Her wrinkled skin
and the smile that she possessed
said a lot about him
I thought,
‘Why were they talking about him so much?’
She left after the doctor fixed her weary skin
the man stood closeby
like a symbol of solidarity
I didn’t catch a glimpse of him,
not then
he helped the old lady to her wheelchair
and a caretaker wheeled her off
My patience was wearing thin
my appointment was scheduled for 12 o’ clock
it was already thirty minutes past it
I remained in my seat
kept observing him
He moved from one bed to next
one patient to another,
he knew everyone by name,
they knew him too,
only too well,
not with name,
with his deeds
their decaying hands and feet
didn’t unsettle him
he touched and hugged everyone
either like a child or a son
and each one responded,
for they have never had received such love,
affection, adulation and care
I was curious
what he did?
Who was he really?
I asked the receptionist
about the guy I was supposed to meet
she pointed in his direction
I had more questions
I was a student
But he still was there,
cursed him for calling me on a Sunday
I asked her again,
‘Doesn’t he celebrate diwali?’
She said,
‘No! He works with us so others can’
I stood speechless
burdened with guilt
By the time the moment came
when I was introduced
I gathered enough
to respect him
In our conversations he repealed
his family remains in Chennai
They miss him,
occasionally
but it was them
who needed him
I knew now,
What it is,
to truly love humans
unconditional
unadulterated
selfless love
and he,
he loved them all,
and they,
they adored him
as expected..
