(No story is purely fictional. It cannot be. There are always some elements- locations, characters, incidents that can be borrowed from reality. It is this possibility of mixing fact and fiction, imagining how things would have turned out differently, creating an alternate universe that isalluring and fantastic. Or perhaps it is the work of pure genius when a story is original- really original- something which lesser writers can never hope to achieve.
Nevertheless,the following short story is part fiction and part reality.)
While Richard Sullivan was leaving for his office at 9 in the morning, after having his daily breakfast at the hotel’s coffee shop- booth only; although he was a lone diner- he realised he’d been feeling a bit queasy since morning. In fact, he had been uneasy since a few days but had ignored it, what with the mountain of work he did in the office daily. Work was a nice refuge, plus, he hated being sick in his hotelwhole day with no one to take care of him. As an extra deterrent, he didn’t much like- rather hated- the hotel’s on-call doctor. Richard thought that he was cheesy andwith a few meetings he had had with this doctor in the past one year, Richard felt he could almost predict what medicines the doctor would prescribe. Further, he didn’t want to be hospitalised; as it was suggested by the doctor a few times during the previous consults. So considering all these things, Richard started off for his office.
“Good morning, Mr Sullivan” said Rakesh, his doorman, smiling. Returning his greetings, Richard walked towards the hotel’s porch. Narendra, the bellboy also greeted him with the same smile. “Hello Narendra!” Richard replied. A name he had taken some time to pronounce. Richard was always surprised by the fervor some porters at this hotel showed. Interacting with the managerial staff was alright, but it was these employees he could count on to fetch him things at any time of the day. He was always amazed by how perceptive these people were, always willing to please, guessing what you wanted. And all this despite very less education and limited knowledge of spoken English.
Richard had somewhat come to like his stay in this hotel. After his wife passed away two years back, he had immersed himself in work. He had, in fact, stopped being retired and taken up work again. No, he wasn’t consumed by sadness or guilt over being the one who survivedas it often happens with people who lose their spouse.He just didn’t know what to do with free time at home now that Allison passed away.He had tried dating- at his sons’ insistence- for a while back in London, which he admitted to himself was ridiculous and farcical. When this opportunity came up at his company to set up their office in Mumbai, he thought there was no reason for him to not apply. Both his sons were grown men now and both had settled decently, financially at least. So Richard didn’t mind the long working hours.
He was also living in a way he wouldn’t have imagined back home. Most of his expenses were taken care of, a car at his disposal, hotel’s swimming pool, spa, restaurants, laundry within the premises and any other requests just a phone call away and hotel’s employees at his beck and call. Except the doctor, of course. Past year and a half had been very challenging and fulfilling, but today Richard wondered about the future. ‘After Allison, I haven’t thought much about what I’ll do next. I don’t know whatI want to doafter this assignment. Perhaps I should go back to London, work part time and spend the next few years in near the boys.’ He wondered.
“Your car is waiting” Narendra said and guided Richard towards his car, holding the door so he could get in. “How’s your family, Narendra?”
“They are fine, Sir.” In the beginning, Richard interacted with this staff only as a ritual, without bothering much about the details. Over time, he had come to know a few things about some staff members’ backgrounds and liked to engage in some small talk while on his way to work. He didn’t much like talking to the staff while returning from work as he would get tired and would always directly walk up to his room.
Greeting his driver, Richard got inside the car and started for office. Looking at his schedule for the day, his mind started planning how he will spend it. For the next ten hours, he forgot all about the hotel, his wife, his nostalgia and the fact that he wasn’t feeling too well.
After spending a long day at office, Richard entered the hotel’s busy lobby at 10.30 in the evening. The uneasiness had returned, so did shortness of breath and a little pain in the chest. ‘It’s amazing how the mind blocks these things when you are busy,’ he thought. ‘I guess I have to see the damned doctor today.’
Without talking to any staff, Richard got into the elevator started for his room. While on the way, he thought the uneasy feeling was getting worse. ‘Some time in the room and I’ll call for assistance.’ He realised he was sweating profusely. When he reached his floor, he took out the key card and staggered towards his room. When Richard was at the door he wasn’t sure where he was, what he was feeling or what he should do. The chest pain compounded and he felt disoriented- or so he thought. As he entered his room and closed the door behind him, he was in deep agony and could feel his face and body twitching. He wondered maybe he overlooked his illness and should have seen a doctor much before. He started walking towards the phone, but one final bout of chest pain boiled through his chest, and he slumped on the floor, against the closed door.
Richard Sullivan was found dead the next morning by the hotel’s staff. His housekeeping lady noticed something wrong when she couldn’t open the door of his room and notified others. His death was attributed to natural causes, a severe heart attack at that. ‘He came back around 10.00, it is a busy time. It is difficult someone noticed him. Plus, the bell staff said he never interact much while coming from work. So no one would have spoken to him even if they saw him,’ one manager was heard telling someone about the incident.
Fortunately for the hotel, his was a natural death. Still they took all efforts to minimise the press on this incident. The doctor also concluded that, had he consulted a doctor a few days earlier; or few hours even, or had he collapsed outside of his room, (where he could be easily noticed by the staff), it may have been possible to save him.
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