innovate-issue-005

You know, how much I regret those days. I was so busy in making ends meet that I didn’t notice thatRizu’s health was deteriorating day by day.He couldn’t complain about the pain in his joints, he couldn’t complain about having a headache andhe couldn’t complain of having sore throat. He just sat there, near the window on the bed, sometimesdrawing or sometimes just staring at the void. He stopped making noises altogether.We thought it was something to do with the fact that his cousins didn’t include him in their littlegames. But he seemed so uninterested in everything. When his cousins came to play, he seemed soaloof of them. This concerned Urshula a little. She thought that it is something to do with hisdisability. He was not feeling connected with his cousins.We consoled each other hoping that it was just a phase and it would pass away soon.It was approximately four weeks after that incident that when I came back home, I found Rizu burningin fever. He was crying and his eyes were red.“Urshula what happened?” I said.“High fever since morning. Temperature is not coming down.”I touched his forehead. It was burning with fever. The wet cloth over his head was not helping at all.“We have to take him to the hospital. Wait, I am a calling Tonga.” I said, as I rushed outside to get aone.I remember that it was very cold that day. A dense mist had settled down on the road like a blanket.The road was deserted; there was not a single sign of life. My heart was thumping hard against my ribcage as my feet dragged me to the end of the cul-de-sac in search of a tonga that will take my Rizu tothe hospital.I was relieved to see a solitary Tonga, and its old driver sleeping peacefully near it.“Kaka, please take us to the hospital, I will pay you 5 Anna.” I screamed at the top of my voice.The old driver stirred into life and looked at me like I was from a different planet.“No, I won’t go. It is very cold.”“Please. My son is very ill; I have to take him to the hospital.”“10 Anna nebo!” (I will take 10 Anna).“Okay!! Please make it fast.”The Tonga pulled outside our house, I could hear Urshula crying from inside. I rushed, and the sightnearly made me faint. My knees gave under my weight and my hands searched for a support.Rizu’s mouth was foaming. He had stopped crying but his mouth was foaming. His pupils’ had dilatedand his body was cold as a stone. He was making a gurgling noise from his mouth.He had rabbis. It dawned to me then. All the things that happened since last four weeks were suddenlymaking sense to me.