Over the moon

This short, emotional story was written by me using a prompt in my favourite FB group Wrimo India.

“Sir, this is commander Rakesh calling from the Sea of Tranquility. The Garuda has landed,” I proudly announce as my mobile screen shows our PM clapping and the jubilant team at ISRO jumping in joy and raising their fists chanting ‘Bharat mata ki jai’ and ‘Jai hind’. It is indeed a big moment for all Indians. It is our first manned journey to the moon in our 100% Made in India Lunar Module. My team mates join me as we wave back to them and chant ‘Jai Hind’. After taking a dozen selfies, we decide to explore what the moon has in store for us. We walk and feel the powdery surface and at a suitable spot, we plant our tricolour, some distance away from the US flag.

A sound of a knock startles me and I begin to wonder if there is someone else still within the spacecraft Garuda, who hasn’t stepped out. I open my eyes wide and realize that the entire episode was just my dream, the same dream that I had been enjoying daily. It gave me joy. It gave me hope. Very much like Dr. Ruchi, the young doctor whose head had popped in after her gentle knock on my door. It means it is 9 am. I smile back at her.

“So, how’s the astronaut doing today?” she asks, flashing a smile that has been helping me forget my pain, albeit for a few moments every day.

“Never felt better,” I reply as usual. And I actually always mean it.

My cancer was detected a few months back and my parents have been doing everything to get the best treatment for me. We visited hospitals in Singapore and the US and consulted the best surgeons in the world. However, my cancer type is very rare and there is hardly any research done in the direction of my kind of a disease. The big doctors only kept subjecting me to tests and gave false hopes, wanting to have a go at me as a guinea pig, with nothing to lose. Finally, we realized that our only hope was Dr. Ravikumar, considered an expert in an area that is somewhat close to my kind of cancer.

“Our son is just thirteen and has his whole life in front of him. If you can fully treat him, you can have everything we own,” I had overheard my dad breaking down and pleading to Dr. Ravikumar when we had first met him here, at WeCan hospital, a month ago.

“Khanna ji, I know you are among the biggest hoteliers in the country and we are honoured to have your trust in us for your son’s treatment. We will certainly do what we can. Rakesh would have to get admitted here, it would be better for him. Please think positive and keep faith,” the doctor had replied and then patted me. He appeared sincere and I am sure he will treat me successfully. I got admitted within three days at WeCan, the only hospital of its kind with 5-star facilities.

Dr. Ruchi follows her routine – she quickly measures my BP and pulse, examines my throat with her torch, adjusts the IV and then checks with the nurse about my medicines and diet. I wait, for the two minutes of personal attention that I would get soon. She knows by now that I want to be an astronaut when I grow up and want to travel to the moon. There is a slight distraction, as ward boy Rajan enters and hands over a packet to Dr. Ruchi. “Sir has sent this for you,” he mutters and disappears. Dr. Ruchi pulls out some kind of report which she attentively studies and an injection which she gestures to the nurse, to administer.

“So, Rakesh, did you know that your name means, ‘ruler of the full moon’?”

“Yes, and I was named that, because I was born on a full moon day.”

“That is cool. If you were a girl, they might have named you Purnima or Poonam, I guess.”

“Maybe, but I would have changed it to Moonmoon later. Haha.”

She giggles and her perfect white teeth shine like the pearls on my mom’s favourite necklace.

“Ah, I see a new spaceship on your wall. I love it!” she declares, looking at my latest painting.

“Thank you! Someday when I make a spaceship like this, I will take you to the moon too. So, be ready with grey-coloured accessories.”

“Haha. You are funny. But yes, why not? I will wait for that day. Take care till then, commander!”

She flashes another smile, though this time I can sense a discomfort as she does so. She leaves, lowering her head instead of waving at me while closing the door behind her.

Of the girls and women I have come across in my life, the vibrant Dr. Ruchi is perhaps the one who has amazed me the most. She is perfect in every way. Tall, long haired, caring, smart, cheerful and best of all, genuine. On top of it, I like her attention to detail in not just taking care of her patients but also her accessories. Today she was wearing a sky-blue top within her coat, matching ear rings, a blue watch strap and bracelet, and even carried a matching pen! Anyway, although I wish the best for her, I also wish that she stays single till I grow up, so that... Well, actually that too means I wish the best for her, doesn’t it? 😊

I take out my iPhone and click a selfie. I proceed to scribble some hair to cover up my baldness, draw a couple of front teeth that I have lost, put a thick moustache and a slight stubble along with sun glasses. I also add a jacket.

“Ah.. not bad,” I admire myself.

I then search for Dr. Ruchi’s photo and place it alongside mine. And in the background, I add a moon. That’s the definition of a perfect pic for me!

I look out of the window and notice the sprawling lawn. A few wheel-chair ridden patients, mostly senior, are being taken around for a stroll and fresh air. My head feels heavy and my vision is blurred. In a corner of the garden, I can sense butterflies trying to choose between the flowers. I see a small puppy which seems lost, perhaps looking for its parents.

Talking of parents, I miss mine too. Though we live in Mumbai and my hospital is in Pune, either mom or dad is always beside me during my day. They take turns, so that I never feel left out. Must be tough, starting very early from home and then leaving after 7 pm from here for Mumbai. They are in London since a couple of days due to the sudden demise of my grandpa. But they have promised to be back on Thursday. Till then, my aunt and cousin would visit and give me company. Well, nice of them. But today afternoon aunty was here and she filled 50% of the room with fruits I don’t eat and 200% of my mind with advice I don’t need. Aryan was lost inside his mobile for 99% of the time he was here, am sure he was forced to tag along. ‘Hi’ and ‘Bye’ are the only two words he managed during their two-hour stay here.

Slowly, now that Dr. Ruchi is off my mind, the pain is starting to feel. The huge tablets, the IV and the chemo – all these are killing me from inside. Sometimes I feel I should run away from here. Away to the moon or beyond. Away from this madness. I put on National Geographic and take my dinner watching the birds of New Zealand. One more day finished. Lost, actually. Time to sleep and not exactly look forward to a new day.

**

A strange whirring sound wakes me up. I open my eyes and look around. Bright light from some source has illuminated the room. I check if I am connected to the IV, luckily I am not. I walk to the window and I see it. Unbelievable. Brilliant. It’s the moon! I have never seen it so close to the earth. The huge bright ball with shades of grey. Is this another dream? Obviously. But I decide to play along. I wear my slippers and rush to the elevator. I hit the ground and run towards the lawn. The moon is still there. I keep moving towards it. I then see a figure holding an astronaut suit. It has a badge ‘Commander Rakesh’ on it. I put it on and it fits perfectly. I touch the moon. It is some kind of white gas. I keep moving cautiously and I find myself on the moon surface. Grey powdery ground. I feel light, due to lesser gravity. I see a spacecraft which resembles one of my designs. It has ‘Garuda’ written on it, with an impression of the Indian flag. I enter the vehicle. Another astronaut looks at me.

“Commander Rakesh?” the familiar voice calls out.

“Dr. Ruchi? I don’t.. I mean what is this?” I am unable to find words.

“We have landed on the moon! Here.. the flag,” she says, handing over the flag and its post.

I do not know how to react, but I take the flag and plant it at a distance. There is a loud applause and flashes of camera light. I also see my mom and dad in the cheering crowd. I suddenly feel weak. Perhaps the climate on the moon is not suitable for me. I manage to reach and hold on to Dr. Ruchi and then pass out.

**

The familiar buzz on my mobile wakes me up. I trace it with my hand and open my left eye, to snooze the alarm. And then my nostrils sense the familiar lavender smell.

“Mamma?” I shout out and jump up.

I see my parents seated on the sofa, waiting for me. They dart towards me and hug me. I see the wall full of pictures of me in the astronaut suit, with the spacecraft, with the flag. I somehow recollect in bits and pieces, the presence of a moon, my spacecraft, the soft terrain. I have no memory of how I went on its surface, or who my team mates were. It was supposed to be dream, but apparently it was not.

I can feel the humidity in the eyes of mom and dad.

“Thanks, both of you. It felt wonderful! And what a pleasant surprise to see you sooner,” I cry out and hug them.

“Glad you liked it, dear. We ..” before mom can complete, her phone plays my favourite ringtone.

“It is Mandeep, he is calling again. Here, speak to him,” she instructs.

My cousin rarely calls, so despite having trouble speaking, I decide to go on. I wonder why dad has his hand over my mom’s, and why they are gazing at me every now and then. When I finish, I close the phone window and the Whatsapp chats between my mom and Dr. Ruchi on the screen catch my attention. I cannot help but read a couple of them.

“Reports received. Bad news. His time can come any moment. Call Dr. Ravikumar at the earliest,” was Dr. Ruchi’s message at around the time she had left my room yesterday morning.

“Oh my God! OK. We will catch the first flight and be back. Please call Mr. Sudarshan and ask him to be ready with the moon tonight itself.. will see you after midnight,” was mom’s reply.

I leave the phone aside and lie down on my parents’ laps. Nothing in this world can replace the feeling of mom stroking my head and dad caressing my fingers.

THE END