I still remember the way she entered my cabin for the first time. She reminded me of the plant 'Touch me not'.Maybe 25 or 30 years ago, I was a young postgraduate then with fresh bubbling knowledge, bursting at the seams and was eager to help the needy ones.
So fragile was she, that even a single utterance as if was enough to send her down into the land of silence. She looked at me only once, with her large empathetic eyes almost having a line of tear at the edges, but did not linger, immediately turned her gaze down as if it belonged there. Her parents seemed to be from interiors of western Maharashtra, clearly apparent from their attire but mostly the diction. Mother in her nine-yard Ilkal sari looked much older to have a daughter of 14 or maybe 15. The red vermilion horizontal line on her forehead was a telltale sign of her origins. Father too was not less than in his 60s and wore white long shirt and pyjamas. They probably sensed my question so started on their own, mother ventured first,
'She was born to us after 15 years of marriage. We had tried everything from umpteen number of doctors to 'N' number of tests. We practically did everything. No God was left without offering. Not a single pilgrim was spared. But she took her time and so ....' she trailed off. [ The difference in the ages, I concurred. ].
'But her entry into our home was very auspicious. Within a year or so two sons followed her, twins, and then the prosperity came in bounds!' It was the father's turn to speak.
'What's the problem with her, why are you here?'
'Such a good child, so far, what has happened to her God knows, now she is lagging in schools, grossly. Has become extremely lazy, no concentration at all and shakes even while sitting idle.'
Mother intervened,' Same is with the household work. Absolutely clumsy in the kitchen. Can not even hold the utensils properly, drops everything, every now and then. Has Become very callous lately!'
'Takes aeons to answer or utter anything. Speech, if you ask me is stupid. '
There was, as if a race among-st them, to, in a way, deride her. I could not understand their ridicule nor latent apathy. 1st born, auspicious child, but the way they spoke about her, it seemed otherwise.
I examined her thoroughly and found her to be having cerebellar, small brain deficit. On keener exam, I became sure that something was wrong with her balance, speech eyes and coordinations, all the signs of a cerebellar deficit.
In short, I explained to them what I felt and said,
'I can not say anything for sure now, till the time, we do not investigate her further.....'
Father intervened,' Like ?'
'CT scan of the head.[ MRI was not available in Mumbai then and CT facility too, was available at one or two places only.]
'Is it expensive ?'
'Yes'
'Then we can't afford it. '
'But we have to get it done to come to some conclusion, at least.'
They paused for a while, father then asked as if negotiating,
'Can something with any concession be arranged?'
I used my goodwill and got it done at a minimal cost. The news was worse than expected. She was developing a fast-growing tumour in the posterior compartment, where the small brain is situated. Unless and until operated very fast, her life was in danger as it was going to increase pressure in the posterior compartment and press her vital centres. So decompression at the earliest was a must. I explained the emergency in most simple but urgent words, but I felt it went well over their heads. Maybe because of their background but why did I have the inkling that it was otherwise?
The name Tata itself sent them in profound recoil. It was understandable but the reason that they gave sent me in the shock.
'Suggest someplace nearer the home. From Kurla, Parel is too far !'
'You find Kurla far from Parel? People for their near and dear ones, come from much farther, even from up India and Tata is best for such cases...' I practically was pleading. Probably urgency in my voice irked them, father the most, so, maybe, he said abruptly,
'No Doctor, henceforth we do not require your consultation as well as your help, we'll manage.'
That was the last discussion. I did not know where did they take her thereafter but got to know that Father was extremely well off and ran the transport business and owned 15 trucks!
Kept on getting the news from the same source that she was given Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Ayurved too was tried but was never taken to a neurosurgeon in spite of my umpteen suggestions and in the end requests. I just wanted them to give her a chance, a chance to live!
Within a few months, the child met with her destiny and I could not prevent it!
Was she not given a chance only because she was a daughter, a girl child?
'She was born to us after 15 years of marriage. We had tried everything from umpteen number of doctors to 'N' number of tests. We practically did everything. No God was left without offering. Not a single pilgrim was spared. But she took her time and so ....' she trailed off. [ The difference in the ages, I concurred. ].
'But her entry into our home was very auspicious. Within a year or so two sons followed her, twins, and then the prosperity came in bounds!' It was the father's turn to speak.
'What's the problem with her, why are you here?'
'Such a good child, so far, what has happened to her God knows, now she is lagging in schools, grossly. Has become extremely lazy, no concentration at all and shakes even while sitting idle.'
Mother intervened,' Same is with the household work. Absolutely clumsy in the kitchen. Can not even hold the utensils properly, drops everything, every now and then. Has Become very callous lately!'
'Takes aeons to answer or utter anything. Speech, if you ask me is stupid. '
There was, as if a race among-st them, to, in a way, deride her. I could not understand their ridicule nor latent apathy. 1st born, auspicious child, but the way they spoke about her, it seemed otherwise.
I examined her thoroughly and found her to be having cerebellar, small brain deficit. On keener exam, I became sure that something was wrong with her balance, speech eyes and coordinations, all the signs of a cerebellar deficit.
In short, I explained to them what I felt and said,
'I can not say anything for sure now, till the time, we do not investigate her further.....'
Father intervened,' Like ?'
'CT scan of the head.[ MRI was not available in Mumbai then and CT facility too, was available at one or two places only.]
'Is it expensive ?'
'Yes'
'Then we can't afford it. '
'But we have to get it done to come to some conclusion, at least.'
They paused for a while, father then asked as if negotiating,
'Can something with any concession be arranged?'
I used my goodwill and got it done at a minimal cost. The news was worse than expected. She was developing a fast-growing tumour in the posterior compartment, where the small brain is situated. Unless and until operated very fast, her life was in danger as it was going to increase pressure in the posterior compartment and press her vital centres. So decompression at the earliest was a must. I explained the emergency in most simple but urgent words, but I felt it went well over their heads. Maybe because of their background but why did I have the inkling that it was otherwise?
The name Tata itself sent them in profound recoil. It was understandable but the reason that they gave sent me in the shock.
'Suggest someplace nearer the home. From Kurla, Parel is too far !'
'You find Kurla far from Parel? People for their near and dear ones, come from much farther, even from up India and Tata is best for such cases...' I practically was pleading. Probably urgency in my voice irked them, father the most, so, maybe, he said abruptly,
'No Doctor, henceforth we do not require your consultation as well as your help, we'll manage.'
That was the last discussion. I did not know where did they take her thereafter but got to know that Father was extremely well off and ran the transport business and owned 15 trucks!
Kept on getting the news from the same source that she was given Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Ayurved too was tried but was never taken to a neurosurgeon in spite of my umpteen suggestions and in the end requests. I just wanted them to give her a chance, a chance to live!
Within a few months, the child met with her destiny and I could not prevent it!
Was she not given a chance only because she was a daughter, a girl child?
It's a true story. I felt, though being moneyed father, he did not try enough to save his daughter.Coming from strong patriarchal society he in most probable scenario neglected her, being a girl child. Had it been a son, his reaction might have been different, I strongly felt then, still feel even now!
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