True Story Habit Victim

Helan is asking what is her fault?

THIS WHOLE STORY IS BASED UPON A TRUE STORY OF VICTIM OF TOBACCO ADDICTION.

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Helan is asking what is her fault?

It was one such hot summer day when the afternoon was unbarable. The roads were almost empty . Those days Helan was stayed with parentsin vadodara.She had completed B.A.,B.Ed.She was only 22.Her parents had started looking for a good match for her. One  evening a boy named Robert was to come and see her. Helan dressed beautifully today. She looked delicate and had dimples when she smiled.

        Robert came hom to see her in the evening with his parents He was tall, handsome and well built. Robert and Helan liked each other at the first instance.Robert finished his C.A. and had strted practicing  tax consultancy. Parents if both allowed them to go out for some time so that they could talk freely. They went to an A.C. restaurant near Kamatibaug.One of Helan's friends accompanied them. They had a short talk while drinking "pepsi". After some time Robert pulled out a packet of Gutka ( A chewing Tobacco Product.) opened the seal and put it in his mouth. Helan didn't like it. No one in her family had any kind of addiction. She was the only child in the family.

When she came back, she told her dad, "Papa, he is o.k. , only that he has a habit of chewing tobacco.

Papa answered to her, " Oh! dear as you know that there are many who chew tobacco in our society. He is well educated and a well off boy. Many boys also have bad habit of boozing and going for dances. Chewing tobacco is not that bad at all. Do not pay much attention to this, last you may lose a good boy"

        Helan thought over and accepted the proposal.

        Within three months, they were married.

        Robert was doing well in his tax-consultancy work. He was not lazy at all.He was busier now than ever before. He was also earning more. He bought a piece of land 500 yards and started constructing a house. Within a year and half the house has got completed and they could shift to the new house.

        After some time Helan gave birth to a baby girl, "Sweety". Things were getting better in the family. Robert took good care of Helan and Sweety . Helan gave birth to a baby boy in two years time. The whole family went to Abu (Hill Station) and enjoyed themselves. Helan was always told Robert that his chewing tobacco habit was bad. When he ate Gutka at Abu she had corrected him, saying, " Robert chewing tobacco doesnot suit a professional tax consultant like you. Why don't you give it up?"

        Robert replied, " Look dear, how many times will you keep on correcting me? Life is to enjoy dear. I work for 12 hours a day, the stamina I get from Gutka. You know I have passed in S.S.C. with 62% is because of tobacco only. I use to take it from Papa's drawer and chew it. I could then read for the whole night Papa knew from the days of S.S.C. Why this many people are addicted to gutka and tobacco you know? Tobacco helps in concentration and it is not an addiction but it is just a hobby. So dear please do not interfere between Gutka darling and me. "He argued in similar way.

        After coming back from Abu, all were busy in their work again. Time passed .........now Sweety was five years old. Balloons were tied to celebrate her birthday. Sweety's friends were invited. Fine candles were brought. A nice cake was ordered Sweety blow off the candles. The cake was cut amidst the sound of clapping. Helan put a piece of cake in Sweety's mouth. She extended her hand to put the second piece of cake in Robert's mouth. But his mouth did not open wide enough.

        The birthday celebration was over but there was some worry in Helan's mind. She had read about the bad effects of Gutka causing fibrosis. That night when all went off to sleep. Helan asked Robert to open his mouth.

Robert said " Why? What's matter?"

Helan said, " This is not the answer to my question. Why don't you open your mouth?"

Robert tried to open his mouth, and then he said, " What nonsense is this?

Helan said " You know that your mouth doesn't open wide enough, you probably do not know that it is a kind of disease which you should not neglect..."

Robert continued, " So, you want to continue the same old Gutka story...I believe listen, we are from a well off family. Do not worry unnecessarily Stop reading newspapers. Today is the day to earn lots of money. Please let me work."

And once again Robert was busy in his work.

        Many months passed. One night Helan went off to sleep early. She woke up in the middle of night. She found that Robert is not in his bed. He was sitting in the balcony. She asked him what the matter was. He told her that he had ulcer for which he took a doctor's treatment for a week. The medicines did not help him. He had to go the next day to the doctor again.

Helan asked him " what else the doctor had said."

Robert said "The doctor wants to take a sample of the ulcer region and send it for the pathological investigations."

Helan said " Please do not worry I will come with you, tomorrow. You will become all right. Dear just go to sleep with peace of mind."

        On next day both went to the Dr. Thakkar and took a letter from him and went to the pathologist Dr.Daftary.He collected the sample from Robert's mouth (Biopsy). The report was to be ready after a week. Now Robert gave up chewing Gutka (Tobacco Product.) He could not sleep at night. He tried to appear happy for Helan's sake. Both were worried about the report.

        After a week time only Helan went to Dr. Daftary because Robert was scared. He requested her to go alone. Helan was very composed. She has collected the report of biopsy and as per Dr. Thakkar's advises she first went to Dr.Kothary (Cancer Surgeon).

Dr.Kothary asked her. "Why are you alone?"

Helan replied, " Robert was scared therefore I have come alone. I know that he has cancer but please tell me the truth what ever it may be. I am prepared."

Dr. Kothary said, " The advanced cancer is confirmed he is in the second stage."

Helan inquired, " Can it be cured by any treatment."

" He has to under go chemotherapy & operation is not possible at this stage...If you have gone for an early diagnosis then there definitely is the possibility of improvement. Moreover earlier check up at the dentist level will reduce the chances of development of Cancer...Can I ask you one question...?"

Helan said, " Please ask...."

"Could you not pursue him to give up the Tobacco addiction" asked by Dr.Kothary.

Helan did not answer for some time then she said crying. " I have tried many a times to give up Tobacco.... But I was alone every body...yes everybody were in the favor of this simple addiction yes doctor I have tried by all the means his friends, my father in law, mother in law & even my father and mother were in the favor of Tobacco Simple addiction.........doctor please save him...please I do not want any money in my hand doctor for God sake please save him...still a long way...I do not think how I will live without Robert..."

She cried bitterly but Dr.Kothary was helpless at this stage.

After two months the cancer spreading quickly to other parts.

        Helan consoled Robert " Robert dear, we have not harmed any one miracles still takes place."

In some days time Robert has stopped talking he also had difficulty in swallowing. He was on total liquid diet mainly on juices. After few days he became very weak now he is on glucose saline only. He has started bleeding from the tumor in neck region. He was having bad smell from the cancer wounds. It has bleeding many a times. The pain was aggravating. Now the pain killer injections are also not having its effect on Robert.

He has been hospitalized once again. At 9 pm. He was given blessings of the Church Flowers. Helan, Sweety, Gilbert & Robert's mother & father were present in the hospital. Helan was still close to Robert.

Her hand was in Robert's hand Robert was unconscious she found that Robert's hand is becoming colder. She thought that it may be due to saline...but she noticed that Robert is not breathing...she rushed and called the Nurse She examined him. There was no pulse. She moned her hand and then removed the oxygen mask. Robert lived no more.

        Helan who has turned a widow only at the age of 27 still asks her father, " Do you still think that tobacco addiction is a simple addiction? She also asks to her father & mother in law. The same question.

Helan is the main victim of tobacco addiction because the addict dies then all over for them but. Helan has to suffer.

        Dear respected parents of daughters think twice about tobacco addicts. If in your family if any one has such addiction please stop them. 

             Written by Chetan Mehta & Mrs. Mita C. Mehta.