Anand refuses to eat

CHAPTER 22

Anand refuses to eat

Anand was shifted to his house. Vimal and Rekha were standing near Anand.

Anand told his mother, “Mummy, please call the coach. I want to speak to him.

Vimal patted Anand’s head and said, “He is in Delhi for matters regarding your case.”

Anand said, “Mummy, I know that Uncle is trying his best to get me a chance to compete in the world championship.”

The cell rang. Vimal took the cell. “Ah! It is the coach.”

Anand looked at his father happily.

Vimal asked with excitement, “Hello, Any good news?”

Anand was excited and requested, “Pappa, please let me hear.”

Vimal kept the phone at Anand’s ear so that he can hear.

Not knowing that Anand was listening on the other side, Raghuram said sadly, “I tried my best to make them understand that chess was played with the mind. The boy’s mind is perfect. But they refused to reconsider the case.’

Anand was shocked. “Mummy.”

Rekha was shocked to hear Anand shout. She immediately took the cell from Anand and put it to her ear.

Thinking that Vimal was listening, Raghuram requested, “Please don’t tell Anand anything. He is too sensitive.”

Rekha said sadly, “He knows everything.”

Anand cried loudly. “I know that they will not take me. See my whole body is crippled. I will not survive any longer.”

Vimal was not able to bear it any more. He left the room.

Anand was feeling great pain all over his body. He cried, “Mummy, I can’t bear the pain. I want to die.”

Rekha was shocked to hear this. “What are you saying?”

Anand asked for a promise. “Please will you do one thing for me?”

Rekha was ready to do anything for Anand. “Yes, please tell me. I will do anything for you.”

Anand requested, “Please give me poison. I want to die.”

Rekha was shocked. “What are you saying? How can I give you poison? I love you my son. I want you to live.”

Anand was desperate. He said, “Mummy, understand my problem. I cannot bear the pain any more. And I don’t have anything to live for. My hands are gone, my legs are gone, and my whole body is crippled. What is the use of my living any longer? I know you all feel sad for me. But please try to understand.”

Rekha was shocked. “No Anand. Don’t talk like that. We all love you. I am sure that Raghuram will succeed in getting you to compete in the championship.””

Anand felt very dejected and said, “I heard him say that they have refused. Now I can’t even fulfil my wish to give you the world cup. I don’t want to live anymore.”

Rekha went to the statue of Jesus. “Oh God! Why are you giving us such a punishment? What wrong had we done?”

Rekha brought food for Anand. He was lying with his eyes closed. She thought that he was asleep. Not wanting to disturb him, she left quietly. She came in after half an hour. Seeing her, Anand again closed his eyes. Rekha caressed his head lovingly. He opened his eyes.

Rekha said, “I have brought curd rice for you. Eat a little.” She tried to put rice into Anand’s mouth.

But Anand shook his head. He said, “Mummy, I don’t want anything. I just want to die.”

Rekha tried to put food in his mouth. He pushed his face away. He cried.

Hearing the sound of Anand crying, Vimal came inside the room. “What happened, my son?”

Rekha said, “He is refusing to eat.”

Vimal sat near Anand and tried to convince him to eat. But Anand kept his mouth tight shut and refused to eat.

Anand’s friends come and tried to convince him to eat. But nobody was able to make him change his decision. Coach Raghuram talked to Anand on phone from Delhi. He said that he was trying his best to get Anand’s name back in the list for the world cup.

3 days passed. Anand had not eaten even a single morsel of food.

Rekha was desperate. On the third day, she phoned to coach Raghuram.

Rekha said desperately, “Anand has not eaten anything for 3 days. I am planning to go to the court with his case. I am going to ask them to either give him permission to compete in the world championship or allow mercy death.”

Raghuram was standing outside a minister’s office. “That’s a good idea. You apply to the High court. You go and meet lawyer Hanumantraya. He is a very famous lawyer. I am sure that he will be able to help us in this case. ”