Before the Last Drops - A Short Story

“I am really sorry sir - That was the last words that I heard from your mother before she died”. Said Prof. Kulkarni to his grand son Abhay. Prof. Kulkarni was recollecting his memories during the period of Abhay’s visit to India from Australia. After the retirement from IIM, Bangalore, Prof. Kulkarni was settled at Pune, his hometown. His wife Sheela left him fourteen years back. Since then he was eagerly waiting for the return of his grand son from Australia who is doing his MBA and PhD in Management Studies.

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Abhay was really fond of doing his research in Australia as his parents were settled there before they died in a suspicious incident. It was something unusual about the death of his parents – Ajay and Malini. Both of them were found in a critical condition at their house at Melbourne. They were attacked by some strangers. The motive behind the case is still unknown. It was not an attempt of robbery, as per the report of the Australian Police. They found nothing missing from the house.

Ajay was died while he was taking to the hospital. But Malini was fighting with her life. She was praying to God for giving her some time as she want to confess something to her father-in-law, Prof. Kulkarni.

It was really shocking news for Prof. Kulkarni, as it came just after demise of his spouse. Sheela’s death was just two months before and Prof. Kulkarni was really down with as he was feeling the loneliness of life. His only son and daughter-in-law along with his grand son went back to Australia a week before. Even though the health condition was bad Prof. Kulkarni has to leave for Australia.

When he reached Melbourne, Malini was in the ICU. Prof. Kulkarni was almost in the darkness. He was unable to do anything. Seeing his grand father Abhay ran to him. Prof. Kulkarni just held his only grand son with his arms. That was a great relief for the then thirteen year old boy. 

After that Prof. Kulkarni was called by Dr. Brundon and explained about the situation of Malini. According to Dr. Brundon the chances of her recovery was almost in vain. Malini was seriously injured and he is still wonder about how she was able to be alive all these time as her injuries were more severe than that of Ajay who died earlier. ‘Miracle’ was the explanation given by Dr. Brundon for this.

Malini remained in the same condition for seventeen days from the arrival of Prof. Kulkarni. He was praying for God all these time along with Abhay. Some of the friends and colleagues of Ajay and Malini visited Prof. Kulkarni. He enquired about the incident to them. But no one was able to give a solid reason behind it. According to them Ajay and Malini was leading a peaceful life. Nothing was strange in their life.

Abhay was also of the same opinion. But Prof. Kulkarni was not able to explore more from his grand son as he was still on the shock. Once he visited the school of Abhay for this. But the same was the result.

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It was fifteen years ago a call came from Australia by Ajay that he is getting married to an Indian Malini, from Hyderabad who is working along with him at Melbourne. Malini’s parents were died then. Even though Sheela was bedridden, Prof. Kulkarni agreed and informed about the condition of Sheela to his son. Both the parents were willing to attend the marriage of their son. Unfortunately, the situation was adverse.

Two weeks later the old couple received the snaps of the newly wedded couple. Both were ideal match. But Prof. Kulkarni noticed something in them. He had also mentioned the same to his wife.

“The face of our daughter-in-law is very familiar to me. But I can’t remember where it is”.

“Professorji, you have been coming across thousands of faces during your academic career. May be someone similar to Malini”. Sheela replied. 

Prof. Kulkarni just left the case there itself, hoping that his wife’s opinion may be correct.

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It was an evening, while Prof. Kulkarni and Abhay were at the hospital canteen having their tea. Dr. Brundon send a message to Prof. Kulkarni that Malini is becoming conscious and she wants to meet Prof. Kulkarni. She was aware about the death of Ajay.

Along with Abhay, Prof. Kulkarni went to see Malini at the ICU. She was really weak and was crying. As Dr. Brundon advised Prof. Kulkarni left ICU along with Abhay. It was Dr. Brundon’s duty to keep her without being emotional. 

As Malini became conscious Abhay started going to school. Prof. Kulkarni remained at the hospital by taking care of Malini. She was trying to say something to Prof. Kulkarni. But he refused to hear her words by saying the advice of Dr. Brundon – “Please don’t let her to talk more. It may create the situation more verse”.

Abhay joined back to the school hostel. He used to visit his mother and grand father twice a week. As his exams were nearing he was very busy with his studies. He had already lost some classes also.

Malini was becoming better day by day. Prof. Kulkarni was really happy to see her improvement. She was transferred from ICU and got a good room in the hospital, without having the disturbance of ventilator and other sorts of machine. This environment made her to relax for a while. Dr. Brundon slowly reduced the restrictions over Malini.

“I want to confess something to you sir”. One day Malini told Prof. Kulkarni. Hearing the unusual addressing ‘Sir’ Prof. Kulkarni stared at Malini.

“Why are you addressing me in such a way?” Asked Prof. Kulkarni.

“We had hidden something from you” replied Malini.

“Hidden what?”

“Don’t get upset please”

“Its okay Malini, tell me”

“Where should I begin?”

“Don’t worry my daughter. Just relax and continue”

“I am a Christian and my name was Mary Elizabeth”

“What?”

“It was Ajay who defended me from telling these things to you and his mother”

“I don’t believe in such traditions. Sheela was also of the same opinion. We never stood against Ajay’s wish. That’s why we let him to come here”

“Even Abhay is unaware about this matter”

“Let Ajay’s wish be as such” Replied Prof. Kulkarni

 

“Sir, I also was a student at IIM, Bangalore” 

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While Mary joined at IIMB, Prof. Kulkarni was at New Zealand with a consultancy project for three years. During his project Prof. Kulkarni once visited IIMB and had the invigilation duty for Mary’s batch for the paper Operations Research during her second semester examination. Prof. Kulkarni noticed something unusual regarding the student who was placed in the left corner of the examination hall. 

He slowly walked near to the student and watched her by standing aside. The student was Mary and she was trying to copy something from the inner side of her footwear. She suddenly looked at the eyes of Prof. Kulkarni and he gave a gesture by nodding his head. The student was begging for pardon to the professor with her eyes. Some drops of her tears fell down on the answer sheet and she was trying to wipe it off from there. Prof. Kulkarni repeated the same sign and obstructed her from copying. But he was sure that the student has not copy not even a single letter from the footwear during the entire exam period.         

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“I got the results for the mistakes that I have committed.” Malini was weeping by thinking about what she had done.

“Don’t worry I didn’t find anything wrong in you. These are not due to what you did before.” Prof. Kulkarni replied.

Malini’s throat was drying and she asked for some water to Prof. Kulkarni. He took the jar from the nearby table and poured some water in the glass. Then he gave some drops to Malini.

“I am really sorry sir” Malini thanked her professor and father-in-law and closed her eyes forever.

 

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“Why my mother said sorry to you, Grandpa?” Asked Abhay.

“May be she was unable to look after you as a mother. You were only thirteen na?” Replied Prof. Kulkarni with a sweet smile and eyes with tears. 

Dr. Sibu C. Chithran