A Father's Ordeal: Daughter's Illness and a Doctor's Cruelty

It was a scorching afternoon in the month of Jestha. I was teaching English at Nirmal Secondary School in Damauli, Tanahun. A frail boy rushed into the classroom, out of breath. He had come down from Bandipur, hurrying to his work. He was panting heavily. In a dejected tone, with a sense of urgency, he said, ‘Sir, Jyamuna didi said, the child has become critically ill. You have to go right away, right now!’

That ‘child’ who had become critically ill was my nine-month-old daughter, Daisy. The shock of that ominous news plunged my world into darkness for a moment. My limbs went limp. I became senseless. In that moment of panic, without saying anything to the students, I hurried out of the classroom. The headmaster of the school was Amar Raj Kaini. A benevolent Congressman and a good man. I requested, ‘Sir, my daughter is critically ill, I am going to Bandipur.’