Chapter 1
“Homeless survive winter: Now what?”
“Scientists to kill ducks to see why they’re dying”
“Homicide victims rarely talk to police”
“Five protesters killed in CRPF firing”, etc.
These are the stories I’m proud to cover on behalf of my channel.
It has been 25 years since I first became a journalist. As I finally took my voluntary retirement after all those years of hard work, I felt a sense of pure delight. While receiving the award, I couldn’t help but drift down memory lane.
On my first day, instead of staying in the office to collect data from previous reports, I was sent to the field to cover a sexual assault case trial in civil court. That day, I realized the true value of a journalist—someone who can not only shape the news but also bravely present individuals’ opinions to the public. That incident fueled my enthusiasm, motivating me to give my best and dedicate myself to seeking justice.
One fine day, riots broke out between different castes. Almost every mode of transport was destroyed, and the police were doing their best to bring the situation under control. Thick smoke was rising from a shop when a girl appeared, holding a camera and filming the chaos. She seemed to be struggling with asthma, inhaling from her inhaler now and then. Despite that, she made sure to cover the entire incident. Who would have imagined that she was the one I had been looking for?
Thanks to those situations that brought me closer to her. After getting to know each other, I was certain that she would complete my life. We managed to make our families accept us, and we got married.
My life was going smoothly, without much drama. I was doing my best to uphold the principles I strongly believed in, making sure that every piece of news was delivered to the public without any manipulation.
As I reached the peak of my career, I started having trouble remembering things—even events that had just happened moments before. This worried me, as I could no longer write reports without errors or manipulation. Slowly, my memory worsened, and the constant stress was wearing me down. My wife, deeply concerned, took me to the hospital despite my objections. After all the tests, the doctor confirmed that I was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
That news shook me to my core. I searched for every possible way to cure the disease, but it was all in vain. It worsened so much that I began forgetting even the people closest to me.
At this point in my life, my beloved student came to offer his New Year’s greetings. We drank together for the first time. I wanted him to experience a lot of alcohol and learn the proper way of drinking. He seemed to handle it well at first, but eventually, he got very drunk. He shared his aspiration of becoming a great journalist, telling me he’d rise to be a star in the journalism world. I saw a reflection of my younger self in his eyes. It was only after listening to his long speech about his dreams that I was finally able to get him to sleep.
I started going for walks to exercise. For some reason, I couldn’t stop laughing when I reached the summit. It was refreshing, and for the first time in a while, I felt at peace. I continued writing reports and taking my medication regularly. But as my condition worsened, I decided to take voluntary retirement before I became a senile old man.
Despite all the chaos, my wife always had my back. I could see the suffering in her eyes, but she never complained. She was the one who made sure I remembered the most important things in my life. I don’t know what it’s called, but even though I forgot almost everything, I could always remember her—because she was always by my side, supporting me and taking care of me like a child.
From now on, I won’t be able to use my muscles, and I will lose my memory completely. I will be left with nothing and slowly wither away. But this is also a part of my life that I cannot ignore. I’ve come to realize that it’s something I must accept.
I want my life to become a story that people can read. I don’t believe a single article can change the world, but I still hope to encourage everyone to become like an article. An article might not change the world, but I’m sure it can leave something warm inside someone’s heart. I wish for everyone to find that ‘article’ in someone who will console them—just as my wife has been that for me in my life.
