Bia Hospital.
Gastroenterology and Hepatology department.
The doctor looked at the computer carefully and turned to Amala. She smiled and asked. ''You came alone again, Amala?''
''I told you, I am an orphan. Doctor, you can tell me whatever that is wrong with me. I'm old enough to take care of myself.'' Amala said to the doctor. She looked nonchalant.
''Amala, still… I need to know who your guardian is. What I have to say is I'm about to tell you is important. So please, can you tell me who your guardian is?'' The doctor didn't seem to buy her story. Since the day she came to the hospital and demanded for an MRI and other scans, she has always seemed like someone who didn't want her parents in her business. She knew there was more to Amala's strong resistance when it came to introducing her parents or guardians.
''Am I going to die?'' Amala asked and chuckled. ''Right, I thought as much.''
''Amala…'' The doctor looked at her with a worried gaze.
''Doctor, you can tell me whatever is wrong with me. I can handle it.''
'The thing is… you need to go into surgery immediately. We will need your guardians to sign some papers before that.''
''It must be serious. What is wrong with me, doctor? Please tell me, I need to know.''
''Amala, you have stomach cancer.''
''My guess was right. You know, doctor. I've been going through hell lately. Any time I eat, I feel like vomiting it out. My stomach would hurt as if it is been cut into pieces.''
''I am serious, Amala. It is still possible to cure it. We can do the surgery and then…''
''And then what?'' Amala asking, cutting the doctor off. ''I will do chemotherapy or radiotherapy? All of those things are painful. I'm already going through a lot, I don't want my body to endure that again.''
'You are still young and the location is that wide. As long as we do the surgery, you will recover in no time.''
''I won't do it!'' Amala said coldly.
''What? Listen, Amala. This is serious. If you don't do the surgery, the cancer is going to spread and you will have less time.''
''I said I won't do it! The universe is finally granting me what I've always wanted. Why would I try to safe myself?'' Amala stood up and picked her bag. 'Don't worry about the bills. I have enough money to cover that up.''
''Wait!'' The doctor stood up and picked her card and gave it to Amala. ''I know you already made a decision to not undergo surgery, but this is my card. Keep it with you and make sure you call me if anything happens.''
Amala smiled. ''Doctor, how much time do I have left without surgery?''
''Four months, at most six months.''
''That's enough time to prepare for my own funeral.'' Amala said and smiled. She looked at the doctor and walked out.
Amala came out of the hospital and looked at the sky. She smiled and muttered. 'It's such a beautiful day!''
…..
Abduls house.
''That wrench girl wouldn't pick up the phone. What is wrong with her?'' Mr. Abdul said bitterly and looked at his wife who was sitting quietly.. He had being calling Amala's line since in the morning when the school called to inform him that Amala had beat up two students and said she was quitting school.
''There must be a reason for what happened. Amala doesn't attack people for no reason.'' Martha said, trying to defend Amala.
The door opened and Amala walked in. She saw her father picked his slipper to throw at her and she dodged it.
''Mum…'' Amala looked at her mother. She didn't bother to spare her father a glance.
''Amala, have you lost your mind? Your teacher called to say that you beat up two students and told them that you were not going back to the school again.'' Mr. Abdul asked.
''Those girls deserved to be beaten. They bullied me and this wasn't the first time.''
''No matter what, violence isn't the way out.'' Martha said to Amala softly.
''They made graffiti on my desk. I'm always picked on at school. Even when I report, nobody does something about it. They pour water on my books. Put my bag in the school sink and pour food on my shoes.''
''So you put the law into your own hands? Even if they do that, you should not attack them.'' Mr. Abdul found her reasons to be ridiculous.
''Why? Because the Bible said we should attack me who bully us? Even the son of God didn't stand back when the Israelites tried to sabotage him.''
''Do not use the Bible to defend yourself, Amala. How many schools do you want to attend before you go to college?''
''College?'' Amala chuckled. "I don't have any plans of going to college. I already told you, school is not my thing. Just let me live my life nicely till I die.''
''What? Let you live your life nicely till you die? Right, why don't you just die now? That way we all be at rest…'' Mr. Abdul removed a cane from the side to hit Amala.
''It hurts. Why do you keep beating me? I'm no longer a kid you know.'' Amala said and ran behind the couch.
''Come out here, right now!'' Mr. Abdul threatened. ''You want to live your life with no worries and die peacefully, right?''
''Leave me alone!'' Amala yelled. She wiped her tears and sobbed.
''I told you before we sent you to this school. Didn't I? I told you that was your last school and if you dare messed up, you're leaving this house. Didn't I?'' Mr. Abdul said angrily.
''You said it first! I will leave this hell if that's what you want.'' Amala said and ran into her room.
''You really wanted to test me and see if I'm capable of doing that, right?'' Mr. Abdul asked and Martha tried to stop him.
''Please, let her be. I will talk to her.''
''You better talk to her. She is a useless girl. That is why I hate girls!''
''What did you say?'' Martha asked.