The harried young parents were frantic.
Aryan and Rhea were a young couple married for just a few years. They had at last committed to having a family, having a baby.
Their little baby barely six months old was crying. That deep gut wrenching non-sop wail that sounded like a cross between a furious cat and an ambulance flying at break neck speed. The mother, was shedding tears like a barrage that had its sluice gates just opened. The poor father, torn between wanting to bawl loudly himself and comforting the baby, had blood shot eyes due to lack of sleep. He ran to get the doctor, his slipper parting ways, preferring to stay put, to console the young one.
The young intern who had barely got a few winks, responded to the urgency in Aryan’s voice and ran to save the little mite.
The baby was in the throes of colic… The doctor put him over his shoulder followed with a few pats on the back… a loud burp, followed by curdled milk, and the wailing stopped.
The sobbing continued though, the little one was quite confused with what just happened. The parents smiled through their tears which they brusquely wiped off their faces.
Relieved! The intern shuffled back to his post, humming to himself, the warmth of a job well done seeping through his tired limbs.
The sterile labyrinths of the Pediatric ward was painted in light blue and pink, with larger than life images of cartoon characters and animals from fairy tales. The only thing that gave it away was the strong antiseptic smell of sanitizers and bitter medicines.
In the middle of the night, the intern was rudely awakened from the warmth of his soft cocoon of a snug bed. The alarm went off on the console.
“Bed number 8! Please hurry doctor! Before its too late.”
The doctor raced to Bed number 8 again, knowing he would have to deal with nothing but colic.
In the corridor, the doctor was stopped.
“Doctor come quickly! Please! Save my grandson!” beseeched an elegant, old woman. She was dressed in an off white saree, with dainty embroidery. A genial countenance with kind brown eyes, her face reflected a myriad of emotions. She was fighting to keep her voice calm. “Which bed Amma?” asked the young man politely as he summoned his frayed senses back to duty.
“Bed number 8.”
“And who are you?”
“His grandmother! I love my grandson very much!”
The special room of Bed number 8 was steeped in darkness.
The parents were fast asleep. As was the baby.
The nurse who had followed the doctor’s orders, started to check the vitals.
“Doctor!” she whispered…
“Yes?”
“No pulse!”
“What?”
The doctor set to work… no pulse, no breath, no response!
Perspiration broke out on the doctor’s forehead, lips and many other places.
“Sister, CPR!”
They worked frantically for a few minutes, that seemed longer than centuries.
The urgency spread through the room.
The parents swam through their stupor, a bit irate, at the invasion of their privacy.
Watching the frantic actions of the medical staff, who even called for reinforcements, had them worried.
Life longs for life itself!
The little one responded as the Universe granted everyone’s prayers.
“What happened Doctor?” asked Aryan with trepidation.
“We nearly lost your baby, Sir!” said the doc, wiping his face. His eyes sparkled as he smiled with confidence.
“Thank you Doctor!” said a visibly moved Aryan.
“Actually we must thank the grandmother who summoned us in time. A litlle delay… God knows what would have happened.”
“Grandmother? His grandmother isn’t here!”
“Sir, she was wearing a white saree. She has brown eyes, like the baby’s,” added the nurse.
Aryan and Rhea looked at each other. Shock emblazoned on their faces.
“Are you sure? …
That sounds like my Mother-in-law. But she passed away last month. She loved her grandson more than anything else in the world,” said Rhea between sobs that erupted in quick succession as tears flowed freely.
In the warm glow of the artificial lamp it was difficult to discern who in that room was more stupefied.
When Aryan looked out of the window, he caught sight of the end of a white saree before it vanished.
Number of words: 716
Note: Written for #artoonsinn writers room for #inntales8
Pic courtesy: Gemini
