Short Narrative By D-3

“You eat here, Dad!” instructed Rijwan, his son-in-law, moving the table to the balcony, “it’s nearer to your room and toilet.”

Darshini, his young granddaughter, asked innocently, “Grandpa, are you wearing your diapers?”

“You can fart as loud as you want here, granddad,” added Surya, his grandson, running round him and giggling loudly.

Amidst the sterile atmosphere (smell) at the hospital, a family was preparing to fetch home their grandfather. The old wheelchair rattled noisily (hear) along the quiet rough cemented pavement. Behind, his daughter, Durga, and son-in-law, Rijwan, were whispering furiously, clearly annoyed at having to fetch Grandpa Venga home for Hari Raya. With a disheartened sigh, Grandpa Venga took out his hearing aid.

Hands shivering, eyes blurred, nose running, ears blocked, Grandpa Venga’s eyes tried to scan the table for his cup of coffee. Gathering all his feeble strength, stretching his weak arms, his trembling fingers finally gripped the handle of the coffee cup. Trembling, he slowly managed to lift the cup off the table. Halfway to its target, strength deserting him, the cup dropped. The splash of coffee on the floor and the sound of shattering porcelain broke the cosy atmosphere at the dinner table.

At another sumptuous dinner, Grandpa Venga attempted to reach for the plate of vegetables across the table. Again, his hand trembled and he dropped the plate, scattering gravy and vegetable across the table. Rijwan, frustrated and annoyed, got up and left the table in a huff. Durga stared in dilemma, torn between her father and husband.

The family was chatting over dinner when they were interrupted by a loud fart. Soon, a pungent stench permeated the room. Having to hold their breath, tears soon welled up in their eyes.

After a week of disastrous dining experience with Grandpa Venga, Rijwan came up with the idea of a separate dinning table at the balcony for him. Grandpa Venga ate his dinner alone with only the cat to keep him company. His heart broke and tears started to fill his eyes when he reminisced about how Durga used to be a filial daughter.

Rijwan asked casually, resting his hand lovingly on Surya’s shoulder, “What’s that game you’re playing?”

“When I grow up, you and mum can eat here, little brother and I will eat inside,” Darshini explained clearly shocking her mother.

Surya reminded smilingly, “Dad, you must remember to wear your diapers!”