The Fifth Number
He looked at the photo by the bedside. She was smiling at him.
She always did, especially when he would do something silly. If he spilled water from the glass at the lunch table. Or say something awkward when they had company.
She would remind him to have his medicine as he enjoyed his cup of tea and read his newspaper every morning. "Did you have your medicine or are you waiting for me to get it for you?"
"I will. The President is now going to go for another ..."
"Forget the President and now please get up and get your medicine."
They would go for a walk in the evening and watch the sun set. Bandra Bandstand is getting so crowded he thought. She liked that. I love to see these young people walking by hand in hand, she would say. She had a soft corner for a little puppy that used to wander around aimlessly. She started carrying a biscuit for the pup. That became a ritual. Even when the pup had grown up to be a healthy street dog, she continued to bring him biscuits.
He thought it was a waste. "That dog is greedy. No matter how many biscuits you give him, he is always wagging his tail asking for more."
When their daughter got married to Tony, she was the one who announced to everyone how happy she was that Poonam had found someone after her heart. She had helped them set up home and stayed up all night when their grandchild Zubin had fever.
Zubin is now twelve. Hard to believe that he learnt his alphabet with his grandparents. There was very little he could teach Zube these days. Maybe she would have done better.
He tried learning to use the computer but the mouse was difficult to manage. Letters are best written by hand. This e-mail stuff was very impersonal he had told Zube, who nodded vaguely as he played the computer game with Jeevan.
He hobbled off to the next room. The screeching sound of the video game was unbearable.
He wondered what she would say if he mentioned anything about the unbearable sound.
He could imagine his wife reprimanding him as he looked at her photo. "Stop complaining like an old man.
"When does one get labeled as "old"?
Is it at a particular age? Isn't that relative?
He recalled Zubin telling Jeevan last week, "Jeeves, I was talking to this guy. He is pretty old. He is in college. You know, he is getting a bike for his birthday. When I become old like him, I will get a bike too... if only mummy lets me."
He looked at his cell phone.I must ask Zubin to teach me how to send an sms.
This was his fifth attempt this week to learn how to.
Whom would he send a message to?
He had four names stored on his phone. Poonam, Tony, Zubin and Dr Kumar. These numbers were to be used only in case of emergency, he had been told many times.
"What are you doing Poonam?"
"Dad are you alright?"
"Yes, I am. Why?"
"You gave me a scare. I thought it was an emergency. Why did you call? I am in the middle of a meeting. Gosh... my heart is still beating..."
She hung up.
How will I call in case I am dying? I know you will support Poonam. Yes she is busy at work. I just wanted to tell her that ... ok never mind. You never hear my side of the story anyway.
His wife would always support the daughter... or the son in law or the grandson. He was the odd one in the family. He looked at the photo and then looked away. She should not see tears in my eyes he thought. That will make her sad.
The cell phone came alive in his hands.
He almost dropped it while trying to answer. By the time he picked it up, figured out where the green button was and pressed it, the phone stopped ringing.
Zubi stormed in to the room."Why don't you pick up the phone Nanu? I was calling to tell you that I am going with Jeeves to pick up some stuff."
"Why did you have to call? I am in the next room. Just come over and tell me. When will you be back?"
Zubin was already off.
He stared at the photo and asked her, "Am I wrong? Why am I asking you anyway..."
He could imagine her answer. She would always side with her grandson. Of course she would. He would not get any sympathy from her. Still he would ask her anyway.
He wondered if she had a mobile number. It would be nice to have at least five numbers in my cell phone.