It was dusk. Doctor Chadda was getting ready for his regular golf session. His motorcar was at the gate of his dispensary. Just then, two men were seen carrying a palanquin on their shoulders, coming to his dispensary. The palanquin stopped in front of dispensary gate. Behind it stood an old man with a stick in his right hand. He approached steadily, peeping through the gate. He didn’t utter a single word to the doctor, and he seemed unable to do so.
Doctor Chaddha uttered in a thundering voice, “Who’s there? What do you want?”
The old man, with his hands folded, said, “Hujoor! I’m a very poor man. My son, for days…”
Doctor Sahib lit his cigar and said, “Come tomorrow morning. I don’t see patients at this time.”
The old man bent on his knee and said, “Hujoor! My child hasn’t opened his eyes for the last four days. He will die.”
Doctor Chaddha turned his eyes to his wrist. Ten minutes were left until his golf session.
Taking down his golf club from a hook, he said, “It’s my time to play golf. I’ll see your child tomorrow morning. I promise.”
The old man took off his turban at the door and said, “Hujoor! Show mercy. You’re my only hope that can bring life to my child. Only you can save my child’s life. Of my seven children, he’s the only one still alive. We cannot afford to lose him.”
Mr. Chaddha was very well aware of these common people. Very often this kind of scene
took place at his dispensary. After all, how could he give his precious time to an old villager? In the midst of his busy schedule, this was the only time when he could enjoy his leisure. Ignoring the old man completely, Mr. Chaddha got into his car. It drove away, leaving the old man behind as the doctor went on to the golf course.
The old man stood there like a statue. He wondered if Doctor Sahib’s heart would melt and he would decide to turn around, but this didn’t happen. The car vanished out of sight, and then the old man returned to his home, along with his child.
The old man did not understand this world. A world without mercy, sympathy, and love. He belonged to those who always rose to help others. And yet he saw there were men, who for their leisurely pleasure, could cast a life aside.
On that same day, the seven-year- old child of the old man passed away, leaving an abject hopelessness to the old couple. The vacancy caused in their life by the death of that seven-year-old could never be filled, so there was a dreadful, fierce vacancy in their lives.
***
Palanquin – A covered litter for one passenger
Hujoor – Majesty
Sahib – A polite title or form of address for a man