Madhu

It is two months. Madhu is two months - persona non grata - in terms of actual living. Was just a second. A flash that did it. I still find it hard to comprehend.

She is now conscious. I never thought that it would be worse than unconsciousness. Now her eyes are open and filled with anguish. She is 'awake' and knows - she is lifeless and helpless. One side of her brain is damaged. Irreparable they said. So one side of her body has no life.

Her eyes are eloquent. Fluid with pain. Long eyelashes. She was pretty, petite, and girlish. Now she is gaunt. Skin and bone. Ravaged.

I hate it. I have no answers about life at times like these. Who can answer the whys?
Least of all to her. Who has no future or hope. Certainly very little in this country, when one comes from the background she does - where one lives a hand to mouth existence most of the time.

At times like these even prayer falters and dries up on the lips. For prayer does not save everyone, or prevent suffering, or the onset of vegetablehood. It never has and never will. That is life in all its spectrum say some.

I for one could have done without one end of that spectrum. Especially when I see Madhu. Lying there - wordless, helplees, and now aware of it all.