Alzheimer killed her; I didn't. by Shristi Nangalia

A dried fern, a set of utensils, a bed, an old blanket and a ceiling fan. That is all that could fit in his small room, which he was about to leave forever. He had tears in his eyes. He was always confused about why only his room always looked very crowded and others didn’t. His was room no. 11... of the Criminal Cell. 

He was about to be 'discharged’ from his exile. His mother was sitting in the front row of the waiting hall. She was holding a steel box wrapped in her old saree.  She looked tired and rusted. The wrinkles on her cheeks deepened as she smiled to her son, coming from a distance. He did not smile back. He came closer and stared into his mother's eyes.

 'You cried last night.' said he, wiping his tears.

'Saanj baba, englis pura seekh gaya!'  She almost fell in his arms, not able to stop herself from crying out loud. They hugged after a long time... a long 3 years.

'Chal ghar chal, Rani aaj ischool nahi gayi hai tere liye.' She said, waiting for his answer.

'She will loose studies of one day.' He replied, again in english.

'Englis seekh rahi hai wo bhi.' A satisfied mother said as they stepped onto a rickshaw.

'Saanj bhai, kaisa hai re? Pehchana mujhe?' asked the rickshaw wala with a big smile.

'Anup. How are you?' said Saanj, remembering him this time.

'Very fine, very fine.' His smile curved even more.

They got down in front of a little snack shack. A short girl, with a book in one hand, waved to them from inside and came running to the rickshaw. She was about to hug his brother, Saanj, but hesistated. She asked instead, 'Bhai, kaisa hai tu? Patla ho gaya hai. Aman bhaiya sab kaise hain?'

He looked puzzled. He stared into nowhere for a moment and suddenly jerked his head and screamed, 'AAJU, AAAAAHH! Aaju ko bulao!!' He screamed with pain as he held his forehead with both hands! Anup and his mother held him tightly.

Rani started crying in despair. 'Aaju mar gayi hai, bhai!! Bhool ja usko!!'

Anup and maa kept holding him. Saanj’s screams slowed minutes later. He sat down teary eyed. Saanj's mother asked Anup to invite Karim chacha.

After a while, Saanj was lying on the bench behind the shack while Rani helped their mother in preparing lunch.

They prepared rice and baigan bhaaja, Saanj's favourite. Rani went behind the shack to call her brother, but he wasn't there. She screamed to her mother, 'M-Maa, bhai kahin chala gaya hai!' She instantly ran towards the two ends of the street and returned. There was no sign of him. She felt guilty of herself about not being careful. Rani then ran up to Anup bhaiya's place to inform him about Saanj’s absence. Anup, without second thought, went on a search and suggested Rani to go back to the shack.

After about an hour or so, Anup returned with Saanj in the rickshaw. Saanj got down and straightaway went inside the shack and started eating the rice and bhaaja kept on the table.

'Wo bus stand me baitha tha. Muje pehchanne se bhi inkaar kar raha tha.' said Anup in a low tone. 'Karim chacha?' asked Rani. 'Aayenge raat tak... clinic band karke.' said he, dissapointed.

Rani went to Saanj and asked, 'Bhai, chess khelega?'

Saanj replied, ' No.. I will win you.'

Rani laughed, 'Haha! Bhai galat bolta hai. I will win over you bol.'

Saanj tried to smile. 'Dukaan... Open when close when?'

Raani said, 'nine ko open, nine ko close.'

'You are in five class?' Asked Saanj.

'Six' she corrected.

She corrected him with the same answer fourth time that year.

'Are ek chai milegi?' They heard from a distance. It was Karim chacha.

'Karim chacha! Aao baitho. Laati hu chai, in two minutes!' Raani ran towards the kettle.

'Saanj beta, welcome back home.' Chacha said.

Saanj starting feeling uncomfortable again. He jerked his head again, this time vigorously.

He screamed, 'AAJU KO NAHI MARA MAINE! AAJU ZINDA HAI. AAJU KO BULAO!'

He was shivering and shouting. Chacha held his hand tightly and gave him an injection. Saanj slowly went in a trance, unconscious state. Rani and his mother watched from a distance.

The time Saanj was up, Karim chacha was sitting beside him, writing something in his diary. There was nobody else around.

'Aman taught you English?' Asked chacha.

'Yes. Aman thinks i am good.'

'Aaju. She is dead. Do you accept?' Chacha asked.

Saanj was quite.

'Do you accept?' he asked again, trying to push his feelings.

'Your question hurt me.' Saanj said, closing his eyes.

'It is good that you are feeling it, you have to feel Saanj. Let it out. You will feel good.'

'Chacha, I know I need medicine.'

'I will help you with it. Hindi me baat karen?'

'Haan.' Saanj said.

A few days later, Anup and Saanj went to their junior school to meet their teachers. Saanj was an obidient and curious child back then. He always wanted to learn speaking english. But due to their low financial status and problems with father, he could not complete his schooling. He wished to see his mother and sister happy... always.

'Did they keep you in very bad condition?' asked Mishra sir.

'No sir. I learned to live there.' Saanj replied.

'We are sorry to say that you, being accounted as a murderer, we cannot file your name on our Alumni list.'

'It is fine sir.' his eyes were looking downwards.

'Are you comfortable now? Do you feel OK?'

'Yes. I need little time.'

'Ofcourse, you will have it. I am sorry about Aaju. She was one of my favorite students, just like you.'

'She was my favorite too sir.'

'Do you feel, ummm... Aaju changed you?' asked sir in a horse tone.

'No. Something else did.'

'What is it? ' sir asked with raised eyebrows.

'Alzheimer did, Sir.'