"Not good, he has been on ventilator since yesterday" said Ankur rising up from the bench outside ICU.
"Would they allow us in? Wish we could see him once" asked the visitors.
"No, even we are not allowed but once only during the day" he informed.
Ankur's ageing father had fallen ill in February. With his health fast deteriorating, he became bedridden around mid March and was eventually admitted to the hospital three days back on 12th of April 2008
"What does the doctor say?"
"He is trying his best, please pray to God so he gets well soon"
"We are and we will, dont worry, the almighty will provide him with good health soon" said the visitors before leaving.
Such dialogue had become a routine for Ankur whose father was a socially well connected man and therefore had a number of visitors daily.
"Get this injection" said the nurse tearing off the slip from her notepad.
Like yesterday, he dashed down the steps onto the ground foor. "This injection please" he demanded.
The pharmacist carefully looked at the paper, "Not available, I think the one you took yesterday was the last in stock"
"Where will I get this?" He asked curiously.
"Go, check elsewhere" said the shopkeeper getting busy with other customers.
Ankur knew that this daily injection was a critical resource to keep his father alive, that's what the doctor had told him yesterday.
He rushed out of the building.
"Not with us, perhaps you should try the medical college market" said another pharmacist.
He picked up his scooter and reached there in no time."This injection please" he placed the slip on the counter.
The pharmacist looked at the paper and then at Ankur, "One minute" he said and returned back with a familiar looking bottle.
"Thank God! This was available till yesterday at the hospital, so I had to come here to get it" said Ankur taking out his wallet. "My father is very ill and has been on a ventilator, this is a difficult time for me and my family,
God save everyone from desease and hospitals" he stretched out his arm to hand over the money to the pharmacist who seemed to have frozen, not knowing how to react.
After a brief pause, gathering his courage and clearing his throat he said, "Son, the injection you are buying is meant to prevent a dead body from decomposing"
