(AI translated vesion of  पत्थर दिल!)

Chapter-1

Papa! papa! There is a very good news. I have been selected as a software engineer in Poogle company. Hearing this message in the tinkling voice of his son Manish, who had gone to New York, his father Umakant Malviya’s happiness knew no bounds. Tears welled up in his eyes. Seeing his condition, Rajeshwari, who was standing nearby and listening to the phone conversation, also had tears in her eyes. She felt that the biggest dream of her life had been fulfilled.

Umakant was surprised for a few seconds after hearing the good news given by his son. He wanted to speak but the words got stuck in his throat. Hearing ‘gai-gai’ type sounds from his mouth, Manish also felt that the dam of his father’s happiness had broken and he was becoming emotional. So he asked him to control himself – Papa! Please! Call mom!

Hearing his son’s request, Umakant handed over the phone to his wife. Then what was left? Mom started chirping – And son! How is the situation in New York? We were very worried about you but now our hearts are at ease. Congratulations! Son! You have brought glory to the Malviya family. By the way, how much package will these Poogal people give?

Manish – Blessings from all of you and God’s blessings, Mom! I will get a package of around Rs 50 lakh per year and you will be even happier to know that after six months, I will be posted in Bangalore, India.

Rajeshwari – This is very good. You were the only support for our old age and you will come here after at least six months. Son, whenever you get leave, please come home. Everything else is fine here in Jabalpur but my father is suffering from a lung infection. Ever since he retired, he has started falling ill more often. Don’t know what will happen when. I also have pain in my knees. I can complete the household chores with great difficulty. Now that you have got the job, bring your daughter-in-law in a year or two. So that we all can live our old age peacefully.

Manish – Mom! Don’t worry! Daughter-in-law will also come. Then we will all stay together in one place. Together, I and my daughter-in-law will serve you in such a way that all your sorrows and pains will disappear.

When Umakant saw that his wife had been talking to Manish for a long time, he started getting a little irritated. Suppressing his feelings of joy, he said irritably – Stop it, God! It is two o’clock in the night. It is okay that he has got the job, so can you talk about five years ahead and all the things about his marriage today itself?

Saying this, he started coughing loudly and panting.

Hearing the sound of Umakant’s cough, Rajeshwari said to Manish on the phone – Son! We will talk tomorrow. Let me take care of him.

As soon as she said this, Manish said bye-bye, greetings Mom and Dad! Saying this he hung up the phone.

Then Rajeshwari took a glass of water and medicine for Umakant. When he took the medicine with water, he felt relief within a short time.

After this phone conversation, Manish joined his job in Poogal and this time started flying rapidly. Here in Jabalpur, Umakant’s health was becoming critical day by day. In the fifth month, his pain increased and he started having severe difficulty in breathing. Seeing his condition worsening, the doctors of Narmada Hospital advised to keep him on a ventilator for a few days. After this, Rajeshwari make a call to Manish in very nervous voice.

Manish picked up the phone with great reluctance. That day Manish had spent the whole day busy with office work and in the evening he had gone to the Grand Imperial Hotel in connection with the birthday party of his office assistant Carla. At this birthday party, Manish had a lot of fun to impress Carla. So, when he, exhausted and lost in thoughts of Carla, was preparing to sleep in his rented flat, his mother called. The untimely phone call made him very angry. It seemed as if Rajeshwari’s phone call had disrupted his rest.

He said in a very subdued voice – What is it, Mama? I was getting tired after working all day and was getting ready to sleep and you spoiled my sleep by calling.

Hearing such comments from her son, Rajeshwari said – Son! How did I know that you were going to sleep? well! You know that your father’s health has been unwell for many days. His health has deteriorated so much that doctors have advised him to put him on a ventilator. Son! You take leave and come back soon!

To be contd. …

(fictional story)