THE SECOND CHANCE
Ritu Siddharth
She sat on the stone bench in the park, as was her practice on her way back from the market ,one km from her residence, in Ram Nagar in Tirunelvelli. She derived solace sitting there watching children play , their pets racing across, adults walking or jogging.
“Hi Nirupama!”, sounded a remotely familiar voice. She turned to look ;it was Sridevi, her class-mate in school, was doing CA. “How ’re you ?”,was her formal question. She had come with her husband and child . They chatted for a few minutes while her husband walked his son."Come some day to our house ;there's lot to talk", Sridevi extended her invitation as she left.
Nirupama sat, her gaze fixed on the patch of grass in front of her ,her mind elsewhere."Please …don't ....,it's breaking me";her words were still fresh in her ears.
Jan.15th ;The Makara Shankranti day."Ma! I 'm going to the temple. Will be back soon", she told her mom. In the Shiv temple she gazed intently as she prayed."O God, I'm done, I don't wish to live longer. On this auspicious day I pray for death, nothing else. Please God oblige!"
She was preoccupied as she walked well within the pedestrian pathway. In a moment she heard chaotic noise, soon felt a push with great force and speed; she remembered hitting against the parapet of the bridge; sharp pain shot up her head and left side of body and fluid trickled rapidly from her nose and head. ' Thank You my God..You have been very kind ',she said raising her hand forward as if to meet someone. Her pain was soon gone. There was total peace all around.
Nirupama could not recollect all that happened in the hospital or what followed after the accident.
Here is what happened:
The ambulance drove to the multi -specialty hospital..LOTUS.
The neuro team swung into action as soon they received a call from the casualty…a female case of RTA with multiple injuries was soon being shifted to Neuro UNIT I under Dr.Palanichamy. The duty neurosurgeon made a quick survey of the injured , a girl about 18 yrs., saw her CT scan, assessed her GCS. Operation theatre was alerted .A team of anesthetist, staff nurses, OT assistant, sanitary worker, stretcher bearers were up.
It was 11 am. Niru lay motionless, eyes half closed, mouth partly open. Her chest and abdomen heaved irregularly …the only sign to say she was alive .
The stretcher bearers laid her on the operation table. The nurse replaced the IV fluid to mannitol,wheeled the instrument trolley to the side of operating table, prepared the injured head and draped it.The assistant gave necessary injections as instructed by the anesthetist, while he quickly intubated her and adjusted the oxygen flow..observed the ballooning of the O2 bag, and signaled to the surgeon to proceed. All of them, scrubbed and in sterile gown , mask and cap,appeared like aliens around a Machine .
Dr .Mahendran ,duty neurosurgeon made an incision,reflected the flap of scalp, worked the trephine into her skull close to the fracture ,after cleaning her scalp with betadine. ,The bearers peered through the gap between the surgeon and nurse and grimaced as her head vibrated under the impact of drilling and thin blood oozed from the new wound.
“Blood”, said the surgeon .within 10 minutes one unit of O blood was ready for transfusion.. The assistant passed the suction tube,..Blood clot and fluid blood were sucked up from the extradural space, the nurse mopped the blood that oozed out.
The pressure over her brain having been relieved now, Niru’s respiration and heart beat were gradually stabilizing.Dr.Mahendran gave a thumb up sign; the nurse made a cross in the air.
The surgeon put back the circular disc he had trephined out to enter into her cranial cavity. "No need for drain?”the assistant asked. "No need for this case ",the D.N.S. said. Then on second thought agreed to put in a drainage tube and stitched the scalp. His work done the nurse bandaged her head.
Niru was wheeled to ICU .Nasal O2 continued. She had second unit of blood in the ward.
Niru was in coma. .She was alternately coming in and passing out, When she came in she had dreams and relived, apparently her past .
She found he occupied much of her thoughts and confirmed it was love. One day during a friendly chat she said , “I’m in love”. “With whom………Me?”,RaviShankar asked looking into her eyes. She faltered a moment at the sudden gesture “I think so”, she gave him a quick glance and looked quickly away unable to meet his eye. “Ha ha ha”, he laughed. “Did I joke”, she asked. “No”, he replied. “You laughed!”, she said, meekly ,her eyes on her bag. “Hm…You think I must accept?”he asked and noticed color drain from her face. There was a long pause before he spoke again.“Niru, can you sing ? ", There was no connection to the context. “Yes”,she replied. “Sing now, any song ,any language”. It seemed a request.She sang 6 lines of a song,
“Bahut chaahate hain tumko sanam,Kasam chahe lelo,Khuda ki kasam…"
“A gal loves me..I don’t want to disappoint ’ er. Tomorrow I’ll tell ’er I love ’er”, he said. She was still pale. “Come lets go in ", he said ,taking her hand; she felt his grip tighten as they moved into the library.
There was a prick somewhere in her head. She did not move. Everything was dark and still. Hours passed.
“You order”, he said. They sat in a restaurant that cost four times the ordinary hotel. “Two plates samosa. two coffee ", she told the waiter…………….
They walked together her arm snuggly clamping his elbow. She loved to hold his hand …….
Stillness….
It was evening. He waited for her in the waiting hall in her hostel. He rose as she walked in ,fresh from a bath. He glared at her . “So late?”he said gruffly. "Sorry ’m late. Didn’t know you’ d be so early ",she said. He frowned deeply. “Angry?”she lisped, running her index finger on his shirt, He could not resist. He enclosed her in his arms and lowered his face on hers. Two girls at the far end of the hall giggled….
The beep in the monitor sounded irregularly irregular. The nurse rushed to her side. Niru’s eyes flickered, moved rapidly from side to side . “Nystagmus,” the nurse exclaimed. shortly Niru’s facial muscles jerked violently. “Ah! Fits..where is diazepam”, nurse mumbled. She added deriphylline iv and changed the drip to mannitol , noted the morbidity in the case sheet and informed the event to the chief.
Hours of stillness.
Niru got a letter from her father . "Niru, love, need more money? I’ve already deposited an amount in your a/c. Go verify . I know you will study well, be happy. Amma sends her love. Take care baby".
A muscle twitched in her arm.
Ravi walked towards her. her heart began to palpitate. “Hi”, he said cheerfully. “M”, she greeted. He scanned her face ; “Looking gorgeous today”, he said coming close . “Don’t tease” ,she said ,wishing he meant it; waited if he would come closer. “Come” ,was all he said, interlocking his fingers with hers. They walked the length of the road oblivious of surroundings. Her heart felt full. Magic.
Something hurt her side. She did not know where or which side. She did not know how to stop the pain. She did not stir.
“Ravi”, she phoned. “Yes darling”, his voice sounded from the other side. She simply loved to hear his voice ,manly.
Her breathing became irregular and noisy. The nurse immediately came over, cleared her airway, adjusted her drip and O2 inlet.
The next day the orthopedic surgeon examined her ,read the wet films. After a quick look at her lip he wanted a unit of blood. “She had 2 units ,sir “, the nurse said. “I want 1 more unit”, he insisted.
Dr.Amrit Raj reduced her dislocated right hip;Reduced and stabilized fractured bones of left leg;strapped her left side of her chest.
She remained like a fallen log ,motionless occasionally reliving her times she was with Ravi.
Her II sem was drawing close she had to study. She was taking notes from books she had borrowed.
Stillness…
Niru and Ravi were watching a movie Niru kept wiping her eyes during emotional scenes . “It’s only a movie dear”, he said pressing her hand reassuringly. After the movie they walked back to her hostel. He pouted his lips. “Want one?”she asked. “Yes of course “, he said .Smack, smack, she went on his cheek and neck. “That was awesome…now go away before I do something my brain tells me to do”, he added.
Her side hurt. Now the pain was all over the body .Then stillness again.
A familiar figure entered the ICU. Black pants, blue shirt, striped tie…and the face she loved so much…she could spend her entire life watching it.“Ravi I’m here” ,she yelled. “Ravi”,she called again .He did not seem to hear; just an arm’s length but she could not reach him.
A stabbing pain in her leg…then everything darkened again.
3rd day in ICU:
Nirupama began to hear her breath sounds ,arterial beats, and bowel sounds.She heard male and female voices talking in low tones.
“Hello Nirupama,…Can you hear me ?...............Put out your tongue!...... Open your eyes!”,it was a soft male sing song voice .She lay still, her eyes flickered. “I expect her to come round tonight or tomorrow morning, meanwhile follow the same regime”, the same voice , now no longer sing song. She heard the footsteps fade.
10pm: Nirupama opened her eyes ,she was lying on her side blinking, still disoriented. Minutes ticked…
She saw cubical boxes mounted on trolleys ,with dancing green fluorescent waves making a beep at every spike. She found several tubes and cables connected to her body.She stirred . “Aah!”she gasped .Duty nurse came to investigate ;was surprised and happy at the same time to see her patient regain consciousness .
Her father was let in to see. “O my darling baby, my baby”, he kept repeating hysterically, forgetting all other words in his vocabulary , ran his eyes on his daughter’s limp body attached to so many tubes. “Shh! No noise sir”, the nurse cautioned.
The next morning her mother held her hand and wailed . . Her eyes were swollen..she had been crying and praying all these days.
The company owner of the bus that hit her was bearing the hospital expenses. The lawyer said she would get 10 lakhs for compensation through the court.
4th day: The neuro chief reviewed her . “Put her on tube feeds. Continue iv line for 24 hrs.Let her be on catheter for 2 more days then we’ll decide..hm?”,he nodded to his assistants, they nodded back in agreement.
Niru halted the nurse .“D..d…uu….sss….eeeee…ah…haa..v…eee…ank….aaa..h?”.She wanted to ask did you see RaviShankar? her speech was thick and unintelligible.The nurse gave her a confused look, completed her work and moved away. Niru kept looking at the doorway expecting him to return. Little did she know it was only an image reflected in her brain. She was disappointed.
The night seemed long. Having nothing to do Niru lay on her back looking at the ceiling. So ,here she was alive after all !her thought went back to Ravi Shankar. “Ravi..!”He was leaning against a motor bike under a tree, appeared to be waiting for someone. “Hi love”, she hugged him. “DON’T”,he snapped. “Don’t you see people ’re moving about?”he said sharply. This was very unusual of him. He had avoided her phone calls. “I don’t have to explain ev’rything to you. It’s over, don’t try to meet or try to contact me in future. I hope you understand”, he exploded, when she was persistent to meet him.
Gradually she realized he was moving away from her ; she had wondered why.
Later that month her friend Mallika Ramamoorti told her she saw Ravi in the shopping centre with Madhuri. Madhuri was exquisitely beautiful, had an affluent background; She was aware of the stir she created wherever she went ,in the old or the young, and was proud of it. Strangely, she was attracted to Ravi Shankar ..and he was prepared to do anything for her. Slowly Niru saw the truth…a dagger from no where just went through her heart. Did it pain ? Yes ! Certainly it did!
Her face flushed. “Sis r…mah..ch….s..t …pah …nih…..gah..sihs…”,pointing to her chest. “Chest pain? Ok. you’ll be alright now”, said the nurse . She gave ranitidine, voveran, and a small dose of anti convulsant. Niru bit her lip and grimaced to bear the pricks.
Niru was shifted to ortho unit after 12 days as they needed bed for more cases that arrived everyday.
She watched doctors talk to patients . Soon she found the kindness the doctors exhibited and the beautiful smile put on were just artificial masks to reassure ailing patients. “But they heal, and that’s what matters .Wish I was a doctor”, she thought. She did not know then that this thought would change her entire life and career!
Nirupama discontinued B.Sc. course , having lost many months and prepared hard for the entrance exam for medical college. “I want to do medicine ,pa”, she told her father”. “As you wish ,love”, he agreed immediately . She had been through physiotherapy and speech therapy for 6 months.
Her parents received Rs 7 lakhs with gratitude while the lawyer took 3 lakhs as his fee.
A letter from the Madras Medical College intimated her admission. The details of the subjects, semester exams, hostel amenities were given in adequate detail.
The joy of Niru and her parents was limitless.
Niru stepped into the portal of the medical college ,her heart pounding fast and loud; she wondered if the girl walking next to her would hear her pulsations!
Starting with ragging at the college and hostel ,the dissected body, human tissues seen under microscope, embryology, marking muscle attachments on bones ,smoked drums in physiology, pricking her own finger and counting her red and white blood cells,metabolisms,10 functions of saliva,organic salt analysis,creb’s cycle and a hoard of subjects in the 1st yr,followed by other subjects for the next 2.6 yrs kept her busy without diversions.
Prefinal year and the most critical yr for most medics.
Niru sat under a tree with Ranjani and Anjana. A young man walked across, his coat slung on his shoulder….steady straight gait. “Hello”, he said to Ranjani. “Relaxing ,eh?”he asked Anjana.both blushed. “Ya ,no class,we didn’t know what to do”, answered Anjana”. “Oh!”he responded, looking at Niru who was looking up at him innocently, mouth open. Their eyes met for a brief moment. He had light brown eyes ..something unusual about them ,she thought. He walked away. “Who is he?”asked Niru. “Don’t you know him? He’s Vasu..Girls are mad for him …Very rich .. He’s a big flirt,you know! But very handsome ,no!I didn’t expect him to speak to us…”,Anjana felt flattered.
The girls went to the hostel to get their purse while Niru stayed back feeling lazy to move. Vasu returned. “Hi”, he said ,sitting beside her. She was taken aback by his sudden appearance .She tried to move away. “Sit ,I won’t rag you ‘,he reassured her. She gave him a suspicious look and sat with a comfortable distance between them.
“Which year are you?”, he asked.
“III yr”.
“Doing well?”
“I think so,yes”.
“Had test 3 days ago?”
“Yes”.
“I saw you in the library, with a pile of books”.
“Dr.Pandian wants more details outside text books”.
“Didn’t you go home for Dussehra hols? You have 4 days at a stretch”.
“ No, it takes 3 days up and down ,I’ll ’ve only 1 day at home”.
“Oh!”
“What’s your name?”
“Nirupama”.
He knew . He wanted her to know him.
“I’m Vasudev.I’m in final yr.Think I’ll get thru”.
“Ok ,see you later”, he rose and left.
Vasu met her frequently and every time made it appear as if he met her by chance. But he did have a way of making himself liked. He was a favorite among all in the college and hospital. He spent for the boys and spent on girls. He was intercollegiate champion in caroms and tennis. He scored very high marks when he chose to. There was at anytime a flock of girls around him and he seemed to enjoy their company.
Days later , “Come let’s have coffee”, he insisted.Niru was well taken aback to speak.
‘I asked you if you’ll come with me for coffee”, he repeated. Before she found an excuse he said, “Come let’s go”.It was a persuasion she had to obey.
“What’ll you have other than coffee?”he asked.
“Anything ‘, she said.
“Grass,hay,spoon?”he asked.
Her face froze.
“Just joked. Don’t worry. I aint so bad", he said.
She felt awkward sitting in front of him. She noticed he was observing her closely.
“Huh! not so fast”, he said rising and coming to her side as she spilled her coffee and a piece of cake fell out of her mouth. Vasu drew out his kerchief,’ “Wait”, he said and wiped her mouth.
“I can do it myself”, she said slowly , ashamed of her clumsiness. He understood she was upset and feared she may have fits. “Don’t worry, it’s alright, you can wash”, he reassured her. She was touched by his calmness and helping gesture.
4 months later a tour was arranged to Kodaikanal. 30 had given their willingness. Niru backed away when she learnt it was Rs. 4000 per head. Vasu wanted her to come. In fact he had arranged the trip for her.
‘Are n’t you coming? it’s nice chance to be with your friends in your final yr”, he said.
“I can’t afford the amount”, she said meekly.
“How much is it?”
“4000”.
“4000? It’s 1000 as far as I know”, he said, hoping she would agree to this.
2 buses were arranged. Tutors , her friends and she boarded the 1st bus.Vasu was not seen anywhere near the buses; secretly she was happy he would not be there to follow her. Boys and girls sang and danced in the available gaps in the bus .The driver enjoyed their mirth and grinned in between. It was a jolly trip up. She enjoyed the landscape, small pools, birds, mist, the simple folks there. The students mingled freely with other tourists and scanned the place.
The next day she spotted him. He had taken a private transport. She caught him looking at her several times but he had a way of looking away as if she happened to be in the path of his roving eyes or sometimes as if looking absently while talking to his friends.
That night she had a comfortable single room with a heater ,blankets and pullover.
Vasu came to check . “Are you alright? Is it comfortable?”
“Room’s terrific. but I’m afraid to be alone..Can someone be with me?”
“But there is only one bed and linen for one”.
“”We’ll share”, she said in earnest.
“I think all ’ve gone to sleep”, he said. Sure enough after the exhausting trek all were too happy to retire.
“Ok ,I’ll manage”, she mumbled.
“Sure. Take my no. call me if you need anything”, he said…and was gone.
The next morning they were to leave by 8.Niru had just dozed off at 6,keeping awake the whole night. Her phone rang.It was Vasu.”Are you up? We’re to start .It’s already 9”.
“Oh! Can I have 40 mins, please?”
“Yes ,but don’t make it longer”, he spoke softly.
They had breakfast together. He paid the bill.
“Where’re the others “, she asked.
“They left by 1st bus at 8.30 ‘, he said.
She looked at her watch.10.
In the bus he sat behind her. Soon she was swaying and knocking on the neighbor’s shoulder who kept pushing her away in annoyance.
Vasu watched for sometime then switched places with the girl.
Niru thinking the person next to her was Shankari,said, “Sorry,but I can’t keep awake …can I sleep on your lap?”She didn’t wait for an answer.
Vasu put his hand round her and tucked her well so that she did not fall off his lap.4 hrs later Niru woke up at a sudden break and blinked around to get oriented.
“O, Vasudev,I didn’t mean to sleep on you. So very sorry”.
He smiled. “Slept well?”he asked. “I’m sorry”, she repeated, moving away from him.
Back in the college news of Niru sleeping on Vasu’s lap spread like wild fire,and that Vasu had paid for her Kodaikanal trip.
In the labour ward, “What ? Thinking of the boy’s lap eh?Go get the result”.,snapped Dr. Jamila Begam; Dr.Manimegalai scowled at the girl who was only too confused; why they were so angry for nothing ..it was only 7.30,many had not even arrived. “Yes mam”, she said humbly…she knew the lab opened at 8.
Vasu was not seen the next few days. Rumors of Vasu and Niru went round the hospital and college with varying degrees of bitterness and repulsive intention and jealousy according to the group who discussed it.
One day when Vasu passed through labor ward Dr. Jamila called him. “Vasu! What’s the rumor going round between you and Niru? Are you going to marry her?”she asked ,expecting him to say no. “Yes mam I like her very much”, and noticed her frown. “Why she? Sujatha,Leela or Manjusha would be ideal for you,don’t you think so?”she continued. Vasu knew her weakness..called the hospital worker …told her to get badam kheer.Soon the obstetrician was sipping cold kheer ,grinned at him ,said ,“Think over”.
Vasu had thought it over .These Sujatha, Leela, Manjusha, Sareyu et al were good to move with ;they give you good company; they move with only those who match their moods and needs; he was tired of them and their kind. He had been following Niru since she was in her II yr…had kept the distance lest she mistook that for flirtation. He also knew of her accident , and superficially what led to it.
.
Niru was in her last few days of her 1st posting in internship. No more books, no written exams, no examiners, no more late studies.Life was good.
Dr.Kalyani was too happy to have ,now Dr.vasu, in the labor ward. He had come there having no work for himself. “What’re you doing these days?”Dr.Kalyani asked. “I’m waiting for the result, mam, for PG. I’ve applied for gen.surgery,intend to do MS cosmetology”. “Good”,she remarked,she had a son roughly his age ,a wayward boy!
Niru not aware he was watching her , went about her chores….conducted a breech, applied mid cavity forceps for a difficult primi, went to assist for a caesarian ,received new entries, wrote case sheets, collected results, cross matched a A blood and reserved it for an induced abortion with septicemia.
It was 1.30 when she was finally free to change shift.
“Over ?”he asked.Niru was surprised to see him there. “Mind coming with me for lunch outside?”he asked, “You wanted a treat for my completing the course”. As she debated he brought his car. “Come”, he said opening the door for her. She subconsciously admired him drive so casually. After lunch they seated themselves in the shaded extension of porch.
“How’s your Lab. posting?”he asked.
“ Interesting .but I don’t like conducting deliveries..they’re dirty”, she gave her opinion.
“Hm,what do you intend to do?”
“Go for job, of course”, she replied.
“Yes, you’d be put in a PHC first”, he said.
“Doesn’t matter’, she spoke.
“You loved I guy I heard”, he said suddenly.
It took her like a thunderbolt. She remained silent. He did not press her to speak at once.
“What happened? You broke off?”he asked, keeping his composure.
She opened up, a little at a time.
She met RaviShankar in the library.Both did B.Sc.(zoology).He was in B section ,she in A .Gradually they got to know each other .She was the first to fall in love and declare. He was hesitant at first ,but being a youth soon fell into the line. Bond grew stronger each week. All was fine for a year.
“Then I sensed him move away from me. He was moving with another girl from the neighboring college. She looked very sweet…like an actress…. One day he said ‘It is over.Don’t see me any more. There’s nothing between us’,she spoke lost in a world she now recalled. Vasu listened in silence with a deep frown .
“Then you didn’t meet him?’ he asked.
“No”, she replied.
“You must have felt bad”, he remarked.
“Yes”,her voice was hardly audible.
“I’m sorry,Niru….shall we move?”he asked .
Both rose. He dropped her in her hostel.
“Nirupama !”he called , “Don’t feel bad, its over and past. There’s a future for everyone of us’, he said touching her hand.
“Yes…and thank you for the lunch”.
“You’ll mind if I meet you or phone up?”he asked
“eh…I…. um…”, she was not sure.
“Ok ,don’t worry your head. Bye, sweet”, he said.
She lay in her bed. His words kept repeating in her head .. ‘you mind if I meet….we all have a future’.
Something sparked in her head..he was taking interest in her.She changed sides,to left,to right,,then face up, then down…..His face kept returning….brown eyes, sharp nose, the dark hair that moved with every gust of wind, the clean shaven face, the way he bent his head when he wanted to focus ,being tall…the pen he always carried in his shirt pocket….
She wished he would come to see her tomorrow, but wanted to hear him tonight.
Sure enough,he phoned.
“Hello Niru,it’s me Vasu…Had your dinner? I was watching a movie ..it’s over..I just called”, he said.
“Vasudev”,there was a long pause.
“Yes?”…no answer.
“Yes?”
“Niru..are you there? Yes?”
“Vasyudev…can we”,she cleared her throat “can we…um……..”
“Yes?”he prompted.
“Can we …ump..meet tomorrow?”
“Course we can..when shall I come? Will 3 be alright?’
“Yes…thank you”.
It was arranged.
He turned up.3.30pm. “Sorry was late”,he apologized . “You’ve your hospital discharge summary?’he asked .
She remembered having a copy of it in her trunk.She handed him ..she herself had forgotten all about it.He read through..
Discharge summary:
Unit I-Dr.Palanichamy MS(Neuro)
DOA:15 .01.2004
18 yr old female received from trauma care unit with history of RTA.Police intimated from casualty.
H/o injury on 15 Jan.
O/E : Patient unconscious,pulse thready ,rapid,irregular breathing,BP ?, pupils unequal,dilated,reacting poorly to light.GCS 3.Placed on DIL.
Regained consciousness on the 4th day
Morbidity
1.comp # temporal and frontal bone,L
2.Massive extradural hmg Lfronto temporal
EDH evacuated by craniotomy.operated by Dr.MaheshMS(neuro)
CT scan15.01.04 # L temporal and frontal bone; massive EDH, widespread edema of cortex
Rpt CT scan 16.01.04 edema on frontal cortex reduced
Rpt CT scan 12 02.04 Normal
EEG 12.02.04 normal
Trt: Antibiotics,diuretic,mannitol,anticonvulsant x 15 days.2 units B blood transfused.
On discharge :No convulsive sequele noted, speech slightly affected,reflexes normal,motor function UL 4/5.
27.01.04 Transferred from NS I
Unit I- Dr. Selva Kumar MS (ortho)
h/o RTA
Xray chest AP :# (L) 3-6ribs
Xray pelvis AP :posterior dislocation ® hip
Xray L leg : # BB upper 1/4
CT scan abd &pelvis; NAD
# managed byDr.Amrit Raj
Trt:R hip dislocation reduced and stabilized
Strapping L side chest wall
# reduced ,stabilized,POP applied to LL
Rpt xrays : reduction satisfactory
1 Unit B blood transfused
Drugs continued as advised by neurosurgeon
12.02.04 discharged.
Advised to attend follow-up clinic on Thursday.To report if there is intense headace,vomiting,fits ,or unsteady gait.
Vasu thought for a while. “Did you read this?”he asked. “No”, she replied.
“Do you get headache or black out or feel weak?’he asked.
“No headache ,but sometimes I forget”, she said.
“Do you remember me?”he asked, looking at her with raised eyebrows.
She turned away unable to meet his eye.
“Yes?”
“O,please don’t tease”, she blushed.
“Can I have water to drink?”he asked.
“Yes, water”, she repeated, fumbled at the table ,handed him a ballpen.
“So you think this is a glass of water !”he asked with a frown.
“O ,I’m sorry”, she said rubbing her forehead embarrassed.
He rubbed his nose and watched her .Something told him it was not a medical problem.
He turned to examine her table…a steth ,a pen ,a rolled up white coat smelling intensely of antiseptic ,few op slips with names scribbled on it. “You wanted to say something to me ?”he asked. “No..Yes…no it’s nothing”,she faltered. “Ok then ,see you,”he rose to go. “Are you leaving?”she was biting her nail nervously and appeared very anxious. “What’s it sweet?Don’t look so anxious”, he said with such tenderness,she found earth slipping under her feet.
Niru completed her internship. She would stay in the hostel for 1 more week to collect her completion and allied certificates.Vasu had 2 weeks.his result would be out ..he will join MS course and be tide down.
The girls kept him occupied for the next 2 days. He was busy giving treats ,taking them to movies, beach..he had almost no time for Niru;she began to wonder if he lost interest in her and was too sensitive to say good bye to her.
“Niru!”, he called that night. “Are you alright?”
“Perfect”, she answered.He called off. Why did he ring at all she thought.
Her father had come in the morning to help her vacate. She had been busy getting no -due -certificate in college and hostel ,collecting certificates and caution deposit ,sign for the receipts .It was evening when she finished her clearing.
Vasu came out of his car, joined her at her hostel entrance, his face glum.
“Pa ,this is Vasudev ,he’s doing MS”, she gave brief introduction. “My father”.He touched her father’s feet in reverence.
“It’s her last day in Chennai, can I take her out with your permission. I promise to bring her back before nightfall, uncle….please…”
The elderly man looked at his daughter unable to decide. “Say yes pa”, her eyes pleaded.
“Ok”,he agreed,saw his daughter beam .In an instant everything was crystal clear to him. Vasu spoke to him while Niru was away for a wash up. “Take your time baby,be happy”, he told his daughter .
Vasu drove in silence for a length of time.“Niru…..”At last he broke the silence. She waited for him to continue.Long pause.He took her hand in his, said, “I want you…in my life. I should’ve said this much earlier…I should have…”.His face was tense. As for Niru ,she wanted to hold him and cry, ‘I don’t want to go’.She just sat holding his shirt sleeve. They could not enjoy the beach so decided to go back to the hostel.On the way back they did minor purchases. Her father was surprised to see them back so soon; he studied their sad faces; he went out on the pretext of getting some fresh air .
“Niru! You’ve my no. no?”Vasu asked .She nodded.
“It’s very hard to contain myself…give me a hug Niru…I don’t know when we’ll meet again…”he said sadly. “I don’t want to go”,she said ,placing her hand on his shoulder and soon found herself in his embrace ..and felt his first kiss.
Nirupama worked in a phc,a totally different type of work;there was lot of field work;often she was angered by the false reports the health inspectors gave to the authorities;this is not service, I don’t want to work here , she often said.
.
Nirupama went to Chennai to buy new sets of instruments for tubectomy .On the road she met RaviShankar. “Hi, Nirupama”,he greeted unsure whether she would respond. “How’re you”, she asked ,surprised to see him talk to her. He appeared different, was thinner, receding hairline, darker complexion more patient.He had a toddler with him . “My son, Satish. Madhuri is in the beauty parlour; it’d be 1 hr before she comes out…my son was restless ,so had to bring him out”, he finished. “How’s your wife”, she asked .“Everything has changed .She has put on much weight, she is adamant, bossy, fights for small matters…have to cope up”, he said without expression. “how about you?”he added. “Hm,I’m a doctor in a phc near Sirgazhi;I’ve come to buy some instruments for my hospital”. “Married ?”,he asked with interest. “Yeah, will marry as soon as he completes his MS”. His son was tugging at him to move. “Ok ,your son wants you to walk, proceed..nice seeing you”. They departed.
RaviShankar was visibly disturbed. Had he not fallen for Madhu’s looks, his life could have been different, very different and happy. Here she was in a better position than he and with a loving partner. he felt a little jealous. Niru looked beautiful now; his wife had put on weight and was slow to move.
.
Niru worked in a taluk hospital now and stayed in a rented house. Work here was heavy but interesting…real service of saving lives ..totally for free. She worked in the casualty.
Vasu had persuaded the assistant to recommend to his chief ,2days leave for him. He travelled through the night; reached her place by morning.
Vasu introduced himself to the staff nurse who immediately fell for his looks.He put on a cap,wore dark glasses and took his position in a glass room shared by the nurse who was only too glad to sit near him.Vasu watched Niru manage cases.. poison cases,snake bite,assault,head injury ,CCF,MI in quick succession,and in between minor out patients.
“Hellooo! When did you come’, was her explosive greeting when she saw him. “Shh!”,he raised his finger to his lips to signal her to speak in lower tone.
Both headed towards doctor’s room.
“Let me wash my hands “, she said as he closed the door behind him.
“Free now? You can come out with me ,no?”he asked eagerly.
“Yes “, she said drying her hands.
“Before that”, he said coming close to her; “How long I had to wait to touch you? My god!”, he said as he gathered her in his arms to smack, …smack,… smack. “This distance is annoying ",he said. "Get married",she teased him. “To whom ? There are 3 ,a beautiful one,a smart one,a stupid one who obeys me.I don’t know whom to marry”,he said. “Don’t be rude”, she said burying her face in his neck. “No…Ah!why don’t you get a transfer to my place”, he asked as he lowered his head to kiss her eye.
“You must be hungry.Let’s go", she was concerned. “Wait ! I haven’t finished!”he said ,looking deep into her eyes . “It’s so hard you know,to contain yourself after such a long gap’, he spoke against her face.
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A bungalow…the front compound wall bore a name plate…and a cute little boy scribbled his name across in childish scribble ..Ajay.
Dr.S.VASUDEV MS (Cosmatology)
Dr.V.NIRUPAMA MD (Gen.Med)
The couple worked together in the same hospital . On Sundays they Attended charity clinics. Dr.Nirupama treated and referred when necessary. Dr.Vasudev did plastic surgery free or for affordable fees for less privileged people. At the end of the day , she said ,“You are my world”, and he , “You are my love”, and meant it for the rest of their life….
Concluded.
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