see the man in the patient’s robe sitting in a wheel chair with his head down turning his back towards the door. Vicky entered silently and to draw his attention called him cautiously, “Hallo sir. I am Vicky.”

The man was motionless. Vicky could not understand whether he has at all heard his address. He became a bit louder, “Sir I am the person you saved. I am released today and have come to convey my regards and gratefulness to you. How are you?”

The man moved a bit now. He tried to turn his wheel chair and slowly raised his head. At that very instant Vicky got the shock of his life. The man was weeping silently and trying to control himself by wiping his tears.”

“Sandy uncle!” Vicky exclaimed. 

He never expected that the man who has saved his life at the cost of disability for life was nothing but the person to whom he hurled all possible filthy comments few days back and now wants to remove from his life. Also in recent days he took strong exception at him for staying away in his days of crisis but never imagined that the same was due to such a pathetic reason.

In a flash the memories of his many happy hours with Sandy uncle and his constant sincere support since childhood made him fragile from within so much that he could not control himself. The sight of an incapacitated Sandy uncle who was an image of exuberance to him became unbearable to him. He hugged him with tears like his childhood days when uncle used to console him from the scolding of his mother.

It was sure that his mother was aware of all the facts, but did not tell him so that he would not feel uncomfortable. Vicky told in a chocked voice, “I am sorry uncle. Please forgive me. I shall never allow you to go anywhere.”

Sandy kept on weeping.

By Prabir Kumar Datta