Chetan Bhagat -three mistakes of my life

'Don't even talk about the full price. Ish wrote to every big hospital in the UK and USA for subsidies. The best deal he has is from a hospital in UK, which has promised us an operation for five lakhs. Of course, Ish never told me all this. That is all I could hear from the thin plywood wall'

'You have the money?'

'Ish saved two lakhs in the past three years. I saved another three. Last week I went to him with the money. I said let's pool our resources and get Ali operated. I said we must act now as it takes nine months to get an appointment at that hospital anyway. And then he...,' Govind's voice choked again.

'You ok?' I said.

Govind nodded. 'You know what he did? He refused to touch my money and wore cricket gloves while handing the envelope back to me. In fact, he offered me his cashbox and said he could give me money if I needed it to satisfy my greed. He said he didn't want to get Ali operated with a dishonest man's money.'

Govind voice began to break. 'I am not dishonest. I'm selfish and have made mistakes, but I'm not dishonest. And I don't only care about money. I care about Ali, too.'

I sat on his bed put my hand on his arm. He pulled it away.

'After three years of saving every rupee I could, Ish calls my labour dishonest. I can't take it anymore. Dr Verma had given me pills as I had trouble sleeping at night. That day I felt why not sleep once and for all. Maybe I had calculated life all wrong. It was time to quit the equation.' He smiled feebly.

The doctor came to Govind's ward at 7 a.m. The chemicals from the pills had been flushed out of Govind's system.

'I'd like the patient to sleep for six hours,' the doctor told me as he drew the curtains. I left the room and went out. Govind's mother sat on a bench in the corridor. She looked up, worried.

'He is fine, just needs some rest.' I sat next to her on the bench. 'Such a brave boy I had. What happened to him?' she sighed. 'He thought he was being brave,' I said. 'Does Ish know?'

She looked at me sideways. 'They don't talk.'

'Can you tell him what happened. Don't force him to come to the hospital,' I said. Govind's mother nodded. We left the hospital together. She had sat in an auto when I spoke again. 'By the way, do you know which college Vidya goes to in Bombay?'

'So many visitors? This is a hospital, not a club,' the nurse grumbled as she changed Govind's bedsheets in the evening.

Govind's hospital room was bustling with people. Apart from the nurse, there were Ish, Vidya, Govind's mother and I. We waited for Mr Sleepyhead to wake up from his second nap of the day. A lot of people had lost sleep because of his sleeping pills.

Govind's eyelashes flickered and everyone moved closer to the bed. 'Ish? Vidya!' Govind blinked.

'There are better ways to attract attention,' Vidya said. 'When did you come?' Govind asked, quite forgetting the others.

'I left my marketing class halfway,' Vidya said. 'But that doesn't mean I forgive you for not replying to me. Or for popping these pills. I never popped anything even when I was most scared, you know when.'

'Your parents told you not to speak to me again. Ish wanted the same.'

'So?' Vidya removed her college bag from her shoulder and placed it on the bed. 'What did your heart want?'

Ish stood silent, looking at Govind. Govind's mother looked shocked, probably dreading a firecracker of a daughter-in-law like Vidya someday.

'I am sorry, Ish. I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I l... loved her,' Govind said.

Ish began to walk out of the room. Govind's mother went after him and pulled his arm. She placed Ish's hand on Govind's.

'You don't have to listen to parents, but I do think you should be friends again,' Govind's mother said.

Ish remained silent. Govind clasped Ish's hand. Govind's mother continued: 'Life will have many setbacks. People close to you will hurt you.

But you don't break it off. You don't hurt them more. You try to heal it. It is a lesson not only you, but our country needs to learn.'

'Remember the kissing chimpanzees?' Govind called after him. Ish stopped and looked back at Govind.

'Take the money for Ali. For me, it's no longer just for the money. But what the money is for. Get Ali all right, it is important to me, too.'

Ish sniffed hard as he tried to resist tears.

'Can you forgive me, three times over?' Govind said. Both Govind's and Ish's eyes turned moist.

'Aunty, isn't it strange that all the men in the ward are crying while the women are like, so, together?' Vidya said.

Govind's mother looked horrified. Confident women make terrible daughters-in- law.

I met Govind the next morning, right before I left for the airport. Govind was due for discharge that evening.

"Thanks,' he said emotionally. 'For what?'

'For dropping by. I don't know how I will ever repay you...' 'Actually, there is a way' Govind waited.

'Your story, it needs to be shared.' 'Like a book?'

'Yes, exactly a book. My third book. Will you help me?'

I don't know. I only like stories with happy endings,' he said. 'You have a pretty happy ending.'

I don't know yet about Ali. We are going for the operation, but the success probability is not hundred per cent. Fifty-fifty is what they told us.'

'You should have faith. Probability is best left to books,' I said. He nodded.

'So I'll go back and we'll be in touch over email,' I said. 'Sure, we can work on it. But do not release the story until we know about Ali. Ok? It may mean your effort goes to waste,' he said. 'I agree,' I said and we shook hands.

I met Vidya at the hospital entrance as I left. She was wearing a green lehanga, probably her most cheerful dress, to lift Govind's spirits. She carried a bouquet.

'Nice roses,' I said.

'Law Garden has the best ones. I miss Ahmedabad, can't wait for my course to be over in six months,' she said.

'I thought you were a Bombay girl, trapped in the small city or whatever.'

'He told you everything? Like everything?' she, looked shocked. 'Pretty much.' 'Oh well, Bombay is nice, but my own is my own. Pao bhaji tastes much better in

Ahmedabad.'

I wanted to chat with her more, but had to leave. They had let me into their world, but I couldn't overstay.

Epilogue II

I sat at my home computer in Singapore. My wife came to my desk at midnight. 'Can you leave this story for now? You have done what you could. He'll tell you if anything happens,' she said.

'Yes, but they are in London right now. The operation is over, Ali's doing physio exercises everyday. He could be ready for a batting test anytime.'

'You have been saying the same thing over and over since last month. Now can you please turn off the light?'

I lay down and thought about them. It was day time in London. Would the doctors agree to let him go to the cricket field for a test today? What would happen if he faces a ball after such a long gap? Will the new wrist be too delicate to play sports? Thoughts continued to swirl as I drifted off to sleep.

The next morning I woke up early. I had an SMS from Govind.

doc approves ali 2 play, fingers X. pls pray,

v hit pitch 2mrow

I went to office the next day. London is eight hours behind Singapore, and 1 checked my phone during my evening coffee at 4 p.m. I had no message. I left office at 8 p.m. I was in the taxi when my phone beeped.

ish bowls 2 ali.

ali moves fwd & turns. straight 6...!