Hyderabad, November 15: Ravinder and Anita Gambiraopet’s home has never been more full of family, friends and neighbours. And yet, all that one hears is hushed silence, interrupted by soft weeping. They have gathered together to mourn the loss of Arpana Gambiraopet and to prey for the speedy recovery of her twin sister, Archana.
Both brilliant students, Archana and Arpana were weeks away from graduating with a Masters degree in Chemistry a university in Kentucky when tragedy struck. The twins were returning home to Kentucky from Nashville with three friends, when their vehicle was struck by a speedy truck. While their friends managed to escape with but scrapes and bruises, the twins were grievously injured.
Arpana had broken her leg, while Archana had injured her spinal cord.
“Our daughters have been away from home since the past three years, but they call us twice daily, without fail. On November 11, they called us to let us know that they were leaving for a college event – Indian Night, which they had been instrumental in organising. The next call we got was from the university correspondents, who had called to ask permission for a medical procedure on Arpana,” recounts a distraught Ravinder Gambiraopet, continuing, “In the beginning we thought it was Archana who was in more danger, as she had injured her spinal cord. We thought that Arpana, who had broken her leg, would be okay. But she was bleeding internally, and didn’t survive the medical procedure.” Anita Gambiropet and her son, Chandra Shekhar, the twins’ elder brother, sit beside Ravinder, weeping far too much to speak.
At first the two sisters were treated at the on-campus medical facilities, but due to the seriousness of their conditions, they were later flown by a helicopter to a bigger, better equipped hospital.
“I would like to ask the entire city to pray for Archana, and that Arpana’s soul rests in peace.” Archana, who was in a coma, has regained enough consciousness to ask after her sister and her family.
The Gambiraopets are doing all they can to get to their remaining daughter, but are still waiting for visas.
“My daughter is asking to see her sister, and the rest of us. We still haven’t told her that Arpana is no more.
The two of them were inseparable.
We are afraid that the mental trauma of the loss of her sister will hinder her healing. But we want to go and be there with her. We also want to bring Arpana’s body back to Hyderabad, so we can conduct the necessary ceremonies. We are trying our utmost best to arrange for visas for Anita, Shekhar and I,” says the greiving father.
The Gambiraopets are also worrying about how to finance Archana’s medical expences.
“We are a middle class family, and we had taken enormous bank loans to finance Archana and Arpana’s education. Shashidhar Reddy, local MLA has promised to help us financially. We are hoping that a few more organisations will come forward to help us,” says Ravinder Gambiraopet.
Ramesh Gambiraopet, Ravinder’s elder brother, reiterates the request. “I just hope their visas get stamped as soon as possible. They should be with Archana. And I hope that the city will help us with Archana’s medical expenses. We simply do not know how we will bear the cost,” says Ramesh Gambiraopet, the twins’ uncle.
–Agencies