I understand today....

I understand today…

When my daughter was rammed by a racing Inova on Peddar Road, Mumbai we were thrust into a situation that had been experienced before only on the screen. In seconds we had to contend with cops, law, hospital, insurance, residence, bills and well wishers. Thanks to the timely action of the Villa Theresa nuns, she was rushed to Jaslok Hospital emergency and attended without delay. As a visitor to Mumbai, I shudder to imagine the plight had it occurred any where else for the mature wise nuns acted without dithering, with courage. This was a true saviour.

An FIR was filed at Gamdevi police station. Bleeding my daughter insisted that she give the right facts to the cops and signed the FIR in the emergency room with her right side broken, smashed. Then the ambulance chasers descended wanting us to give them a vakalatnama to take up our case. They promised bringing large compensation of Rs. 10 lakhs at least, provided we first spent two lakhs to start the process. Then they said we can share the settlement 50:50. We will finish fast they claimed five seven years and you will get a settlement.

The cops knew the vehicle owner as they had the details from the arrested driver, a Bihari who was enjoying a car race on a Saturday night. They let him out three days later on Rs.2000 bail. The driver made no attempt to flee the scene and handed over the car keys to the Villa Theresa watchman. The cops said that the owner should not apologise or talk to us as we could be sued for harassing the owner for compensation. What about a poor man who is broken, how will he manage his hospital bills and family welfare. That was not a problem, the cops explained. We will contact the Sait and get money out of him and give it to the victim. But for you, file a case and you will get compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act. And we will file a case on the driver for rash driving, you are a witness, and you must come to court. It does not matter if the person is from out station, multiple fractures on arms and leg, head wounds, plastic surgery etc..

A long stay at the hospital and some relief from the medical Insurance, though the doctors asked for their full fees, and not what the Insurance would allow. Persons of long acquaintance stayed away without even a phone call to enquire though in a social group they would make solicitous enquires. Childhood friends rushed to aid spending hours of time and support to keep the spirit up.

Today I understand how the reality of our own nature makes itself known in a nano second of time. To lose that opportunity, not to act right with human instinct is a lifetime of regret that no amount of play time posturing or role playing will erase. For nothing can still a heart that fails itself.