How worse it can get?

'Orange!! Orange!! 5 for 10'. that yelling woke kumaran. he was tierd and had fallen asleep as soon as he got seat. He was on his way to his native. The train had stopped. He checked which station it was, and realized it was coimbatore, were he had to get down. He hurried, took his bag and got down. As soon as he got down the train moved. He sighed, a sigh of relief. He walked out of the station and reached the bus stand. he had to reach gandhipuram, from where he will get a bus to his native.

He reached gandhipuram and got on the bus. He took ticket, it costed him Rs. 25. The journey ahead was 2 and half hour long and it was 11pm already. The bus started.

He thought, it was the worst day of his life. He had returned to Ernakulam from his native only 3 days back. everything was fine then. Today morning, Lakshmi, his wife had called him and said his son is very sick. They had took him to doctor and doctor had asked them to admit the kid to hospital. She was alone and don't know what to do. she didn't had any money too.

He also didn't had any money with him. Anyway, by evening he could collect some money from his friend and had just started. But to his bad luck, some one pick pocketed his purse. luckily he had kept 500 Rs in his bag that remained with him. He had boarded the train without taking any ticket. He somehow had to reach his native. He can arrange some money from there, once he reach there.

He felt sleepy. he looked at neighbors watch and realized in 30 minutes he will be reaching Singur, his native. Suddenly there was an blast and the bus stopped. Kumaran thought, 'whats it now?'. The conductor and driver got down and was checking under the bus. Conductor came back and said, 'Bus won't go. Its axle broke'. He was giving back the money of the ticket. Only 9-10 people where there in the bus. The got down and waited for any vehicle to come. some car and jeep came but they didn't stop. He thought he would walk. If he walk for 1km, there is a cut rod, by taking which he will reach his house in 20-30 minutes and so he started to walk.

He started to curse his fate. In the morning he got the news of his son's sickness. then he was pick pocketed. Now this. he thought, can this get any worse. Then he thought, it was his fate. Can't blame anyone. God has been really harsh to him.

He was a brilliant student. Topper in his school. One of the few kids, from his village, who has been to college. It was his last year and his father expired. All the burden came to his shoulder. To sisters bellow him. He had to go to work. He took his family profession, that of dhobi. it was not going that well, until he came to kochi with his uncle. From there he earned pretty good, for his family to sustain. He had to work from morning 7 to night 8. He saved every ruppee and his sisters were married well. He also got married. But his happiness didn't last long. His mother passed away 2 years back. She had lead a hard life, and when it was time for her to take some rest and have a good life, she passed away.

His son was of 5yrs. He wanted to give everything that he didn't get. wanted him to get high degrees and all. And now he is lying there sick. Lakshmi was crying when she had called in the morning. Doctor has said to admit the child as soon as possible. if delayed child's condition may get serious, and can even go fatal.

He had some money with him, but had spent all when he came Singur last week. It was 'Puthande' and had spent money in buying dresses for his family and relatives.

He was walking, thinking of all these and without checking crossed road. 'Bang!!!' next moment, kumaran was lying on floor. It took some moment for him to realize what had happened. A car had hit him and he was lying on the road. He hands were paining and when he checked it was bleeding. The person who was driving the car came running. He helped Kumarn to stand up. Kumarn had realized that it was his mistake. A smile came to his face. He thought 'It can't get any worse!'.

The driver was helping Kumaran to whipe of his wounds with hi s towel. He bought a bottel of water and Gave it to kumaran to drink. He insisted on to take Kumaran to hospital, for which Kumaran denyed. Kumaran said, 'Its OK. It was my mistake. You go on. I have to reach my home. Can't wait to care for my wounds.' The person said, 'OK, I will drop you at your home.'. He asked kumaran to get on to the car. and asked him the way to his home. The person said, 'I'm Martin. I was on the way to palakkad from my estate. Is there any problem at home. You seemed walking in dreams, when I had hit you. And now you seem to have an urgency to reach home'. Kumaran told Martin what all happened to him that day.

In a few moments, they reached Kumaran's home. Lakshmi was waiting in front of the house. it was evident that she was disturbed. she came running to Kumarn and was crying. She said, the child is having high fever and she had sent their neighbor boy to get some vehicle to go to hospital. And was waiting for that. Kumaran rushed to inside. Martin also followed. Child was shivering. Martin suddenly, picked up the boy and carried to his car. Kuamar and Lakshmi was astonished,but they followed him. They all got into the car. Martin asked, 'Where is the nearest hospital?'. Kumaran said there is government hospital near by. But there won't be doctor there at night. The other is 15Kms from there. Martin said, 'Lets go to govt. hospital. If we had luck, we will find a doctor there. else we will go to other'. Kumaran said, 'With my luck, is shouldn't even expect to find that hospital open now!'. Martin said, 'Don't worry, doctor will be there'.

They reached the hospital. The compounder was in the friend. Kumaran got out of the car, ran to him and asked, 'is there any doctor?'.
compounder said, 'Why, Dr. Jayakrishnan is here.Whats the matter?'. Kumaran said, 'Thank god! My child is very sick' Compounder said, 'Get the kid to the lobby, I'll get the doctor'. Saying this, he went inside. By then, Martin had brought the child. They laid him on the stretcher. By then the doctor came. He checked the kid. and asked the compounder to take him to room. He then turned to Kumaran and said, 'Everything will be O.K. Don't worry.' And he went inside. Doctor checked the child and prescribed something on notepad and gave it to compounder. He went and to store, and brought some medicines. Doctor gave some injection.

Martin went to doctor and asked him about the child's condition. Doctor said. 'Child is OK now. you brought him in time. He will be alright in todays. Its viral fever.'

Saying this doctor went to his cabin. Kumaran went to compounder and asked, 'What happened to Dr. Jayakrishnan. He was not like this. He was harsh and all. Now he is talking very softly and he is working at night.'. Compounder said, 'One month back,his only son died in an accident. He died because, he was not given timely treatment. That changed the doctor. After that he is very soft and caring to his patients. He insisted on having a doctor on duty at night. If none was available, he himself came.'

Kumaran was surprised and he looked at Martin. He was smiling. Martin took his hand and brought him out. He took some money from purse and gave it to Kumaran. Kumaran rejected. Martin said, 'Take it as a loan. When everything is alright, give it back to me.' saying this he thrust the money to Kumaran's hand. Kumaran asked, 'How will I find you again?'. Martin said smiling, 'Don't worry. I'll find you.'

Maritn said, 'Think, everything here is alright. I have to take coer of some other things also. So let me leave'. He had held Kumarans shoulder while telling this. Kumaran felt a sense of security. He thought, after all things are not that worse. Martin got into the car. He smiled at Kumaran and the car took off. Kumaran looked at the number plate. All he could see is 600 written in big bold letters. He felt it was not 600 but rather written "GOD" !!!