The Little One!

“We are trying our best. Chances of her survival are very low, the infection is high and she is too young to handle it.” Said the doctors to the parents of a prematurely born baby girl. While the situation was pretty grim and sad, the condition was totally opposite at home. He was preparing the house to welcome his baby sister. He was extremely hopeful… He had already given her a name which stayed with her till dare.. “the little one”…

Other family members and house helpers tried to prepare him to bear the news, good or bad. He knew it was definitely going to be positive, he never took no for an answer. “My “little one” is coming home anytime, let’s keep working.” This was the first time both his parents had left him with other people. But he didn’t mind as he knew they will be back soon. He had sent them to bring the best gift for him, for which he had waited patiently since months, his baby sister. He couldn’t understand why people were so tensed and worried.

He waited for a day, two days, three and the number kept increasing. Hope was all he had. He would put a small soft toy on his lap as a practice to hold his baby sister. He would touch and check all the toys to make sure they won’t prick her. The pillows needed to be soft and so was the mattress. When all the arrangements were done, he would stand at the door waiting for her, sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes for hours…

That day while he was looking outside, he noticed a sudden hustle bustle. He knew something was going to happen. Everyone was in action. A car stopped outside the house. Dad came out, then grandma and then mom with a very very tiny baby in her arms. It was way too tinier than he imagined. Looking at her, he postponed the plans of putting her on his lap. He was very happy though…

She was home, she was alive although not talking to her yet. She was too little and vulnerable to be held by anyone. He was always around to protect her. He had decided to take good care of her till she is strong and independent, even if it means his entire life. And he did, till his last breath.

He got her married and sent her oceans away to a comfortable life. One day he got sick with a contagious disease (COVID) and he did not let her come to him. His could take his pain but would not see his “little one” suffer, even though his “little one” was not so little now. For him she was always delicate like a soft toy. He kept suffering alone and left the world without saying “Goodbye…” His “little one” is now standing at the door, waiting for him to come back, knowing that he will not…