Basu and Amit are father and son, respectably. From early childhood, Amit was brought up was very harsh. Although the son was not restrained to home, his upbringing was very rigidly controlled. However, there was no lack of affection for the son. It was his father’s temperament. As the head of the household, Basu’s temperament was the same for all including his daughter. He displayed the same temperament towards his wife as well. He was working in a manufacturing plant as a supervisor.

By the time Amit was at the age of completing high school, Basu’s ill temperament and treatment towards the son continued unabated. Amit was mature and independent-minded. He was not able to tolerate his father’s treatment anymore. One day at midnight he fled home.

About one hundred and fifty miles away from home, it was easy for him to secure a job as a factory worker in an industrial complex. He remained hidden from his family for close to a year. His father combed the neighboring areas, but nothing turned out.

His supervisor was impressed with his work. After years of hard work, he got an invitation – his supervisor invited him for lunch in a restaurant.

This kind of relationship continued for a while. One day the supervisor told, “I would like you to come to our house to meet my family.”

“I would love to meet your family.” He replied.

A young lady came out with a plateful of snacks. The supervisor introduced, “Here is my daughter Chaya.” Amit jumped from chair and proceeded to greet her, “Namaste, Ms. Chaya.” Chaya returned the greetings.

Amit’s supervisor had a single-story house with a nice roof.

As he became very friendly with the supervisor, he was encouraged to go to the roof and enjoy the surrounding view. As he liked the roof so much, Chaya started to serve him snacks on the roof. In addition to snack, Amit also got to know Chaya fairly intimately.

It did not take too long to like each other at a very intimate level.

It is Amit’s nature to be straightforward and complete any work at the earliest possible opportunity. He did not hesitate to propose Chaya. She did not leave, but remained silent. As the saying goes, “Silence is an indication of Consent.”

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Amit’s mother gladly accepted Chaya as her daughter-in-law. But his father remained indifferent.

Twenty years passed. Amit, Chaya and their son and daughter settled in their newly built home close to Amit’s parent’s home.
Life was moving smoothly until COVID virus’s onslaught started. Amit was a very helpful person. He used to go around his immediate neighborhood, used to get engaged in conversation with people of almost all ages and visit their homes. The virus did not spare anyone including Amit. The result was devastating. Not only he was affected but his wife Chaya was also affected. As a consequence, they both were undergoing treatment simultaneously.

The quality of treatment was inadequate compared to the complexity of the disease. For a lack of adequate space in the hospitals, they were treated in separate hospitals. Both of them got concerned for each other. But the communication channel was not the best. Their son Debashis was living close to them. He was able to visit them regularly. But their daughter Anushua was living abroad along with her husband. She was not able to visit them frequently. So she was always in contact with Debashis.

Amit and Chaya’s health condition was not going well. They were both transferred to oxygen chambers as they were not able to breathe by themselves.

Debashis used to update his sister Anushua about their parents’ health condition. Without hesitation, she rushed to India.

She was utterly dismayed; not fortunate enough to see her parents’ mortal bodies for the last time and perform last rites.

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