The Wretched Day-9

But she was so calm, listened to me patiently and told that she felt sorry for me. "Ma'am, could you manage if I avail leave tomorrow?",I blurted out abruptly without thinking of any better way to put it forth, more ceremoniously. "We shall see to it...ummm...can.. rope in someone else in case of emergencies or even put off your works until the next day", she said magnanimously. But she was not certain that she could manage. 

So I added, "It's not sure that I'll avail leave, ma'am.. you know in case.. " I was in search of better and less ominous words to complete the sentence, desperately. "Oh that's totally fine.  Drop me a message or call me, if you are availing leave and take care", she ended with a supportive tone sensing my unease.

"Ooof... finally!!!", I felt relieved that I need not worry about the next day. But it gave birth to the main discomfort— my grandma's momories. Even by then I didn't have a bit of doubt that something would happen to her. She had been sick, she had been hospitalised and had undergone rigorous surgeries and stuff but that day it was different. 

People went nuts. They blabbed as they wished. But one thing was common in all their senseless cribbing— it was my grandma's fondness for me. They kept chanting that she wanted to meet me ONE LAST TIME before leaving the world. 

This "ONE LAST TIME" addled me. It made me think as ominously as they did. I felt fatigued and couldn't help glancing my mom. 

When I did, I noticed the droplets of tears trickling down her cheeks. She was despondent. I was startled to see the way she looked. I could have attempted to console her or at least asked her the reason but I chose to leave her alone undisturbed. 

Within what seemed two minutes, the same irritating whistle was blown; my mother was shaken to reality. It was the stop where we were supposed to get down. Luckily my grandma's house was just a stone's throw away from the stop. 

When we got down, we couldn't help but craned to see if there were any signs of mishap.The village seemed abnormally doomy that night. My grandma's huge pyol was left empty saved for an old nanny. With a relief we strode past without any delay. 

My mom walked so fast that I had to run to keep in pace. As she reached the entrance, she just threw the slippers and entered. I trailed her, in a confused spree. When we entered, I noticed that it was half past nine and...

(To be continued....)