Genetic Counseling : Part 2
Story By Thiyam Ningol, Africa

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Robert was all alone amidst the multitude of new found blood relatives. Before he knew he had relatives, he had a comfortable and peaceful life. At that moment, he wished he never met Lillian. If it was another girl, all those happenings would have not been there and he would have continued with his peaceful life.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt messy and guilty towards the child and Lillian. His anger towards John grew in multitude. The facts were not negotiable. It would remain lifelong not only during his lifetime but during the whole life of the little baby. "My father is my uncle or my mother is my aunt-that is what he would have to tell people"-John spoke to himself.

Robert found it intolerable. His and his family's life would remain as "Life of questions without answers". His life was meaningless already. "Then why to live"-he asked himself and he could not get the answer.

He sat down and drafted a note. Reread it several times. Found satisfactory. Contacted a lawyer, legalized the context. Went to a nearby Internet café, wrote a final e-mail to Lillian

"Dear Lillian,

By the time you read this mail, I will be gone. Take care of my baby. Contact my lawyer. I have left all I had in your name.

Do me a favour. Please pass on this note which you will find with my body to John along with my mother's box lying in my bed room.

Robert.

And he pressed the button "Send".

The next day, after reading the mail, Lillian rushed to the police station. The police found his body hanging on the ceiling fan, in his room with a letter strapped on his palm.

Lilian and her mother buried John with all the due respects and rituals.

When the funeral formalities were over and the lawyer has given a go ahead clearance, Lilian opened the note:

It read,

Father,
For the first time in my life I got the opportunity to call somebody "father" but I am not lucky enough to hear the response.

For the mistakes you made, we are paying the price. I do not wish to continue ashaming Lillian's and baby's lives. I am returning the secret treasure box of my late mother where she treasured the cards you gave her and a key whose meaning only you and my mother knew.

Robert
After two months, Lillian walked towards John's house pushing the pram. Her son Robin, one year old, was sitting in the pram playing with a wrapped package.

"Knock, knock"

Maria opened the gate, welcomed them but Lillian declined.

"We just want to deliver this package personally to Father, if he is around".

John heard them; he came out. Lillian lifted her son and the little boy handed over the package to John and smiled.

"Come in"-Maria invited them again.

"Thank you. We are in a hurry" and they went away.

John remained there standing in a trans. He saw his image in the little boy.

"Call them back, please"-he pleaded Maria.

Maria came out to the gate; saw the tail light of the taxi disappearing in the dust.

His hands were shaking, could not even hold the package nicely. Maria helped him to unpack. There was a letter and a small package inside.

"Read it out for me."

"How could you do all these unspeakables?"-Maria was furious.

"Thirty years ago, I was a young man."

"NO, thirty years ago you were a...."

Concluded....