Dolly's Wait

Dolly gazed through the window. Kalu kaka the ice candy man was passing through the narrow lane as usual. The pleasant looking plump vendor was happily giving each child a candy of their choice. She looked to her side. Mohit bhaiyya wasn’t there. Some construction workers were busily working on repairing a part of their compound wall that had crumbled due to heavy rains. None of them noticed Dolly’s tear filled eyes.

Five year old Dolly was a fan of her 9 year old Mohit bhaiyya. Mohit too doted on his little sister and her wish would always be his command. Tall, lean and sturdy Mohit would bounce off the wall that comprised a gallery on the ground floor of their bungalow and get two ice candies. One for her and one for him. In case, she dropped hers by mistake he would rush and get her another one.

She longed for Mohit. She longed for her parents. She longed for the ice candy. A few weeks back, when Kalu kaka had come with his wares, Mohit had quickly jumped off the gallery of the house to fetch both of them some ice candy. Unfortunately for all, that day, there was some gravel that had been dumped there by the construction workers. Mohit slipped and hit his head on a big rock. Blood oozed all over his face. He screamed. Dolly screamed too and her mother, Malati, rushed out to see why the children were crying.

 She was aghast when she saw Mohit covered in blood. It took her a while to realise what happened. The construction workers stopped their work and rushed to tend to the boy. Kalu kaka stopped an auto that was passing by and requested the passengers to kindly allow Malati to take the child to the hospital.

Dolly’s neighbour Indra rushed out and urged Malati to leave Dolly under her care while she took Mohit to the hospital. Mr. Mehta, another kind neighbour accompanied Malati to the hospital. On way, Malati called Rohit, her husband and updated him about the situation. Mohit was crying uncontrollably.

Little Dolly slept that day at Indra’s house. The next day by the time she woke up both her parents had been home but had left once again for the hospital. Dolly wanted to cry. Indra consoled her and promised to take her to the hospital if she had her breakfast and bath like a good girl. Dolly obliged.

Mohit, come back soon...

As soon as they entered the hospital, Dolly ran and clung to her mother’s sari. Her mother looked as if she had cried all night. Mohit was in some room where she could not go hence she could not see him. Malati explained to Dolly the situation and promised her that Mohit and both of them will very soon return home. Till then, she had to be a good girl and remain under Indra’s care. If she did not bother Indra with her childish pranks, God would very soon send them home.

Dolly agreed to be a good girl. It been two Sundays since this conversation happened. Dolly was not sure why her parents won’t tell her when they would come back, or when they would take her to see Mohit. One of her parents would always be home to be with her. Both of them were never seen together. At times, she would find her mother wiping tears from her eyes while she worked.

Yet, they promised her Mohit would come home soon. Suddenly, Dolly saw her parents coming home in an auto. Her eyes searched for Mohit. Mohit was not there. Kalu kaka rushed to them and had a short conversation with them. He rushed back to his van and got an ice candy for her. So finally she got her candy. Her parents have also come home. But where was Mohit? How can she have a candy without him???