‘He may not survive long. It would be too difficult for you alone to carry his body later from Mumbai to your town.’ Upon asking, the Doctor told the plain truth to the woman who already understood through her stay in Tata Cancer Hospital since last month that her husband’s cancer was not curable. She still wanted to make sure he received every treatment which is available, before giving up. She was with tears in her eyes but a firm expression as she walked walking down the corridor to the stairs to the ward; the same corridor that she walked through and the same stairs she went up and down during the last month, carrying tea from a vendor downstairs and washing dishes to make some money for her husband’s treatment. He was suffering from laryngeal cancer. She came to her husband and he knew by looking at her what the doctor might have said. He consoled her,’ Vijaya I am proud of you. It is no small thing for a small town girl to have come to Mumbai and sustain like this. I guess I am ready to go. You also be ready to let go. Since we have children to take care of. Let’s go back.’

She didn’t say a word, completed all the paperwork, got her husband discharged and they were heading towards the station. But where they arrived was actually elsewhere. The man asked where they were. She held his hand, brought him near a counter saying, Mumbai Darshan by helicopter for 4 Rs.( have a look at Mumbai through helicopter ). It was 1970’s. She said ,’ you always say that you want to get a ride in a helicopter. This is least I can do for you.’

‘You have done more than enough. ‘He said with a heavy voice. Both of them took the ride and came back home. He died 3 months later.
She took over family and raised three children. One of them is my father. She was my grandmother. She inspired me and made sure I became a doctor. Although she is not with us anymore, her stories still inspire us. I felt like sharing one of those.

– Submitted By Prashant Chaudhari