Thank you

Pranathi had survived a hectic day at office. Having been assigned a show-stopper and a couple of high priority defects it was a horrible time for her through the day. When she looked up the office was already almost empty. The time was 9:03 PM. She walked out of her ODC and reached the bus terminal.

A bike crossed her in full speed. After a few seconds, she heard consecutive screams of a girl and then a ‘Brrroooom’.

When Pranathi moved towards the scream-source, what she could see was just “BLOOD”. A girl was stabbed, a few times, by a guy who raced off in a bike.

The girl was whimpering in pain and drenched in blood. She was moaning in acute pain and gesturing for water. A large crowd had gathered around her and was peeping to check the scene. Pranathi crossed the crowd and went close to the girl. All she could do instantly was to hold the girl’s hand.

“Move away…!” was the first statement from Pranathi. “Let her get some air. Please move away. Don’t surround her like this. Please let her breathe”. She kept screaming as she signaled the mob to disperse.

Pranathi quickly dialed the ‘Highway Patrol’ number and waited. There was no response. She tried again but in vain. She looked at the girl. The girl was losing lot of blood – a stab in the neck, left arm and left abdomen. She was still requesting for water with signs and moans.

Pranathi tried to speak to her to keep her conscious and said that she should not be drinking water as it could cause suffocation. Suddenly Pranathi remembered a number printed on an ambulance of ‘Global Hospital’ which she had seen in the morning. She quickly called up and placed a request for an ambulance.

She covered the girl’s neck with her scarf, her kerchief on the girl’s arm and her duppatta and covered the wound in the abdomen. The ambulance arrived a few minutes later and the hospital representatives asked for the person who launched the complaint. Pranathi joined the girl to the hospital. The girl was moved into ICU immediately.

An hour later, Pranathi was questioned by the cops during when she came to know that the girl’s name was Jamuna. Jamuna’s family arrived at the hospital sometime later in the night. Pranathi washed herself and placed a call to her parents about the incident. Her father offered to come to the hospital immediately.

Jamuna’s brother fell to Pranathi’s feet and thanked her. Jamuna’s mom hugged her tight and cried her heart’s content. She also said that she would be grateful through her life for her help. By then Pranathi’s dad also arrived. A few minutes later, the doctor said the patient was out of danger and was willing to meet ‘Pranathi’.

All the eyes looked at Pranathi.

Pranathi walked towards the room. Right outside the door, she paused and looked back.

Jamuna’s mom gestured her to go on. Her eyes looked peaceful for the first time in the night.

Pranathi’s dad’s face was shining in pride and he also acknowledged affirmatively.

Pranathi walked into the ward. Jamuna was semi-conscious but was breathing steadily.

Pranathi touched Jamuna’s hands and held it. Jamuna opened her eyes. There was a small smile and she gestured Pranathi to come closer. When Pranathi moved closer, Jamuna said…
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Thank you!

Don’t Hope.. Decide

While waiting to meet a friend at the airport in Chennai, I had one of those life-changing experiences. This one occurred a mere two feet away from me.

Straining to locate my friend among the passengers deplaning, I noticed a man coming toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his family.

First he motioned to his youngest son (maybe six years old) as he laid down his bags. They gave each other a long, loving hug. As they separated enough to look in each other’s face, I heard the father say, “It’s so good to see you, Sunil. I missed you so much..!” His son smiled somewhat shyly, averted his eyes and replied softly, “Me, too, appa”

Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son (maybe nine or ten) and while cupping his son’s face in his hands said, “You’re already THE young man, Pratheek!” They too hugged a most loving, tender hug.

While this was happening, a baby girl (perhaps one or one-and-a-half) was squirming excitedly in her mother’s arms, never once taking her little eyes off the wonderful sight of her returning father. The man said, “Kutti paapa” as he gently took the child from her mother. He quickly kissed her face all over and then held her close to his chest while rocking her from side to side. The little girl instantly relaxed and simply laid her head on his shoulder, motionless in pure contentment.

After several moments, he handed his daughter to his oldest son and declared, “And… you…!” and proceeded to give his wife the longest, hug. They stared at each other’s eyes, beaming big smiles at one another, while holding both hands.

For an instant they reminded me of newlyweds, but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldn’t possibly be. I puzzled about it for a moment then realized how totally engrossed I was in the wonderful display of unconditional love not more than an arm’s length away from me. I suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if I was invading something sacred, but was amazed to hear my own voice nervously ask, “How long have you been married?”

“Fourteen years” he replied, without breaking his gaze from his wife’s face.

“Well then, how long have you been away” I asked.

The man finally turned and looked at me, still beaming his joyous smile. “Five whole days!”

Five days? I was stunned. By the intensity of the greeting, I had assumed he’d been gone for at least several weeks – if not months. I know my expression betrayed me. I said almost offhandedly, smiled and tried to look away murmuring, “I hope my marriage will also be..!”

The man suddenly stopped smiling. He looked me straight in the eye and told me, “Don’t hope… decide..!”

Then he flashed me his wonderful smile again…