On the day he was leaving for the U.S., his mother told him with teary eyes, “Shiraj, you are my only son. I am not fortunate to see you again before my death.”
She indeed was not fortunate. She was suffering from asthma – a disease that depletes people’s energy and strength and requires lifelong treatment due to the nature of the disease. There was no doctor or pharmacy in Shiraj’s neighborhood for the treatment of his mother’s disease. The nearest doctor and pharmacy were one and a half miles away from their house. So, Shiraj had to walk to the doctor to get medicine for his mother twice every week. In addition, he needed to help his mother with most household chores because she was not strong enough due to her disease.
In addition to other children (i.e. his other brothers and sisters), she had more liking for Shiraj than for others.
At the time Shiraj’s mother told him with teary eyes, “Shiraj do not forget your mother when you get settled in the States with your college and friends. Write letters at least once a week during the first year of your study. After that as often as your time allows.”
“Mom, please don’t worry. I will make sure that your other children will take care of the supply of your medicine.”
“Shiraj, I am not concerned for my medicine. I am worried for your health. You have decided to go away for advanced studies. I will not ask you to give up your future plan.”
But she continued to worry for Shiraj. As a result, her health continued to deteriorate. Her physician for asthma warned her, “If you do not stop worrying, you will not be able to see your son for too long.”
Just two weeks after Shiraj completed three semesters of his post-graduate study at the U.S. university, he received a telegram from his elder brother, “Mother’s condition is deteriorating. Her physician for Asthma is not able to control the growing trend of the disease. She is fighting with the disease and gradually getting weaker and weaker”. The physician could not suggest any alternative treatment or an alternative physician.
Shiraj frustrated with the physician, asked him, “Have you called any agency or anyone that could locate a better physician?”
“No, there is no better physician in the city. I have been working here for a long time. I have not seen one such better asthma expert than me.”
Shiraj did not take the assertion as believable. He did not stop looking for a reliable center for asthma treatment. He found one of the best asthma treatment centers on his doorstep in Rajasthan, India.
But it took Shiraj too long to find the treatment center. His mother’s disease progressed too far to slow its progression. It came to a point when she was almost not able to breathe.
The following morning Shiraj’s mother breathed her last breath.
The End