Dear Diary

ANOTHER MAN

"Dad. Where is Rishabh? Does he have night shift tonight?" Madhu

"Rishabh isn't home yet?" Mohan was shocked

"No. He didn't come home yet. Where is he? I called you both many times. His mobile switched off and you didn't answer my calls" Madhu

"I don't know what to say to you Madhu" Mohan was very sad

"What is it Dad? What happened? Is Rishabh ok?" Madhu

"I don't know. I think you were right. He shouldn't operate today" Mohan

"What happened Dad? You made me worry" Madhu

"He started the surgery normally. But suddenly his hand twitched and he cut an important vein. The patient started to bleed heavily. Rishabh left the operating room. He left his patient bleeding to death. I don't know where he went. I thought he returned home" Mohan

"What happened to the patient?" Madhu

"The nurses called me and I went there immediately. Thanks to God I controlled the bleeding and the patient is ok now" Mohan

"But Rishabh doesn't know that?" Madhu

"Yes. He just left. I tried to call him many times but his mobile is switched off" Mohan

"Where could he go?" Madhu

"I don't know. He never left a patient on operating table" Mohan

"Because he never made a mistake in surgery before" Madhu

"I don't know where he is now" Mohan

"Could he do anything stupid?" Madhu started to panic

"No. My son can't do such a thing. Maybe he is driving to clear his mind" Mohan

"I hope so. I'm worry a lot about him" Madhu was crying

"Please don't cry dear. He will be ok. He will be here soon" Mohan hugged her and tried to console her

After dawn

Madhu heard the main door opened. She stood up and saw her husband coming home swaying. She ran to him and supported him to walk straight to their room

"RK. Are you drunk?" Madhu was shocked

"Yes I'm" RK laughed

"You never drink before" Madhu

"There is first time for everything" RK

"Why?" Madhu was confused

"Because today is the first time for many things. First time I kill a patient. First time I leave my surgery. First time I fail as a surgeon. First time I drink" RK laughed

"Your patient is alive. You didn't kill him" Madhu

"I don't care if he is alive or dead. I killed him. I killed my patient. I left him to bleed to death. I'm a failure" RK

"No Rishabh. You will be ok. You will operate again and you won't fail" Madhu

"Why do I operate again? To kill another patient" RK

"No Rishabh. Don't talk like this" Madhu

"Shush. I need to sleep. Shush" RK slept on their bed

Madhu took off his shoes with her tears flow from her eyes silently

After a month

RK came home after dawn as usual for a month now. Madhu helped him to their room and put him on bed