The morning bells from the nearby Vishnu temple broke the monotonous narration by Saarang. He took out his smartphone to check the time. It was 4 am, the temple bells conveyed that it was the time for the deity to getoff all the previous day’s attire and to be bathed by the priest, to be adorned for the new day’s worship. This was a major ritual of the temple and people from all over the countryarrived in this small town to be a part of the worship.
Even after this long sleepless night of journey across the world, Saarang felt light and content. Rehan’s presence helped him reassemble himself. The decision-maker within him who was dormant from the day of homecoming, after his return from the dark continent, was kind of awake again. Saarang turned to his left to watch his friend in the faint yellow light that came from the table lamp beside him, Rehan lay there with his gaze fixed on the ceiling, lost deep in his thoughts. Saarang tickled his friend, “where Bro???”
Rehan jerked as if coming back to life. Unlike Saarang, Rehan was serious and seemed pretty official now. He reverted, “So! Where are we gonna go? Have you enquired about some good dermatologists in the area, or anywhere in the country, we have to go to the best available place.” Hearing this Saarang said, “this is what troubled me too, as this disease is not fully curable, an as it’s connected with mental health too, I thought meeting a psychiatrist would be more beneficial in my case.”
Rehan reacted, “brother it’s fine to meet the psychiatrist too but un- less we actually go out and consult someone, it’s not gonna happen. You are building up a lot of thrashes in our thoughts. I bet it’s not the real you, how could you change from a man of actions to a man of thoughts. Remember, while practising for the basketball matches, after days of rigorous practice sessions, on the eve of the match our coach would say, “and most importantly, stay connected with your captain, he’s the man of quick decisions and crisp actions.” “So, be yourself, bro! life definitely is a sport, and we have to play the game to win, which none can do in a way better than you could.”
Rehan’s words came as life support to Saarang. He rose from the bed. By this time the golden rays of the rising sun pierced through the net holes of the bedroom curtains. He moved towards the windows and drew the curtains apart and opened the glass windows. The entire room stood bathed in gold. This actually was the new morning for Saarang. Rehan got up and moved towards his friend, who stood at the window looking at the new dawn of hope, of life and of conquering the adversities.
The radiance on his friend’s face made Rehan overwhelmed with hopefulness. He hugged his friend tight and said, “we will nail it, brother.” Unlike the first hug, the previous evening, when they met after years, this hug didn’t make Saarang weak and helpless. “We have to plan out everything today itself. I shall apply for an emergency leave today; rest we can plan accordingly.” Both freshened up and Saarang started to go downstairs to get the morning cup of coffee. Meanwhile, Rehan called Nisha and narrated the instances in short, they spoke for a while and then after that Rehan seemed thoughtful and busy checking his phone for something important.
Saarang entered with two cups of steaming coffee, he saw that his friend was preoccupied and busy scrolling down his smartphone. “Is that the leave thing man? It’s ok, we can check out after your working hours. I shall do some search and would contact some centers.” Hearing that Rehan said, “It’s not that bro, leave is all sorted. Nisha reminded me of a friend of mine in Poland, whose sister was a medical student. One of our colleague’s wife was treated for some skin ailment by this girl’s professor here in India and this colleague of ours would not stop speaking about the care and hospitality they received at that place, and how magnificently his wife recovered.”
As Rehan sipped the coffee and was busy on his phone, making calls now and then, Saarang took his laptop and checked the daily reports of his trading works going on in India and abroad. Oteng and Sarah were following up on the new client connections set up by him and sending regular feedback. As the real trade was yet to be started, even if Saarang stayed back no big difference could have been created in Botswana. Actually, it had been many days that Saarang checked the accounts too. But today he automatically checked the accounts at random and for a change, he felt quite normal.
It was almost two hours. Both friends were busy with their own work. Then all of a sudden Rehan jumped out of the bed and said, “Bro! Pack your bags we are going to Kerala, tomorrow early morning flight from Bangalore. I will go and talk to uncle and aunty downstairs and then I will go home and be back with Nisha in the evening. She may stay here for a few days.” Rehan said so much in just one breath that Saarang sat still like a statue on the little couch, kind of tongue-tied. Then suddenly, as if coming back to senses, Saarang spurted out, “hold on man, what all are you saying? And did I hear Kerala?”
“Oh! I’m sorry brother, let me explain. Actually, I could speak to that friend of mine. His sister, who is studying in a reputed Ayurveda Medical college in Kerala, has arranged for an appointment with this girl’s professor, who as I told is a great doctor. The consultation has been fixed at 9 am the day after tomorrow. So, when I checked the available flights, tomorrow morning’s flight seemed to be ideal for us. From Kochi airport, we may pick a vehicle to the hotel near to this academy. We may rest there and approach our destination the next morning.
For Saarang the practicability of the plan was as clear as crystal, but something kept his forehead still wrinkled. Rehan came over, “is it about uncle and aunty?” Saarang nodded in concern. “Don’t worry at all brother, I shall manage that in the best way possible.” Rehan conveyed this by showing the screen of his phone which displayed an Ayurvedic tour package at Kerala. Seeing this, Saarang was relaxed to the core.
One thing that constantly troubled him was nothing but the impact on his parents when they got to know about his health condition. Especially his mother who always boasted about the health of her kids, the pride with which she addressed the family gatherings and explained about how she kept aside everything for building the psychological and physical health of her kids. How she kept junk food out of her house and how she designed a new technique each day to prank her kids, so that only wholesome, nutritious food filled their bellies. And at times also said that she never regretted leaving her career of a chartered accountant cum tax consultant, as that was for the better raising of her children. But at that point and only at that point, Saarang felt that his mother missed her passion, but would never accept it that way.
Anyways everything was sorted. Thanks to the extra- fine planning by Rehan. Saarang’s parents were very excited with the decision. His father hugged Rehan and said with moist eyes, “Thanks, my son.” As planned, Rehan went home and was back with Nisha in the evening and in the meantime, Saarang had packed his bag. They had an early dinner. Saarang’s mother had cooked all the goodies. And Nisha helped her out with the kitchen chores. A decision was made that Nisha would stay back till the guys are back and as she worked from home at present; her routine was also not affected.
Then in the early morning, before the break of the dawn, the friends left for their latest destination. Everyone bid farewell and there was happiness and contentment in the air. Saarang expressed how this journey was much different from his regular business travels. When he was alone most of the time and everything from boarding to luggage to departures and arrivals was so mechanical. He was enjoying this new face of travel. The flight was about to land and Saarang who was at the window saw the huge water bodies and the greens of God’s own country. As if inviting him to enjoy its beauty and to fulfil his dreams.
The morning sun was shining over the green gardens of the airport. The cool breeze caressed Saarang’s hair as if whispering something in his ears. He felt some kind of a connection with this land of coconuts. Rehan was walking a bit faster than Saarang and seemed a bit more official and formal. But his friend was lost in the freshness of this new morning of his life. Feeling relaxed and trying to find links with the new place he just landed at, which actually didn’t seem new to him at all.
The journey continued to the city where they had booked the hotel. On the way, they had some food and continued further. The driver of the vehicle was friendly and caring. He enquired about his guests’ plans. As he understood it as a medical visit. He poured out many of the success stories of medical treatments of the institution they had sought appointments.
As they reached the destined town, the driver told them that he would show them the place they would visit the other day, as it fell on the way to the hotel. Though Saarang had travelled around the world, but he couldn’t understand for what reason his heart pounded at the thought of visiting that place. All sorts of anticipatory thoughts flashed across his mind. In the meantime, the driver slowed down thevehicle, and said, “Sir please look to your right, there on the other side of the road is the place you have come here for.” Saarang peeped out of the window and saw a huge statue of some male figure standing right in front of the medical college building. Standing erect and confident enough to receive all the ailing souls and impart the best of his powers to bring them back to a normal life. They moved on and Saarang’s filled up his heart with hopes for the next day’s appointment.
