I was working at Baroda in the Staff Training College (STC) of a Bank during March 2001 when I received a message from home that my dad’s health was deteriorating. I was really upset and I took the immediate available train to Mangalore to reach my home. When I reached home, I saw my dad oscillating from conscious to semiconscious state and vice versa. I stood by his
bedside and kept talking to him off and on.
As it was March-end, there was the year-end work that had to be attended to by me as I was In-charge of the unit. I requested my colleagues to attend to the work till I returned to the headquarters. In view of the official exigencies, I had applied for only six days of leave and promised my colleagues that I would return to the headquarters on the 1st of April itself, at any cost, to submit some important Statements to my head
office.
Two days before the day of my departure to Baroda, when I was talking to my dad, he asked me when I had planned to return to Baroda. I guessed that he was asking me this particular question as his end was near. This was a very difficult and delicate question for me to answer. My duty at Baroda demanded that I should be there in my office on the 1st April itself as promised to my colleagues, and that I attend to the most important work expected of me. Supposing I told the fact that I was leaving for Baroda the day after next, my dad would feel very bad that, at the time of his imminent death, I would not be there by his bedside. In case I lied to him that I was on a long leave, and left home the day after next, as had been planned by me, he would come to know that I lied to him -- if he was alive and conscious on the day of my departure. After great
predicament, I told my dad that I would be leaving for Baroda the day after next to attend to some important work at office, oblivious of how he would take it, just to remain truthful to my
conscience.
It so happened that my father slipped into coma on the same day and he was taken to the nearest hospital for treatment. I was there by his bedside at the hospital along with my brothers till the next day. Unfortunately, my dad did not regain consciousness thereafter, and I left for Baroda on the scheduled date itself. When I reached Baroda the next day, I got a call from my home that dad had expired. I felt extremely sad that I could not be there at his bedside at the time of his death. More than that, what haunts me every now and then is that I should not have spoken the
truth to my dad at that critical moment when he asked me about my return trip, as it was undeniably an
unpleasant truth.
Now comes to my mind a Sanskrit saying: “Sathyam Bruyath, Priyam Bruyath, Na Bruyath Sathyamapriyam (
speak the truth, speak pleasantly and do not speak unpalatable truth).
May my dad’s soul rest in peace!
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