Page 42 - Seniorstoday November 2023 Issue

injured and bleeding profusely due to the She could not but help wonder in that
deep gashes and worst, she could not get
up. Her arms and legs were excruciatingly
paining and she was just immobilised.
She cried out for help and a young couple
came forward to help her and take her to
the nearby Holy Cross Family hospital for
emergency admission and operation. The
hospital contacted her parents and Subha
and Satyam came rushing to be with her
and take care of all the formalities. Her
son was away at his campus, doing his
undergraduate programme and could not
be present at the hospital when she was
admitted.
Shailaja had suffered a severe fracture in
her right leg and left arm requiring surgery
and stitches to heal the deep wounds in
her forehead, chin and hips. She had to
stay in the hospital for a week and was also
advised that it will take a couple of months
for the fractures to fully heal and thereafter
will need physiotherapy to get back to
normal movements in her right leg and left
arm.
Shailaja rued her ill luck and wished
that she could turn the clock back and not
climbed the high steps. The enforced home-
bound long convalescence, dependence on
others and absence from office was getting
to her. It showed in her impatience and
outbursts while dealing with her parents or
on emergency work related calls with her
office team. Subha and Satyam, in spite of
their age and health, were her caring and
stoical support at home to see her through
the recovery phase.
During that phase, after a siesta, Shailaja
and Satyam were having a conversation.
Subha had been under the weather and
was resting. Shailaja was talking about her
fractured leg and arm and was wondering
how long it will take to get back to normal.
42
moment of her own weakness how her
mother was managing her life with just one
arm without ever complaining for decades
and asked her father about it. Satyam was
hesitating to say anything, but her gentle
persistence got him talking. When Shailaja
was four years old, Subha had gone to the
nursery school to fetch her home. On their
way back, at a signal crossing, Shailaja had
walked ahead a bit playfully on the zebra
crossing. In spite of the green signal, Subha
sensed a car speeding towards Shailaja.
In that spur of the moment, the protective
motherly instinct in Subha saw her leaping
forth and pushing Shailaja to the curb
on the other side. Unfortunately, while
Shailaja was saved, Subha fell after pushing
Shailaja to safety and her right hand came
under the wheels of the speeding car. The
diagnosis was that as a result of the damage
to the nerves, her right arm will lose its
movement and stay limp and unusable
forever. Luckily enough, amputation could
be avoided. Shailaja soaked in all that her
father recounted and was overwhelmed and
choked. Her mother had quite simply been
selfless and self-effacing all these years,
bringing up Shailaja lovingly and resolutely
in spite of the grave and damaging accident.
Subha had exhorted Satyam never to tell
Shailaja about the accident and just move
on with life.
As she was ruminating, Subha woke from
her rest and ambled across to join Satyam
and Shailaja for tea, sporting an endearing
smile as always and occupying her
favourite easy chair. Seeing her, Shailaja
just got off her chair and flung herself at her
mother to hug and kiss her and buried her
face in her welcoming lap. Subha had just
not birthed Shailaja, but made her life.
The child births a mother.