5
Vishal froze the moment his eyes fell on the names:
Dr. Ranjith Kumar – Primary Health Center, Coonoor
Mr. Chandrasekhar – Health Officer, Coonoor
Aarthi, noticing the sudden change in his expression, asked, “What happened, Vishal?”
“This is the man I saw,” Vishal said, pointing to Dr. Ranjith Kumar’s photograph. “And that’s not all. During the exact same period Dr. Ranjith was in service, my father was working right here in Coonoor as the Health Officer.”
“What? That’s incredible. Didn’t you know your father worked here?” Aarthi asked in surprise.
“Look at the year, Aarthi. This was ten years ago. I was at a residential school in Namakkal back then. I actually had no idea he was posted here. They only worked together for a single year, but something significant must have happened between them during that time,” Vishal said thoughtfully.
“Why don’t you just ask your father about it?”
“No, there’s no use asking him. He’s hiding something from me. I need to find out what happened without him knowing.”
“How is that possible?”
“It has to be.”
“But how?”
“I have Dr. Ranjith Kumar’s address here. I’ll go there. Someone might be around, maybe I’ll find a clue.”
“That’s a good idea. Let’s go.”
“You’re coming too?”
“I feel like I should. Unless you don’t want me to,” Aarthi replied. Vishal smiled.
“You are most welcome, Aarthi.”
Vishal read the address aloud: “RK House, Edappally, Coonoor. Aarthi, do you know where this is?”
“It’s about nine kilometers away on Kotagiri Road.”
“Hop on, let’s go.”
Aarthi climbed onto the back of the Activa. As Vishal started the engine, his mind was racing. If I find out something about Dr. Ranjith Kumar, maybe I’ll find a way to solve this mess.
“Don’t get lost in thought while driving. Keep your eyes on the road,” Aarthi warned from behind.
Vishal smiled. “Whenever you’re with me, all my problems seem to get solved.”
Aarthi blushed. “How much longer will you be in Coonoor?”
“Until the bungalow is sold.”
“Then I’ll be with you until then. Let’s get your problems sorted,” she said playfully.
“The distance between Coimbatore and Coonoor isn’t that much, you know,” Vishal blurted out. Aarthi fell silent, smiling to herself as she looked away.
They reached Edappally sooner than expected. “We should ask someone for directions,” Aarthi suggested. Vishal pulled up at a local bakery.
“Do you know where RK House is?”
“RK House?” the young man at the counter frowned, thinking.
“Dr. Ranjith Kumar’s house?”
“Ranjith Sir’s house? Go straight for about a kilometer. Anyone there can point it out to you.”
After thanking him and moving on, Vishal asked Aarthi, “Did you notice that?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“The moment you mentioned Dr. Ranjith’s name, that shopkeeper’s face lit up with such joy.”
“Great catch, Aarthi. You’re sharp.”
After driving a kilometer inside, Vishal stopped near an elderly man walking along the road. “Sir, could you tell us where Dr. Ranjith Kumar’s house is?”
“Who are you, son?” the old man asked.
Vishal hesitated for a second. “I’m Vishal. Chandrasekhar’s son.”
“Which Chandrasekhar?”
“Health Officer Chandrasekhar.”
The moment the words left Vishal’s mouth, the old man’s face contorted with rage.
“You rascal! How dare you show your face here?” he roared. “Ayyaavu! Marimuthu! Antony! Come here quickly!”
Aarthi watched in shock as Vishal realized the gravity of the situation.
“Sir, you can scold me or hit me if you want. I don’t know anything. I only came here to find out the truth of what happened,” Vishal said calmly. His composure seemed to give the old man pause.
Ayyaavu and Antony came running at the call. “What happened, Perumal?”
Aarthi’s eyes were wide with fear.
Perumal went silent for a moment. “Nothing, you two go back,” he told them. They looked at him confused, but eventually turned away, muttering.
“If I had given them the signal, you’d be dead by now,” Perumal hissed at Vishal. “Just go back the way you came.”
“Sir, you knew both my father and Dr. Ranjith. Tell me what really happened. I came here specifically to learn the truth. Please,” Vishal pleaded.
Perumal looked at Vishal’s face. “What can a son do for the sins of his father? Don’t you dare tell anyone else in this area that you are Chandrasekhar’s son. They will kill you.”
Vishal folded his hands in a respectful plea. “What did my father do? Please tell me, Sir.”
Looking at the faces of Vishal and Aarthi, Perumal let out a long, heavy sigh. He began to speak.
“Dr. Ranjith Kumar was a god to us. He was a savior sent by the heavens to serve the mountain folk who were dying of diseases without a hospital. Ten years ago, his hospital stood right where you are standing now.
He used to walk like a lion. He took such care of the poor. If someone couldn’t make it to the hospital, he would go to their homes. Just his presence was enough to heal. He spoke with such kindness to everyone.
Our Doctor was a man of absolute integrity. And it was that very honesty… that claimed the lives of his entire family.”
Perumal closed his eyes, lost in the memory.
Ten Years Ago…
“Sir?” a woman called out, peeking into the room.
“Come in, Ma,” Dr. Ranjith Kumar smiled.
“My son is doing much better now. You are a god, Sir.”
“Ma, I’m just an ordinary man. I didn’t do much.”
The woman bowed her head in gratitude and left.
“Veni,” the Doctor called out. The nurse, Veni, looked in. “Yes, Doctor?”
“Is there anyone else?”
“There’s a mother here with a child.”
“Send them in.”
A moment later, a woman rushed in, carrying a child who lay limp and unconscious in her arms. She wailed as she saw the Doctor.
“Sir, please… please save my child!”
