Karan Drabble : Kadwi Dawayi

A twelve year-old Karan was wrapped in three blankets, still shivering with cold and high fever. His mom was frequently changing the cold pad on his forehead. Param came in with the medicines. 

"Ab kaisa lag raha hai Chhote?" Param sat on the bedside, holding Karan's hand. 

"Thand lag rahi hai."

"Kaha tha maine, mat bheego baarish me, lekin meri sunega tab na!" Mamta shook her head. 

"School se laut-te waqt baarish ho gayi.. meri galti nahi hai." Karan sneezed.

"Raincoat le jane me zor padta hai na sahabzade ko. Tum hi samjhao apne laadle ko." Mamta got up, "Main soup bana k laati hu."

"Bhaiya-"

"Chhote! Tujhe pata hai na, bachpan se baarish me bheegte hi tujhe sardi ho jati hai, to phir ye har baar kyu karte ho?"

"Ye jo aap pure time mera hath pakad k baith-te ho na, achha lagta hai." 

Param ruffled his hair, "Paglu!"

Karan chuckled and sneezed again.

Param checked his temperature, 102°C, "Chalo utho, dawayi kha lo."

"Khana nahi khaya kuch." Karan tried to stall. 

"Mere jaane se pehle khichdi khayi thi. Koi bahana nahi sunna mujhe, chalo."

"Maa soup bana rahi hai na, usko peene k baad pakka dawayi khaunga."

"Pakka?"

"Haan pakka." Karan nodded.

After half an hour, Karan had had his soup. 

"Dawayi lo." Param forwarded three tablets and a glass of water.

"Thodi der baad na, bhaiya, please."

Param smiled at him, "Chhote, agar dawayi nahi khayi to thik kaise hoge? Mera pyara bhai, jaldi se dawayi khayega."

Karan tried to look everywhere else. 

"Thik hai." Param pinched his nose and Karan opened his mouth and had to swallow the medicines. Param sighed, "Itna bada ho gaya hai phir bhi dawayi khane me baccho se bhi gaya guzra hai!"

Karan sneezed, "Kitni kadwi thi!"

"Jitni kadwi dawayi loge, utni jaldi thik hoge."

"Aisa kuch nahi hota." Karan pouted.

"Chal ab nautanki band kar. Ye le." Paran gave him a honey flavoured vicks ki goli.

"Bhaiya chocolate do na..ye kya hai maine kitni kadwi dawayi kha li."

Param smacked his head, "Sardi huyi hai aur chocolate khani hai? Maar khayega tu ab."

Karan silently chewed on the closest substitute of candy while Param held his hand and slowly caressed his hair.

Karan loved the attention he got when he was ill, but not the taste of medicines. 

~*~