The Malhotras, Episode 2
Sulochana’s health deteriorated. The doctors were helpless. Arun told his dad Sukumar, ‘I think we will have to shift mom to the hospital. She needs intensive care.’ Worried and exhausted, Sukumar said, ‘ You know better Arun. If that is what you think we must do, then let us do it.’ Just then Maya knocked at the door. Clad in a purple chiffon saree, covering every part of her body except her beautiful hands, Maya came to the room holding a tray of tea and some snacks. She placed the tray on the round table in the huge room and said, ‘ Papa, you haven’t had anything since last night. Please have your breakfast.’ She looked at Arun with concern and said in a soft voice, ‘ If Maa has to go to the hospital, don’t worry. I will be with her.’ Sukumar patted Maya’s head softly and said, ‘ We are blessed to have a daughter in law like you.’ Maya adjusted the end of her saree on her head. Her gold bangles jingled. She then said, ‘ I will go and see if Maa needs something. Let me know if you are planning to shift her to the hospital. I will pack my bags along with her bags.’ Arun nodded and said, ‘Thank you Maya.’ Maya smiled back at Arun and said, ‘It is my duty.’ As she left the room, she saw Supriya coming. Maya smiled at Supriya and said, ‘ I will get tea for you. Arun is with Papa and Maa is in the adjacent room.’ Supriya nodded and said, ‘I don’t need tea now Maya. I believe Aunty will have to be shifted to the hospital. Did Arun say anything?’ With her silky voice reflecting concern, Maya replied, ‘Yes, Arun said so. I will also come with her. I can’t leave her alone.’ Supriya was touched by Maya’s gesture. Supriya said, ‘Aunty was so finicky about getting the right bride for Arun.’ Supriya smiled and the smile reflected a hurt which had wounded her earlier. She then continued, ‘You know Maya, if Aunty would have agreed, I and Arun would have been married. Of Course it would have been an arranged marriage because Arun never had any feelings for me, but then, at that point, he never had feelings for any other girl as well.’ Supriya then heaved a sigh and realised that she shouldn’t be saying all these to Maya. After all Maya was Arun’s wife. Maya listened to Supriya quietly. Supriya then changed the topic and said, ‘ Nevertheless, I am very happy for Arun. He is blessed with an angel of a wife like you, who loves him so much.’ Maya smiled, held Supriya’s hand and said, ‘ Love is beautiful. We can do anything for love.’ Supriya smiled back at Maya and said, ‘ Let me meet Aunty first.’
Supriya went to meet Sulochana. Sulochana looked pale. The moment she saw Supriya, she wanted to sit up and tell her something. Supriya went ahead, gently laid Sulochana back on the bed and said, ‘Aunty, don’t get up. You need rest. We will take you the hospital tomorrow.’ Sulochana tried to scream but it seemed she lost her voice. Sulochana moved her head left to right. Supriya said, ‘I understand Aunty you don’t want to go to the hospital, but it’s necessary for you to feel better soon. Moreover we are moving you to Arun’s hospital. Maya will be there and I will be there too. Sulochana grabbed Supriya’s hand as if she wanted to tell Supriya something. Supriya went closer to Sulochana and said, ‘Yes aunty, is there something you want to tell me.’ Sulochana said, ‘Mmmaaaa’. Supriya said, ‘You want me to call Maya?’ Sulochana grabbed Supriya’s hand tightly and said in a weak voice, ‘Nnnnooo’. Before Sulochana could say anything, Maya came. Sulochana shivered. With a warm smile intact on her face, Maya said, ‘It’s time to give maa a bath. I will serve her lunch after that. Arun will then take us to the hospital.’ Supriya became emotional when she saw how nicely Maya took care of Sulochana.
Sulochana was shifted to the hospital. She was given a comfortable private room. Maya stayed with her. With Maya around her, Sulochana was always petrified. She became weaker and weaker despite all the treatments. Her hemoglobin level dropped significantly.
Meanwhile at the Malhotra mansion, Rasika was very happy. After Sulochana left, Rasika snatched the captainship of the home. Kasturi was still green with envy. Sukumar, the head of the family, gave more attention to Rasika’s decisions than Kasturi’s. Kasturi hated that. She realised she had to inform all that is happening in the house to Sulochana. If Sulochana knew that these are the things happening at the Malhotra household, she will try her best to get better soon by dint of her will power and come home soon.
Kasturi could not go and meet Sulochana alone during the day because Arun was there in the hospital. Maya used to come back home during the day, finish all the chores and go back to the hospital at night. Kasturi thought, ‘Maya is dumb. I will go meet Sulochana at night after Arun comes home. I can tell her what’s going on. I will shoo away Maya for sometime while I talk to Sulochana.’ Thinking so, at around 10:00 pm, Kasturi went to meet Sulochana. At the reception, the receptionist, initially, did not allow Kasturi to meet Sulochana because of the weird timings. However Kasturi told the receptionist, ‘I am doctor Arun’s aunty. His mom is my sister in law. I am very busy and I don’t get time to meet her during the day. I will just see her for 15 minutes and come back. If she is sleeping, I won’t bug her.’ The receptionist said, ‘Okay Ma,am. Can I see some identity proof of yours just to confirm your relation with Sulochana Ma’am?’ The receptionist verified all the details and allowed Kasturi to go to Sulochana’s room. The entire hospital was quiet. Kasturi reached room number 606. The door was slightly open. She gently opened the door. After opening the door, she saw a sight. She froze there. She wanted to scream but she covered her mouth tightly and without making a noise, she tried walking away fast. The elevator came just on time. The door opened. Supriya was in the elevator. She was doing her regular rounds as she was a visiting doctor there. She was surprised to see Kasturi. She said warmly, ‘Aunty, you are here at this time? Did you meet Sulochana Aunty?’ Kasturi was shivering. Supriya was confused. She asked, ‘Are you okay Aunty? Did you meet Sulochana Aunty?’ Kasturi tried to act normal. With her voice still trembling, she said, ‘Nnno. She was sleeping. I will come tomorrow. Bye now.’ Saying that she got out of the elevator and rushed home. Supriya stood there wondering what happened to Kasturi. She then sat with the receptionist, had a cup of tea with her and then went to the doctor’s room. Some other doctors were there too. In between she went to see Sulochana. She was sleeping. Maya was there in the adjacent bed, waking up now and then to see Sulochana. Supriya was happy to see Maya offering selfless service to Sulochana.
Supriya was about to leave for home next morning when her phone rang. Sleepy to the core, she picked it up. It was from Arun. Supriya froze when she heard what Arun said. Kasturi was found dead in her room at the Malhotra Mansion. Her husband Sujay, found her dead when he woke up.
