Girl

-Vellore Ve. Ramkumar

Since the day he admitted his wife in this hospital, Kathiravan has been watching a man in the next ward struggling between life and death. His wife and two daughters were not only making prayers but also trying their best to help him!

He asked the woman. ‘What happened to your husband? Is there no male member in your family?’

‘Because of excessive drinking, he has lost both the kidneys! I’ve two sons but they’re living separately with their wives. One son is abroad. The other one is also a drunk like his father! Now these girls are with me, sharing all my troubles! If the father dies, noboy will come to see!’

Kathiravan consoled her. Meanwhile the crying of the girls was heard! When they went in to see, he had breathed his last!

At that moment, a nurse came in search of him and said his wife had given birth to a girl-baby.

Kathirava felt troubled! Already there was a girl. Now another girl! He felt another load has been placed upon him! He didn’t like even to see the baby. He got up to go out. He passed through the ward where the mother and the daughters were wailing. There was sincere love and mourning in their wailing. What the mother said about her daughter was echoing in his ears! He turned and walked towards the ward where his wife was lying with the new born baby by her side!