Silent Speech

There wasn’t anything Daisy could do now. Just sit and brood. But she was not thus a few months back. She was a very enterprising woman then. A nasty fall one afternoon made her very smoggy in the head. She hasn't spoken a word after that. Her movements were so restricted due to some shock. Doctors told her son it would pass. But it was four months since that accident. Still there wasn't any change in Daisy`s behaviour or movements. Sometimes she was very happy. At other times she totally forgot everything.The medicine bottle on her table was all the more depressing.

Every day, before her son, David, went for work, came in to Daisy`s room and reminded Daisy never to try getting up without the presence of someone in the room. Both David and his wife Anne, were employed. They went out early and came back late. But no one complained. As that was the nature of the modern hi-tech life and job. Everyone says it is a computer oriented age. But none seemed to have any time for anything, other than make the computer do all the jobs. At few times, when her brain was a little sane, Daisy wondered why they give all the credits to the computers, when it is the man, who is feeding it with substance. Weird world indeed! Seldom could Daisy make others understand what was in her mind. As her tongue did not form any words. She often forgot half way, what she began.

There was an age old type writer in a table near her chair. At times Daisy stared at it for a long time as if she felt it would open up and something spooky would emerge and jump out of it!

Once when David brought her cereal breakfast, he found her sitting astride and glaring at the typewriter. ``Oh! Momma, are you remembering those days when dad used to type endlessly? How I used to hate those tick tick sound. Now as a fond memory it is by your bed side.” Slowly she smiled at her son and tried to say something in vain. David took it to be a craving to touch the typewriter. ``Ok momma I shall bring it near you. But then do you want to type something?” David felt as if she was showing some improvements. He dragged the table along with the typewriter towards her chair and said ``Ok momma, I haven`t much time or money to skulk my work and be with you. What to do momma. That is how it is. The maid would be here any moment. Be a good girl ok?” So with a perfunctory peck on her cheek he breezed out.

Yes, the children were always busy. Now since Anne was expecting their first baby, David was always in an apprehensive mood as to how to make both ends meet with his limited income. Daisy`s expenses due to her present condition was not something David had anticipated. Now all the mounting expenses were eating a hole in to his pocket.

John his father was a very ordinary technician in a mechanical company. John was a simpleton who considered his family above everything. Although his means were limited, he saw to it that his dear ones lived a moderately decent life. His sudden demise left a deep gap in their already tight life.

David had to start all over again with his bank job that paid normally. His wife Anne was working in a small IT firm. A slight relief was the little amount Daisy got as a widow `s pension.

Reminiscing at times all the past happiness Daisy sat brooding in her chair. She suddenly smiled to herself. Recognition of some sort came in to her eyes. Yes! her beloved`s typewriter. What was it that she had wanted to type? There was a lonely paper sitting on it looking as if to say ``someone please type something on me .It`s been ages since I am waiting!”…….

It was late in to the night. David came in to Daisy`s room to see whether she was asleep. But strangely she was sitting in her chair, with a set look. ``Momma are you still at it? You can’t type now. May be you would, after a few months. Do you remember something, “David was anxious? He didn’t like the way she was staring at the typewriter. ``Ok Momma, Relax now and try to get some sleep.”

With those words he moved away.

David got up startled at hearing a loud sound .Immediately he woke Anne up and ran to Daisy`s room. Daisy was lying spread-eagled on the floor with her hand clutching on to a space in floor. There was a deep cut on her head from where blood was oozing out.

David was delirious and was crying ``Momma, wake up “He took her and laid on the bed. Daisy did not move. Consternation spread on David. He slowly extended his hands under her nose. There wasn’t any breathing .Yes, Daisy’s soul had left that miserable body. It was then that Anne`s eyes fell on the typewriter. There was a paper in it .She took the paper out .Just two words were typed on it ``under the chair”.

Under the chair on the floor there was a slight depression. In fact it was there where Daisy was clutching on to when she died. Anne gathered all her strength and pushed the depression. It was a sliding slab. It slid to show a steel box hidden inside. Anne slowly took it out and opened. It contained a lot of gold coins and bundles of notes. Enough for them for a life time. They were the little savings which John had gathered over the years. It was secret between John and Daisy, till the appropriate time came for them to reveal.

But destiny had a different way of revealing it!