No Transportation
R lived with his wife, L, and their son, N. Bright, crocheted patterns and decorative napkins made by L’s daughters were hung on display on the walls of their house. When we met them, L had been rendered partially paralysed because of a recent stroke which had forced her to stay in hospital for a fortnight. One of their daughters - all three were married and lived elsewhere - had been staying with them for the past month to care for her mother. After she left, L’s sister, who lived nearby, sent over food for the family and other friends and neighbours frequently dropped by to offer help. L received maalish (massages) to speed her recovery, and her medicines cost R nearly INR 40,000 every month. “Taxi karni padti hain” [I have to hire a taxi] R said, as every two weeks, he had to travel to the nearest metropolitan city to buy L’s medicine.