Chapter 35
Time elapsed and yet the haunting image of Manto pleading with me to spare two minutes of my time could not be erased from my mind. Manto's body had been taken to the hospital where she had been declared dead on arrival. I was in no condition to be by her side at the hospital. My guilty conscience kept nudging me for not sparing two minutes and hearing her out.
The strong aroma of caffeine did nothing to alert my brain, instead, it intensified the memories. I relived her last moments again and again. Bile rose to my throat and I knew I would throw it all out, even though I had not eaten at all.
Prashant was equally shaken. All the interns had huddled together, drawing support from each other. There were whispers about Manto's character and though it was all good, it was ironic that we shunned her goodness while she was alive and repented it when she was gone.
"Did she speak to any of you in her last few days?" I enquired.
All of them shook their head to indicate their response.
"She spoke to you in the mornings?" Bini asked.
"Yes, but not much. We just use to have breakfast together." I took a second to gulp down the lump. "And often she talked stuff which was so cryptic that I never paid attention and sometimes I kind of ignored it. I don't know if there was some meaning behind her words because I never looked for them. And from the last week, I have been coming in late with a change in my shifts. I hardly saw her. Until today."
"You met her?" Pooja asked shocked by this piece of news.
"Yes, just when I was leaving to cover the story. But I hardly managed a chance to talk, since I was in a hurry.
"I called her," Prashant spoke giving me a chance to compose myself.
Mansi was highly disturbed and was leaning on Mihir for support. Work had stalled for nearly about two hours. Manto's parents had been informed about the tragedy and they were rushing to meet her for the last time.
My parents would be worried about me too. I mentally made a note to call them often and stay in touch. Our minds lingered on Manto, none of us had the energy to work or concentrate on any other thing other than her horrifying death. None of us could be absolved from the guilt of not being with her or helping her in her fragile state.
Time elapsed and yet the haunting image of Manto pleading with me to spare two minutes of my time could not be erased from my mind. Manto's body had been taken to the hospital where she had been declared dead on arrival. I was in no condition to be by her side at the hospital. My guilty conscience kept nudging me for not sparing two minutes and hearing her out.
The strong aroma of caffeine did nothing to alert my brain, instead, it intensified the memories. I relived her last moments again and again. Bile rose to my throat and I knew I would throw it all out, even though I had not eaten at all.
Prashant was equally shaken. All the interns had huddled together, drawing support from each other. There were whispers about Manto's character and though it was all good, it was ironic that we shunned her goodness while she was alive and repented it when she was gone.
"Did she speak to any of you in her last few days?" I enquired.
All of them shook their head to indicate their response.
"She spoke to you in the mornings?" Bini asked.
"Yes, but not much. We just use to have breakfast together." I took a second to gulp down the lump. "And often she talked stuff which was so cryptic that I never paid attention and sometimes I kind of ignored it. I don't know if there was some meaning behind her words because I never looked for them. And from the last week, I have been coming in late with a change in my shifts. I hardly saw her. Until today."
"You met her?" Pooja asked shocked by this piece of news.
"Yes, just when I was leaving to cover the story. But I hardly managed a chance to talk, since I was in a hurry.
"I called her," Prashant spoke giving me a chance to compose myself.
Mansi was highly disturbed and was leaning on Mihir for support. Work had stalled for nearly about two hours. Manto's parents had been informed about the tragedy and they were rushing to meet her for the last time.
My parents would be worried about me too. I mentally made a note to call them often and stay in touch. Our minds lingered on Manto, none of us had the energy to work or concentrate on any other thing other than her horrifying death. None of us could be absolved from the guilt of not being with her or helping her in her fragile state.
