Fiction: Ashwini’s mind spirals as denial and loneliness take over when she’s diagnosed with cancer

Deodorant – not allowed.

Cream, lotion, powder – not allowed.

Wear a two-piece dress! Without wearing any cream or deodorant Ashwini, who had not slept a wink, searched for a two-piece dress.

Where were the pants? Skirt? Shirt? Sweater? Couldn’t you select them when you lay awake the whole night? Logic asked her early in the morning. That was Mohan’s logic.

If she selected a pullover sweater, it would ruin her hair when she took it off and put it back on at the hospital. In the cold season, the heating would create static electricity, and make all the smaller hairs stand up with their hands raised. Her head might look like an overgrown lawn with weeds sticking out. So Ashwini had worn a shirt and a front-open cardigan over it.

Right in front of the hospital stood a majestic cedar tree, spreading its leaves which held the snow from the season. The leaves, which did not tear even if needles fell on them, remained stoic as autumn gave way to winter, winter to spring and spring to summer. The sunlight that lay supine on the snow mounds smiled deceptively. The glint gave the impression of being extremely hot. If one stepped out, lured by...

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