Priya made sure that Raj was taken good care of. His food, drink, medicines and other services were offered to him on time. She was well aware that she has been taking extra care of him. But, she couldn't help it and honestly, she loved her job now, than ever.
Later that evening, she saw Raj talking with someone, who was seated by his side and his manager was standing next to him. She entered the room and carried out her routine checks.
“How is he now?”, asked that person. He was a bit elderly and must be in his late fifties. He was bald with a dark complexion. He was wearing glasses and looked lean. Priya sensed a bit of resemblance between Raj and this man.
Instead of answering his question, she immediately questioned, ”may I ask you who you are?”
“I am his father”, replied the man politely.
“Oh! Don't you worry about him. He is really recovering well. Soon, he will get back to normal. He might need to stay for some more days just to make sure that his fractures heal pretty well and that he is out of danger to carry on with his normal duties, after he is discharged”, replied Priya humbly.
Raj’s father smiled at her and nodded as an acknowledgement.
Later that night, she brought dinner for Raj. She saw him talking with his dad and they both were laughing. His manager wasn't there. It is hard to see a rapport between a son and a father. She had seen and heard a lot about son-father relationship. Though, a son and a father love each other the most, they tend to stay apart as opposite poles. She had heard of stories where every little conversation ends up in a quarrel. This love and fight controversy is always a mystery, but lovely. But, for the first time she has been witnessing something incredible. Raj doesn't seem to stop talking and his dad doesn't seem to stop laughing.
“Excuse me”, she interrupted, “I have got dinner for him”, said Priya to Raj's dad and continued, “By the way where is his mother?”
After a brief pause, “She is no more”, replied his father and continued, “had she been here, she wouldn't have let this happen to my son”
Priya felt sorry.
“Sorry I didn't mean to”, said Priya.
“It doesn't matter”, replied his father and left the room.
She continued with her duty and started to feed him the plain porridge. She was feeling sorry for them both. She wasn't smiling.
“You ok?”, asked Raj.
“Yes”, replied Priya hesitantly.
“Any problem? You look upset”
“I am sorry, I shouldn't have spoken about your mother. I made you both upset”
“Don't be sorry, you didn't upset my dad or me. My mom is long gone and we are very much used to this vacuum that she had left behind”
“But, did I spoil your evening? Your father was smiling and I spoiled his mood”
“No no, you did not. He was tired of long journey from our native town. The floods had caused quite a good damage in our place. And I am here in the hospital. So he was feeling a bit low. I was just trying to cheer him up. After a good rest, he will be alright tomorrow”, consoled Raj and smiled at her.
His words and especially his smile made her feel better. She was wondering as if where he has been hiding this lovely smile all these days.
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