Anand has lost one hand too

CHAPTER 18

Anand has lost one hand too

Anand was in the operation theatre and Dr. Shrikanth was examining him with other doctors. Anand was lying unconscious.

Parents, coach, Anand’s friends and their parents, other people from the complex and principal were all waiting outside the OT.

Suddenly, Dr. Shrikanth came out of OT. All looked at him anxiously.

Anxiously, Rekha asked, “Sir, how is my son?”

Desperately, Shrikanth said, “He needs blood urgently otherwise he will not survive. I have sent the nurse to get it from our storage.”

The nurse came with sad news. She said, “Sir, A+ blood is out of stock.”

Everyone came forward to donate blood. Dr. Shrikanth was surprised and said, “Wait we need only A+ blood.”

Avinash extended his hand saying, “Sir, my blood is A+.”

Shrikanth looked at the small boy with doubt saying, “How do you know?”

Avinash was excited. He said, “We had blood test in our school.”

Dr.Shrikanth looked at Avinash with admiration. But he realized that Avinash was a small boy. He said, “But we cannot take your blood without the permission of your parents.”

Immediatly, Avinash’s mother came forward and said, “Sir, I am his mother. Please accept my son’s blood. We all want Anand to survive.”

Shrikanth looked at Avinash with admiration saying, “Good, come with me, my boy.”

Dr.Shrikanth took Avinash into the operation theatre and the nurses made arrangement for blood transfusion. Avinash gave blood to his best friend Anand happily. His only wish was that Anand must survive. Doctors gave treatment to Anand.

After some time, Shrikanth looked at the other doctors with relief and said, “Ah. Now he is alright by god’s grace. Please shift him to his room.”

All were waiting anxiously outside the operation theatre. Dr. Shrikanth came out of the OT. All looked at him anxiously. Shrikanth approached Rekha and said, “Rekha madam, by god’s grace, your son is now out of danger.”

Rekha held Shrikanth’s hands most gratefully and said, “Thank you, Sir.”

But desperately with heavy heart, Shrikanth said, “But I am very sorry to tell you that his whole body is now crippled. Only his right hand is movable.”

Rekha was shocked to hear this. Tears rolled down her face. She looked at Raghuram and said, “I cannot bear to hear this.”

Raghuram was sad on one side but with little hope he said, “Sir, I am happy to hear that at least he is still alive.”

Giving assurance, Shrikanth said, “He will regain consciousness in the morning. You can meet him then.”

When the sun rose next morning, nurse came out of the room in which Anand was kept. She approached Rekha and said, “Your son is now conscious. You may go in to see him.”

Rekha entered the room. Hearing the sound at the door, Anand looked towards the door. He saw his mother approaching him. She looked at his body and then at his face and felt very sad. She took his head on her lap. Anand kept staring at her. Rekha couldn’t bear it any more. Tears started coming out of her eyes. The tears fell on Anand’s face. Anand raised his right hand and wiped her tears. Rekha was shocked.

Consoling his mother, Anand said lovingly, “Mummy, don’t cry. I still have my right hand. I can still play chess.”

Rekha clutched his hand and cried loudly saying, “I am not worried about chess. But look at your body. What has happened to it?”

Looking at his mother, Anand said, “Don’t cry, mummy. You are everything to me. You are my hands and my legs. Please don’t cry.”

At that instant everyone entered the room.

Raghuram was full of admiration for the small boy. He said, “You are a wonder boy. I have to bow my head at your will power.”

Anand was full of excitement and high spirit. He said, “Uncle, let us play chess.”

Raghuram patted his head and said, “Yes. You can still play chess.”

Dr.Ravi was amazed. He looked at Raghuram and pointed to Anand. “Look at his spirits. He is really a wonder boy.”

From next day, the training continued for the National championship. Coach Raghuram played chess with Anand. Mother Rekha looked after the boy. Vimal came to see his son every day in the evening. He brought gifts and sat talking to him happily.

State Level Championship

CHAPTER 17

State Level Championship

The great day of the State Level Championship had at last arrived. Anand was very much excited. And so were his parents, coach, doctors and friends. All had come to the hospital to give best wishes. Anand was sitting in a wheelchair. Doctors gave bouquets to Anand.

Looking at Anand proudly, Raghuram said, “You are a wonder boy. I am surprised to see your will power. I know you will win the State level Championship.”

Giving a bouquet, Ravi said, “Take this bouquet on behalf of the hospital.”

Anand thanked Dr.Ravi. Ward boys helped Anand into the ambulance in wheelchair. Rekha and coach Raghuram also sat in the ambulance with Anand. Vimal did not climb into the ambulance since he had to go to office.

Looking proudly at his son, Vimal said, “Anand, you will definitely win the game. Don’t take any tension.”

Looking at his father with love, Anand said, “If you too come, it would be so nice.”

But Vimal had work at his office and so he shook his head looking at Anand sadly and said, “You know, I don’t get any leave from office.”

The ambulance door closed. Anand waved from the window. Vimal and Anand’s friends also waved at Anand.

The tournament had started. Rekha, Raghuram and others watched Anand playing with different competitors. Anand went on winning all the games. Raghuram kept giving advice. Anand won the final game too and became the State level junior chess champion.

Everyone was happy. Anand was now selected for the national level championship.

Trophy function was going on. The Governor had come to distribute the prizes. The auditorium was full of people. The Governor was calling the winners one by one and giving the prizes. General Secretary came to give speech.

General Secretary announced, “Anand has won the State Level Junior Championship. It gives us a great pleasure to give him the trophy. He was attacked by muscular disease just 20 days back. He came straight from the hospital to compete. We admire his great will power. Anand, please come on to the stage.”

Anand was brought on to the stage in a wheel chair. Everyone clapped. Raghuram himself was pushing the wheel chair. The Governor came near the wheel chair to give the trophy.

Anand looked at Raghuram with admiration. “It is all because of coach Raghuram uncle that I won the trophy. Please give the trophy to him.”

Raghuram patted Anand’s back kindly and said, “Anand, you have won because of your will power. Take the trophy.”

Anand extended his hands to take the trophy. All clapped. As he took the trophy from the Governor’s hands, Anand’s whole body started shaking. He fell down from the wheel chair. The trophy fell from his hands. Everyone was shocked. Raghuram phoned to the hospital. The ambulance arrived and Anand was taken to the hospital.

Psychological treatment

CHAPTER 16

Psychological treatment

All were sitting in Dr. Ravi’s room. Looking at Dr.Ravi, Shrikanth said, “Anand is in deep depression. He needs psychological treatment.”

All are shocked to hear this.

Dr.Ravi nodded and said, “Yes, only if we give him psychological treatment he will be ready to accept our treatment. If he continues with this state of mind, he will go into a coma. Then it will be difficult for us to get him out of it.”

Worried, Raghuram asked, “What shall we do now?”

With confidence, Ravi said, “I will call Dr. Pattabiram. He will cure the boy in just two sittings.”

He took his cell and punched a number. Holding the cell to his ear, Ravi said, “Good morning, Dr. Pattabiram. We have an urgent case. What time can you come?”

Talking into the cell, Pattabiram said, “I will come at 5pm”

On hearing this, Vimal slowly went out of the room dejectedly.

Vimal went straight to the bar. He sat down at the table and ordered a bottle of wine. He drank two pegs. He was in great depression.

Sadly looking at the wine, Vimal said, “Anand has lost both of his legs. It should not have happened to my son.”

He cried. Drank two more pegs. Again he cried, “I want to forget the pain.”

Then he ordered another bottle and poured the drink into his glass. He started to drink. Suddenly he saw the face of Anand in the drink in glass.

Anand’s figure in wine said, “Please, papa, don’t drink.”

Vimal looked at the wine in surprise. Again he saw the face of his son. He took the bottle and went out.

Vimal walked on the road with unsteady steps. Then he stopped and looked at the bottle in his hand. He said, “You are a total waste. You don’t have the strength to make me forget the pain. You have always been able to make me forget my pains but this time you have failed. You are not able to make me forget this pain.”

He threw away the bottle and walked away fully drunk. There was a church near by. Vimal went towards the church. He stood in front of the church looking at the statue of Jesus.

With folded hands, Vimal pleaded, “God, for the first time, I am praying to you. Pease save my son. I know that you can do it.”

Vimal entered the church and placed his head on the feet of Jesus. He cried loudly. “Please save my son. Take my legs but save him.”

Suddenly, Father came out of the church. He saw Vimal pleading in front of the statue of Jesus. Father understood everything. He went near Vimal and caressed his head kindly. He said, “You have come to the church for the first time. Jesus will save your son. Let us pray.”

Father sat down to pray.

At the hospital, Anand was lying under red light. Dr.Pattabiram was standing near him. He asked Anand to look at red light. He hypnotised Anand and started the treatment. He looked into Anand’s mind and understood what was causing the deep depression in him. He came to know the deep love the boy had for chess and the fear in the boy that he will not be able to play chess any more.

Meanwhile Rekha and Raghuram were waiting anxiously outside the room. Vimal too came to the hospital and waited with them. 

After sometime, Dr. Pattabiram came out of the room.

Pattabiram said, “Anand has fallen into deep depression. To bring him out of it, there is only one solution.”

Ravi asked, “What is the solution?”

Pattabiram explained, “After hypnotizing him, I went into the depth of his mind. Chess seems to be his life and breath. As soon as he comes out of the hypnotic state, we should make him see the environment of chess. That will make him come out of the depression.”

Hearing this made a new life shine in everybody’s eyes especially Rekha, Vimal and coach. Raghuram immediately phoned to his chess academy and told his men to make the required arrangements at the hospital.

Anand opened his eyes slowly. In front of him, he saw a huge photo of his favourite hero, Vishwanath Anand. A new life shone in his eyes. Happily, he looked around. He felt that he was in the chess academy. He looked at the chess board placed on the nearby table. Dr. Pattabiram observed all this. Anand looked at him. “Uncle.”

Pattabhiram came near Anand. “How are you my boy?”

Anand was excited. “Uncle, let us play chess.”

Laughing loudly and shaking his hand, Pattabiram asked, “Chess? Not with me. A champion like you should play with a champion only. Look who is there.”

Anand saw his parents and the coach standing at the door. He smiled with new spirit. His mother approached him. Seeing her, Anand felt very happy.

Happily, Anand said, “Mummy, I can play chess.”

Confidently looking at Anand, Pattabiram said, “You can compete in the tournament also.”

Rekha caressed Anand. Tears appeared in her eyes.

Looking at his mother lovingly, Anand asked, “Mummy, why are you crying? See my hands are fine. To play chess, I don’t need my legs anyway.”

Rekha hugged her son. Raghuram sat with Anand to play chess.

Days passed by with Anand getting treatment and chess coaching at the hospital. Rekha brought food for Anand and looked after all his needs as he was now handicapped. He had lost both his legs.

Raghuram brought biscuits and played chess with Anand.

Vimal came straight from office everyday to see his son and stayed with him till night. He no longer went to the bar. He had stopped drinking. He was now a changed man.

Anand loses his legs

CHAPTER15

Anand loses his legs

One nurse came out of Anand’s room. Rekha was sitting anxiously outside the Operation theatre. Nurse approached her and said, “Madam, your son is now conscious. You may go in to see him.”

Rekha looked around. She was looking for Raghuram who had gone to the toilet. But he had not come back yet. She went to the attendee who was standing nearby.

Pointing towards the toilets, Rekha said, “Mr.Raghu who was with me has gone to the toilet. As soon as he comes, please tell him that I have gone in.” Atendee nodded. Rekha entered the room.

Anand was lying on the bed. He looked up as Rekha entered the room. Rekha was full of sensation on seeing him. She went to him and put her hand on his head.

Sadly looking towards his legs, Anand cried, “Mummy, look at my legs. They are so heavy. What is wrong with them? Have I lost my legs?”

Rekha looked at his legs. They were covered with bandages.

Trying to convince him, Rekha said, “Don’t worry. Nothing will happen. Your legs will become alright soon.”

But Anand started crying. “No mummy, I know that I will never get my legs back. I have to go to the academy to play chess. I want my legs back.”

He cried loudly. Just then, Raghuram entered the room. Seeing him, Anand cried even more. Raghuram patted him and said, “Anand, be cool. Everything will be fine.”

Anand screamed. “No, Uncle. Look at my legs. They are so painful. I know I have lost my legs. I can’t play chess anymore. Please take me out of this hospital.”

Raghuram was shocked and sad to see Anand in such a condition. Patting his hand, Raghuram assured him saying, “Ok. Don’t worry. I will take you to the academy and keep you there. We will play chess. Ok.”

Hearing these reassuring words, Anand became calm but he was not sure. “I don’t know.”

Suddenly, Vimal entered the room. Raghuram and Rekha were consoling Anand. He was slowly calming down. Seeing Anand, Vimal cried loudly. He went towards Anand and cried loudly, “Anand, what happened to you? You have lost your legs.”

Hearing this, Anand started crying loudly. “Daddy, I have lost my legs.”

Anand was out of control. Hearing the sound of crying and shouting, doctors and nurses come inside the room.

Looking at Vimal, Shrikanth asked seriously, “What is this? Who is this man? He is disturbing the patient.”

As Srikanth went near Vimal, he got the stench of wine. Putting his hand on his nose, Dr. Shrikanth said, “Who are you? Why have you come here fully drunk so early in the morning?”

All became silent. Raghuram went near Dr.Shrikanth and said,

“This man is his father.”

Looking at Vimal, Shrikanth said, “Oh sorry. But the patient needs quiet and peace. All of you please go out.”

Crying loudly, Anand said, “Doctor, I want my legs back. I want to go home.”

Everyone started to leave. Seeing them go, Anand started screaming loudly. “Daddy, I am also coming with you. Please take me with you. I don’t want to stay here.”

With requesting tone, Shrikanth said, “All of you please go out. Nurse, give the boy an injection. Raghuram, you come to my room.”

Rekha, Raghuram and others went out of the room. Anand continued to cry loudly.