The Not So Grumpy Old Man!!

LAST PART

The notepad, on the table, felt the wet of his tears as Mr.Gilbert tried to focus on calculating the money he has saved all this years. The treacly voice, the never-to-be-forgotten words, the cute pint-sized face made tears welled up in his eyes again. He knew he can't see Ryan dying like this. They have become the best of friends - to him, Ryan was the only person he shared a hell lot with! How can he let  his best friend go away from him? How can he let such a radiant lad die? He kept on wiping his tears constantly and tried to concentrate on the complex calculations.

  "He has a hole in his heart, Mr.Gilbert! Try to understand. We are helpless. We tried our best!" 

"Why can't you try transplant it, God damn it!" shouted he.

"We tried. But he is too weak for that! His body may reject the organ. Its too dangerous. We have tried our best, try to understand, please!" said the doctor.

"I can give you any amount of money. I just want him. I want nothing else!" Mr.Gilbert broke down after uttering these words.

"We can try to fly him off to the United Kingdoms. I know quite great surgeons there but I don't think that would be much of a benefit. But we will try our best, of course!" said the doctor holding the old man.



"Huh!!! Best?! Did they really try their best?! No, never! They didn't!" Mr.Gilbert whispered as he remembered his conversation with the doctor. Ryan's parents were crying their soul-out and the doctors undoubtedly were trying to trick them more!
"Bloody idiots!" shouted the senile man.


He couldn't give Ryan the gift on his birthday, neither did he have the luck to have any piece of the cake which Ryan once mentioned in one of his yellow letters. Ryan was hurried to the hospital three weeks before his birthday when his feeble heart decided to act brash. And since then, Ryan kept on fighting!

The very next day, exactly two months after Ryan's birthday, Mr.Gilbert entered Ryan's room at 9 in the morning, with a big ball and a story book which once Ryan told he wanted like anything and a big packet.

"Hey dude! You're late!" shouted Ryan.

"Oh yeah, sorry kid!" 

"What's that ball for? Is it mine? I mean, of course it must be mine!" Ryan got up from his bed in excitement.

"Happy Birthday kid. I am sorry I am late!"

"Huh! What's that book? Oh my God, is that 'Mouse In Space!' Woww.... man, I love you, dude! I mean, give that to me!" Ryan almost jumped off from his bed.


Ryan didn't bother to listen a single word his parents uttered after that until Mr.Gilbert took out the chocolate cake and lit the candles. The cake had written on it - "Ryan on his 10th birthday and just 2 months more!"

"Wowww... Such a big cake! wowwwww!!!!" Ryan smiled wide as his twinkling eyes shone bright with ecstasy.






"But I heard him say that, dude! Will I be able to talk to you and mamma and papa once I become a star? I mean, the whole thing is so exciting! I never knew I could actually go to the space." said Ryan with shining bright eyes.

"Huh.Shut up, kid. You're annoying me. You aren't going anywhere!" 

"No, but I want to, man! I will surely find out the mouse, you see! Haha! That will be fun." said the kid.

"You will not die, Ryan. Please shut up!" Mr.Gilbert controlled his tears.

"Aahh.. Yeah dying is pathetic if you've to go through all these. But if I don't die, I can't become a star and I want to explore every single thing in that space! So I have to die, you see!" smiled Ryan."But yeah, I will miss you if I can't talk to you."

"I will miss you too, Ryan. You're my best friend, kid. I love you." His eyes welled up.

"Please don't cry. I will come back soon." 

"No.. You won't go." uttered Mr.Gilbert.

"You're such an emotional fool. Okay dude. Either we will go together or we won't go ever! Best friends are meant to be always together. But exploring the space is a must. Let's go together,man! Its gonna be super fun!" said Ryan.

"Hmm.. I hope I go first. I will find the mouse and then you can come!" said the doddery man, hugging his best pal.

After 15 minutes Mr.Gilbert had to leave the hospital. He was shocked with what the doctors had told him today. Ryan was too weak to survive even for a month! He was scared. He didn't know how could he survive without Ryan! He constantly cursed God, for letting him survive and taking away Ryan.



The kid's heart started to be an annoying brat that night. He was taken into the surgery room. His heart was transplanted as this was the only way left to them. The doctor's were right the kid was too weak for a transplant. His body finally rejected the heart. He finally gave up the following morning! Ryan's parents had called Mr.Gilbert. But he didn't come that day.


A day later, Ryan's father got a call from the hospital. "Hello? Yes, yes I know him but what happened to him?" His fathered looked scared.

"I am sorry, but if you could come just now to the hospital again. Someone found Mr.Gilbert dead inside his house last night. It was a massive heart-attack! He actually expired last morning. We are calling you as we don't know where else to contact. Please can you come right now?!" Ryan's father froze as he listened to the words. It wasn't less than two days he had heard Ryan tell Mr.Gilbert that either they would go together to the space or they won't ever go, and that, going was a must, so they must go together as best friends are meant to be always together!


                                                     






To read the second part please click on the link - http://preetidesarkar10.blogspot.in/2014/02/yes-that-grumpy-old-man.html