Chapter 5

Blood dripped onto the water's surface, one drop after another, mixing with the red liquid. Blood also dripped from Vinod's foot. A spider leg had pierced his stomach. This spider leg was as giant as a tree. The spider leg slowly began to move, carrying him towards the eye in the center of the tree. The vertical eye stared at Vinod without blinking.

There was no movement in Vinod's face, no emotion. He was completely under the eye's control. His eyes had turned gray. He couldn't see anything with them anymore. He was in a trance.

Bright light. Curtains fluttered. Everything appeared white: the walls, clothes, ceiling, fan, and bed.

Vinod tried to see where he was, but a terrible pain shot through his stomach. His face, neck, and forehead were covered in sweat. Enduring the pain, he tried to look around. In front of him were doctors in white coats.

Their voices reached Vinod as a blur. They were saying something. Behind them stood his mother and father.

Seeing them, he felt an overwhelming happiness for the first time. He wanted to talk to them, to spend time with them.

Doctor: Calm down, take a deep breath.

Nurses held his hands and legs tightly. Even though they pressed hard, he felt no pain from their grip. He only felt one pain: the searing pain from his stomach.

The spider leg that had pierced his stomach now released him. He fell from a great height.

Thud!

The doctor immediately gave him a painkiller. Slowly, the pain began to subside.

He took heavy breaths.

Now, he felt a little better.

Vinod: Mom... haa haa (heavy breath) Mom.

Mom: Nothing will happen to you, my son. I'm right here.

She gently stroked Vinod's forehead.

Vinod's inner voice: I felt so comforting. It had been a long time since I felt my mother's touch. We don't realize their value when everything is fine. It's only when something happens that we understand. Now I'm finally understanding. I want to talk to my mother and father from the bottom of my heart. I don't want to die. I don't want to leave them. I don't even remember why I made the crazy decision to go abroad.

His mother fed him morsels of rice with her hands. His father held his hand gently. He knew they were doing this because they knew these were his last moments. But if they didn't show him love, who would?

As an adult, he had never spent time with them. Friends, love, career on one side, nightmares on the other. That's how his life passed. Even though they wanted to talk to him with so much love and pity, he often responded irritably. Now, only the moments when he was annoyed or yelled at them came to mind.

But they had forgotten all that and continued to show him love. How could he say this love was false? He had to spend as much time as possible with them. Now, they were the most important to him.

Vinod: Dad, how much more time do I have?

Vinod's father, not wanting to remind Vinod of the limited time he had, and not wanting to be reminded himself, bowed his head in sorrow. The pain was evident on his face.

Vinod: Dad.

He gently touched his father's hand and asked again.

Vinod: It's okay, tell me.

Vinod's father: Only one day left. (Tears rolled down his father's face.)

Vinod: Mom, let's go home.

His parents brought Vinod home in a wheelchair.

Vinod's mother: Wouldn't it be better to stay in the hospital, son? If there's an emergency, it'll be a problem again.

Vinod: What problem could be worse than death, Mom?

Vinod's mother: Don't talk like that, son (cries a lot).

Vinod: I want to spend time with you. I don't want to be troubled in the hospital.

Vinod's father: Let him be as he wishes. Anyway, it's better to be peacefully outside than to endure the smell of medicine in the hospital. Tell me, son, what do you want?

Vinod: I want to go to the aquarium.

Vinod's father: Ah, yes!

They were traveling in the car. Vinod enjoyed the cool breeze from the car window. He was feeling fine now.

They reached the aquarium and explored the entire place. They looked at everything as if it were brand new. They ate cotton candy and stall foods, took photos, and enjoyed themselves. There were only a few people in the aquarium, which allowed them to move freely and enjoy themselves even more. All around them were large glass tanks with many varieties of fish.

A guide, like an assistant, came and guided them. As he showed them new and varied fish, Vinod grew very curious.

Vinod asked the guide,

Vinod: I think it's been a long time since I came here. It looks very new.

Guide: We've made a lot of improvements recently and brought in a lot of marine life, keeping their marine life balance in mind. We take care of them.

Vinod: Marine life is another wonder. The more we explore, the more new things we learn.

Guide: Yeah, true.

His mother went to get Vinod his favorite food item. Watching her bargain with the shopkeeper, Vinod and his father talked to each other wholeheartedly.

Vinod's father: She'll never change. No matter where she goes, no matter how fancy the place, she'll always bargain.

Vinod: We don't have that talent. Haha (laughing with happiness).

Vinod's father: Haahaa (laughing with Vinod).

Vinod: You know, the first time I came here was with you. Back then, it was very normal and small. Even though I came with you many times, I never saw such a change. It's only by seeing this place that I realize how fast time changes.

Vinod's father: That's where it was, right?

He pointed to a small tank in the middle.

Vinod's father: You made such a fuss, saying you wanted to swim.

Vinod: Really? Hahaha (laughing at himself with shyness about what he did as a kid).

Vinod's father: Yes, really. You didn't give up until you got inside.

Vinod: That's how it felt back then. Seeing different fish felt so exciting. Maybe if I had kept that curiosity, I would have worked exploring marine life. Caught up in life and tension, I forgot to do what I loved. And honestly, I don't feel like I'm missing anything I've done now. Except for you all. I wish I had done what I loved. Because that's what I'm missing now.

Vinod fell into deep thought. His father saw the regret on Vinod's face and tried to distract him.

Vinod's father: What's taking your mother so long? Oh, she's here.

Vinod's mother: He wouldn't lower the price. Outside, they sell it for so much less. He's saying 100 rupees. No matter how much I asked, he wouldn't give in.

Vinod's father: Even here, what is this?

Vinod: Hahahahahaha (laughing with joy and happiness).

Vinod's parents watched him laughing with joy, and they too felt incredibly happy for him. They were also glad they had brought him to the aquarium and listened to him.

Now they spent even more happy time there. They had even newly constructed a small exhibition. Vinod wanted to ride the giant wheel.

Vinod: Come on, let's ride the giant wheel. It'll be great.

Vinod's father: Oh no, my sugar levels are low. I can't ride now. I'll stay down here; you two go.

Vinod: Mom, will you come then?

But Mom was so excited. She always wanted to get on the giant wheel.

Vinod's mother: Yes! It's been so long since I rode one. Your dad will never come. He'll always make some excuse. Let's go, you stay here.

They carefully helped him onto the giant wheel in his wheelchair. The giant wheel slowly ascended. Vinod's mother waved to Vinod's father, highly excited. Vinod also smiled faintly, seeing his mother so excited.

Vinod: I've never seen you this excited.

Vinod's mother: I always wanted to go to exhibitions like this and play. When I was little, I used to come with my father. But after marriage, and then your dad's diabetes got worse, everything stopped. And then you were born. So many years passed taking care of you.

Vinod: You must have faced a lot of difficulties taking care of me.

Vinod's mother: Difficulties? Oh, not at all. I always wanted to travel and see so many things with you. I wanted to show them to you. But with all the household chores, it was never possible. At least now, that wish has been fulfilled.

Vinod asked his mother,

Vinod: Mom, what do you like? What did you want to be when you were little?

Vinod's mother: I really love children, son. That's why I wanted to work in childcare, not just exhibitions. When I took care of them, I wouldn't even notice the time. Because...

Vinod: Because?

Vinod's mother: Because children are born. There were so many nights I cried. I was so sad that I never got what I truly loved. I gave up all my happiness for one wish. And then you were born, very late and very delicate. After that, I never had another child. I took care of you so carefully. I put everything aside for you, fearing that God might take you away if I pursued my own happiness. Your father doesn't know all this. But he never said no to anything I liked. He understands everything. Even after giving up so much, I still have to scold you sometimes. That's just my life. What I love is never truly mine.

Vinod's mother leaned onto Vinod and cried a lot.

Vinod's mother (with a shaking and crying voice): Please, God. If I give up everything again, will you give my son back to me?

She continued to cry, coughing and sobbing.

Vinod: Let's go home (with a trembling voice, controlling his tears).

They laid Vinod on the bed. His mother and father sat on either side, holding his hand.

Vinod: Mom, no one will stop you anymore. Do what you like, the way you like. This time, as your son, I'm telling you. Dad, Mom likes working in childcare. She likes visiting exhibitions. She likes spending time with children. Dad, you have to fulfill Mom's happiness. And Dad, I never even asked you what you liked.

Vinod's father: I like you and your mother. I like spending time with you both. I like eating sweet candy with you. I like watching you both laugh happily. Don't go, my son. There's so much more to see. I'll show you so many places. I'll feed you. There's another big aquarium. And... and... you wanted to see marine life, right? I'll arrange that too. Don't go, my son, please.

He broke down and cried a lot, like a small child crying for his dying friend.

Vinod hugged his father to calm him down. After so long, he was hugging his father. But for the last time. Even Vinod also broke down in tears.

Vinod's father had never vented out this much emotion. Seeing him, even Vinod's mother was crying.

Vinod's mother: I'll miss you so much, my son.

She was still crying with sorrow and pain. She kissed Vinod on the forehead.

Vinod's mother and father hugged Vinod, and they stayed like that for a while.

Silence.

Silence and pitch black.

Vinod opened his eyes.

And this time, he was in the void. Around him, there was only darkness. And near him, the big tree's vertical eye was still looking at him. This time, it felt so calm, and everything felt so calm.

Vinod stared at the eye. There was nothing to lose. Because this time, he felt a little complete because he had spent time with his parents. Well, he never did in real life. He didn't care which was real and which was a dream anymore because he had gotten a chance to peacefully talk to his family, friends, and love. He didn't want to understand what was really happening and why.

As he stared (looked deeply) at the big tree's vertical eye, blood began to flow from it. Not just a single drop, but many drops.

Vinod, who had been calm until now, felt creepy seeing the blood flow. He couldn't even see where he was standing because everything was so dark, including the ground. And suddenly, from the place he was standing, a huge bomb exploded towards him, engulfing him as well.

What was this sudden thing? What happened next?