The Campaign Part 9

‘Why don’t you go inside and sit with Dadi, I will go and get her medicines and food’ Abhay said.

 Trisha nodded and went to see his grandmother. It was a shady little room, only enough for one person to live. Abhay’s grandmother was old, she once was the best pickle maker in the village, Trisha’s mother would come to her and learn to make pickles. She always had a tender spot for Abhay and even Abhay loved her immensely.

‘Chotu?’ said the old women in a feeble tone.

‘No Dadi, Trishala, Ajit Rao’s daughter’ recounted Trisha

‘Who Ajit?’ said the old women in confusion

‘err..Dadi Trisha?’ uttered Trisha

‘Dadi its Chamki’ spoke Abhay from the behind

‘Chamki?’ Trisha said in a hushed tone

‘Don’t you remember, when we were kids you would wear those shining silver bangles and anklets, Dadi would call you Chamki, that’s how she remembers you’

‘Oh, that’s so sweet. Okay wait, Dadi it’s Chamki’

‘Chamki! You have grown so big!’ said Dadi in a surprised tone

Trisha laughed; Abhay sat next to his grandmother and asked her to eat food. The three recalled their past memories together, to Abhay and Trisha’s delight, Dadi was feeling better. She could even recollect some experiences of her pickle making days. She narrated them to Trisha, who was listening to them patiently. Unexpectedly Abhay’s phone rang.

‘Trisha you be with Dadi, I have to attend this call’

‘Okay but be back soon, I need to go home too, it’s late…’Trisha said.

‘Chamki?’ Abhay’s grandmother whispered

‘Yes Dadi’ Trisha answered

‘You know, it was my deepest desire to see Abhay married before I die and since I have not much time left…’

‘Shhhh…Dadi why do you say like that, you are still very young and you will definitely see Abhay getting married’

‘How? I really want him to be with a girl like you, you make him happy’, Suddenly Dadi started coughing and wheezing. She started breathing heavily, Trisha panicked

‘Dadi, you please lie down, rest here. Abhay! Come fast something is happening to Dadi’ Trisha shouted

Abhay rushed to the room as soon as he heard Trisha, when he saw Dadi he asked Trisha to get some water.

‘Dadi, what happened? Where are your medicines?’

‘I don’t need medicines, I need you to be happy Abhay and you know what Chamki is the one for you, I have not got much time but-’ his grandmother choked

‘Dadi nothing is happening, we will take you to the Doctor, Trisha no water! Get the car we need to rush to the hospital’ Abhay shouted and panicked

Within minutes they were on their way to the nearest hospital. Dadi was given temporary medicines that stopped the wheezing, though she still required expert care. Tears surfaced in Abhay’s eyes

‘She is going to be alright’ Trisha said to cool Abhay

‘I know, nothing can happen to her’

While Trisha drove, she wondered what Abhay’s grandmother said to her. She had never met a guy like Abhay, he understood her, supported her and cared for her. She felt the same for him. As soon as they reached the hospital, Abhay spoke with the doctor and told him about his grandmother’s sick condition.

‘How old is she?’

‘About eighty one or eighty two’

‘Well, we can keep her under observation but considering her history, I don’t assure you full recovery’

‘You do your best please, I just want her to be fine’

‘Very well, we will try our very best’ said the doctor.

During all this, Trisha sat in the corner all alone. She prayed for Dadi to recover.

‘How is she?’ Trisha asked

‘Like he said earlier, she hasn’t got much time’

‘Where have you been? I have been calling all night’ asked Geetanjali

‘Dadi got admitted in the hospital, been busy because of that’ Trisha said with great effort, driving all night long had made her very tired.

‘Oh what happened? Where is Abhay?’

‘He is there with her at the hospital, and don’t disturb him with any of the election matter. He has done his job, am I clear?’

 Geetanjali nodded

‘Good and also one thing don’t wake me up!’

THE POLLING

‘Trisha! Get up, we need to go for the polling’ her father called out

‘What? I don’t want to go’ she whined

‘Why? Don’t you want to vote for yourself?’

‘Haha…Dad why don’t you and Ma go. I am happy at home, the crowd will make me nothing but anxious and I don’t want that’

‘Are you sure?’ said another voice

‘Who is that? Abhay?’ Trisha guessed

‘Right here’ he answered

 ‘What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at the hospital’ Trisha inquired 

‘Dadi wanted me to cast her vote for you’

‘No way! She is not coming out of the hospital’

‘She already has, so get up’

‘I will be there in a minute’

As soon as Trisha got ready, she saw a lineup of strong masculine men waiting for her.

'What the hell is this?' Trisha asked.

'For your safety, we can't afford to lose you after that accident, a gift from Raj Mandal Party' Abhay said

'Very well'

Geetanjali gave Trisha updates about the polling, the voter turnout in her district had never been this high, almost every eligible voter made it to the polling. When they reached, Trisha saw crowd of hundreds or maybe thousands all waiting for their chance to vote for their representative. Some who noticed Trisha's presence came to wish her well.

'Dadi casted her vote, I will take her to the hospital now but do let me know if you need me' Abhay said

'You go ahead'

As expected, the crowd did make Trisha anxious, just by looking at the faces of the villagers made her dizzy.

'You have worked hard, it's going to pay off' she said to herself