"you were late!"

it was 11 at night when an auto screeched before halting at front gate of AIIMS. a young man in his early twenties almost jumped out crying for help. he turned back towards auto and carefully carried out his mother in his arms with his father holding her legs. he was extremely nervous as his face glistened with sweat and tears. he was desperately calling out for nurse and doctor while the patient  hardly moved. her head hung back at her son's arm and her tight grip around his waist began to loosen. son was too nervous to notice these. he was wailing at times, at times praying his mother to hold on ,at times to god asking him to forgive his sins and at times to doctor.
since a week or so he was running after hospital authorities to admit his mother.  there wasn't a single person left to whom he hadn't pleaded to. at times he brole down before many people with tears refusing to hold back.he was new in delhi with a cheap job so he couldn't secure any preferment. every day he visited authorities instead his office but with no success. even today he entered home with no consolation when he saw his father comforting his mother. she was in extreme pain and only tears were her medium of expressing her pain. she could no longer cry out. her lower body was immobile and she only could rise a little. but today she could not lie down. she clasped her husband's shoulders and dug her nails at his neck.
it was a terrifying sight, to see his mother in that condition. he was still a kid and needed his mother as much as a child of 5 needs. his mother was everything to him. and to see her in pain was unbearable. what else he could do other than crying helplessly. there wasn't a single person who could help him. what could he do? how helpless he felt! how would a son feel to watch his mother dying in front of his eyes and he can't do anything!
          mother saw her dear son crying and she tried to comfort him forgetting her pain. even at that moment she felt for her son. the day he got his job he brought her from bihar for operation. how mature he became in just a week! he couldn't do anything without her help, and now he was working and looked after herself when he stayed at home. she felt her death would be better but again fresh stream of tears rolled out.how would he live if she dies? she didn't know whether to pray god or to curse him for bringing in this condition. how cruel is he who doesn't even let one die?
            meanwhile father took charge of situation and consoled both son and wife.though griefed he asked his son to take her to emergency. that was a light of hope to son who rushed out to get one auto.yes! doctors could save her. atleast they could medicate her temporarily and tomorrow he would check other private hospitals.
      it was country's biggest hospital; doctors rushed and checked her.she was laid out in stretcher. with group of doctors and nurses around son was sure she would not die. he got a bit of consolation to watch doctors quickly examining her and instructing nurses in their language. he closed his eyes and thanked god for saving her life. he took a deep breath and tried to relax himself. he could never forgive himself had she died due to lack of medical attention. he got new ideas and thought of various other hospitals. he would move heavens and earth to cure his mother.though he realised he had done that before. but he dispelled these negative thoughts. god had saved his mother and he would find a way to cure her too. he couldn't live with burden of letting his mother die due to lack of medical attention." no! ..no!...... she would be fine".
                       while he lapsed into thoughts a soft voice rung in his ears"she is dead. you were late"