Day 3

Deva Prasad

I'm on the plane to South Korea confused and distressed with a throbbing pain in my head and chest.  I fall asleep somehow. I dream that my brother is sitting in a graduation ceremony. I felt relieved thinking, "Ok. He is going to be there for his daughter’s graduation". I pray and make a deal with God to give him at least 5 more years, so his older daughter could finish college.

I get down the plane with the confidence I will take my brother back to the USA or India. His colleague meets me at the Seoul airport. My niece comes running to me “Priya Athai (Aunt)”. My heart melts. I tell her not to worry and assure her that nothing  worse will happen.

A high official from his company at the airport talks to me about how well he knew my brother and how smart he was. He was 'Prasad' to family, 'DP' to his college mates, and 'Deva' to his colleagues. Every one of his colleagues and friends I meet says this shouldn't have happened to Deva. To everyone, I repeatedly ask, "There is a chance he is going to be alright. Right?"

I meet my SIL at the hospital. She looks drained. I see my brother lying down in ICU hooked to different machines and my heart panics. The heat wave that I couldn't explain surrounds me again. The machine sounds creep me out. He is on  life support. I never imagined I would see him in this state. We talk to him hoping he would come out of his coma hearing our words. The doctor says there is a Neurology Specialist coming tonight. He asks us to go home hoping for the best.

I am in his office room in his house. It looks like he was ready to interview someone. There are resumes and watches arranged neatly on his desk. He loved watches and he loved to dress sharp. His suits and shoes are neatly arranged in the closet. He is a sentimental person; he still has the tie my husband gifted him for his marriage. 

The office room has a beautiful scenic view of the mountain. Covered with a light snow blanket the mountain looks beautiful. My SIL shows me the steps on the mountain that my brother takes for his walk. No wonder he loved to walk up there. I should have visited him when he was doing well. Hopefully it is not too late.

None of us sleep the whole night. I talked to my niece about our childhood days; how we used to fight and compete on everything. He was a very smart kid. He won every competition. Though he is the older one, I tried to get the better of him. However, we stood together if someone came against one of us. He was very soft-hearted and caring. She listened to all the stories. 

I call and tell my distraught husband, "He is out there and we need to bring him down. I don’t know how to do it. There should be a way though. The only thing  we can do now is pray."