The shocking news

CHAPTER 21

The shocking news

Rekha was giving food to Anand with a spoon. Vimal was standing nearby holding a glass of water. News flashed on TV.

New reader announced, “All India Chess Academy has decided in today’s meeting to remove Anand’s name from the list of competitors for the world chess championship. This decision has been taken considering his health point of view. Instead of him, they have selected Mahesh Govia from Assam.”

Anand was shocked to hear this. His heart broke. He screamed loudly, “Mummy.”

Rekha came near him. “Take it easy, my son. Your health is more important than anything else.”

Crying, Anand said, “Mummy, chess is my life. It has kept me alive for so long. If I cannot compete, then, I don’t want to live any more.”

Rekha tried her best to console Anand. She said, “Raghuram has gone to Chennai. Let him come back. Then he will find out the real facts.”

But Anand refused to listen to her words. He said, “No, mummy, my name has been removed from the list because I am now totally crippled.”

He cried loudly. Rekha caressed his head and said, “Anand, don’t take the news so seriously. Let Raghuram Uncle come.”

Anand closed his eyes for a while. Then he opened them again and said, “Mummy, my body is full of pain. I cannot bear it.” He screamed loudly.

Rekha kept trying to make him calm down. “Listen to me, Anand. Don’t lose heart.”

But Anand was in great pain. He said, “Mummy, now I can feel the pain. I had forgotten the pain due to chess. Ah! My whole body is paining terribly.”

Rekha felt helpless. She did not know what to do. She got up. “Wait. I will call the doctor.”

Anand shook his head violently. “No. Mummy. He cannot do anything. It is because of chess that I have survived for so long. I wanted to give you the world championship trophy before dying. Now I cannot do it.”

Rekha looked up with folded hands. She pleaded to god, “Oh god! Please save my son.”

Just then, Dr. Shrikanth came into the room.

Anand cried, “Mummy, I want to die now. Take me home. Let me die in the house.”

Shrikanth caressed Anand’s head. Tears filled in his eyes. He wiped his eyes and said, “Though I am a doctor and you are a patient, I am so much attached to you.”

Anan cried adamantly, “Doctor, I don’t want to stay here any more. I might die at any time. I would like to die in my house.”

Rekha was shocked to her these words. She felt totally helpless. She pleaded with Anand. “Anand, my son, please don’t talk like that. I can’t bear it.”

Seeing that his mother was not agreeing with him, Anan tried requesting the doctor. He said, “Doctor, please tell mummy that this treatment is a waste. Anyway, I am going to die.”

Dr.Shrikanth knew that Anand was not going to agree to anything other than going home. So he said, “Yes it was true. This hospital and this treatment is a waste. We will do as you wish. I will discharge you tomorrow.”