tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76021067914748083742024-03-13T21:23:04.920-07:00My ReveriesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12224484449558881498noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602106791474808374.post-88985702161622926122009-05-30T04:40:00.001-07:002009-05-30T04:42:47.577-07:00Rita<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:center;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">[0]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The loud rattle on the door woke me up. I looked at the watch, it was 6 am. I had been asleep only 2 hours after I came late from the party. I got up cursing whoever was knocking the door. I found Mukul standing there, tense and breathless.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Mukul, what happened? Why are you panting, what’s the matter? Is everything OK.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Vipin Bhaiya!”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He broke into a cry,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> “Papa has committed suicide. He shot himself in the bathroom. Mom is serious, please come quick.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“What! But when did he come from Banda?” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-style:italic">I was shocked.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“He had come only last night. Mom and he had some arguments in the night. He went to didi’s room early morning and after that locked himself in the bathroom and shot himself.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“What! But why did he do this? How is Rita?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Didi is too shocked to speak anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">I hastily changed my clothes and went with him on his scooter. People were gathering outside the house. Mukul stopped to talk to some police man. I entered the house on my own. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The lawn was full of people. Mrs. Verma was lying on the couch in the veranda. She was hysterical, crying inconsolably. Few neighborhood ladies were trying to calm her. I examined her quickly. Her BP was shooting up so I gave her one sedative injection. Mukul had come back and I told him I wanted to see Rita. I had not seen her since the day she was discharged a month back.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He showed me her room and went out to meet other people. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She was lying on her bed, propped up by few pillows. Just like I had seen her the last time in room number 7.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:center;line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:center;line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:center;line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">[1]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The usually full emergency room of the City Hospital wore a deserted look that night. It was around 11 pm. The lone patient was now settled and probably sleeping. The ward boy was standing outside, chatting with the nurse. I had just settled on my sofa to watch the news on TV. Usually I was not assigned night duties, but since Dr. Rohit was on leave, I had to look after his work. I was hoping no patient came in the night to disturb me, as I was already tired after a busy OPD. Just as I was getting engrossed watching the news, the phone rang.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Hello Doctor, Room Number 7 is having severe pain, please come and look.”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Room Number 7! My heart skipped a few beats. Wasn’t this the same girl Rohit was talking about? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Sister, isn’t this the gunshot girl?”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Yes doctor “</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“I am coming right away” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">I picked up my stethoscope and rushed. The Private wards were situated three blocks away. This was a very old hospital, built by the Britishers. I had joined City Hospital only four months back, but I had heard this girl was there for around one year. It appeared that every one in the hospital knew about her. She was admitted after some gunshot injury, and was there since then. Rohit told she was very beautiful. Sexy, he had described her. But he found every girl sexy. He had told she was irresistible, sensuous, and full of oomph. A gunshot victim full of oomph! I wondered how she looked like. I had wanted but never seen her. Being a child specialist I was not supposed to visit her. I had no excuse of going there. But the way people described her I was wondering if I could see her some day. And what luck! On my first night duty I got this chance. I was so excited and curious. Who could have shot such a beautiful girl, and why? And why was she admitted in this government hospital for more than a year without being shifted to some bigger center. Why was she here alone? Didn’t she have any relatives? There were so many questions, but I had never asked any one. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sister Nisha was waiting in the lobby.<i> “Hello Doctor Vipin, how come you are on duty tonight?”</i> She had never seen me on nights. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Doctor Rohit is on leave,”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> I smiled and asked impatiently, <i>“where is the patient, sister?”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She gave a naughty smile, <i>“It seems you have never examined Room Number 7 before.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Room number 7 was situated at the end of the passage. Sister Nisha entered without knocking. I followed her. It was a small dimly lit room. A very pleasant aroma filled the room, must be some good room freshener. A bouquet of gladioli was getting stale on the side rack. The room, as any other private room, had a TV set, which was on and some old Hindi movie was running muted. Several used vials and syringes were scattered on the table. The food was lying uneaten. I was avoiding looking at the patient as I was very anxious.<i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Rita! Baby look the doctor has come to see you” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">Sister Nisha called her.</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">I looked at the bed. There she was, lying on the bed, propped up by several pillows. Her face was illuminated by the light from the only lamp hanging from the roof. It was creating a strange aura. I was stunned. What divine face, pure, and innocent. Even in agony, she was looking so beautiful. I kept on staring at her. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She looked at me and moaned. <i>“Ahh Doctor, this pain, it’s unbearable.”</i> Her gaze was inviting, her voice, disturbing. <i>“Do not worry. Tell me where the pain is.”</i> I tried to assure her. <i>“Its here, ohh! Doctor please, do something”</i> she pointed to her abdomen.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She looked very young, though her records stated twenty-one. She appeared average built, very fair, raven haired teenager. She was wearing a loose T-Shirt and a blue denim Jeans. They all had not exaggerated, she was really sexy. Though her face was that of an innocent teen, she had very hungry, inviting eyes. Even in pain she was sensuous. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I went near her bed to examine her. I touched her abdomen. It was soft, and cold. There was no rigidity which I had expected in a patient with severe pain in abdomen. I tried to palpate her abdomen for any tenderness. There was none. Then I found one small lump near her lower abdomen. I tried to feel it more clearly with my both hands, but she held my hands and resisted.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Please Doctor, not tonight. I am really having pain” <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></i>she groaned, fear in her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was just taken aback. Why did she stop me from examining?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I hadn’t hurt her. And what did she meant by “not tonight”. What was she stopping me to do?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>I turned around but Sister Nisha was not there. I got nervous and moved my hand away. She tried to sit up, but fell back. I hurriedly put my stethoscope on her abdomen and then stood up. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“I will advice Sister Nisha. Do not worry you will be alright.”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She looked at me, surprised, and relieved. <i>“Yes doctor, Thanks!”</i> She gave a weak smile. I got out of the room, my heart still beating fast. Sister Nisha was sitting at the nursing station. She looked at me unbelievingly. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“You examined very fast, Doctor” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said giving a mischievous<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></i>smile. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“I am a child specialist, Sister. I think she needs a Gynaec”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""> I wrote some medicines and rushed back to the emergency room. The ward boy gave me a sly look and went out. I fell on the sofa and closed my eyes. But her innocent face with hungry eyes did not fade away.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">[2]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Next morning I reached Hospital late. It was my off but I had some pending cases to work out. I was quite tired after the night so instead of the children’s ward I went straight to the common room.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“How was your night?”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Rohit asked the moment he saw me. He was having coffee. He brought one for me too.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“It was cool, no emergency came up”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> I tried to smile. I didn’t tell him about Rita.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“And what about Room Number 7” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">he shot back, as if he was waiting to ask,<i> “Sister Nisha told me you went to see her.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Oh yes I forgot, she just had some abdominal pain, nothing else. I gave her some antispasmodics. She must be ok by now”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Just medicines, Hmm, you didn’t do anything else?”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> he gave a mischievous smile. <i>“Come on, wont you tell your friend?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“And what else should I have done?” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">I wanted to know what he meant by this. Her words “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">No Doctor, not tonight” </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic">were still ringing in my ears.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Isn’t she hot? You didn’t even touch her?” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">I understood what he was implying. He must have tried his dirty tricks upon her sometime. That is why she was frightened of my examining her. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“How could I have examined her without touching?” </span></i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I got slightly irritated. He wanted to ask something but then avoided.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">We finished the coffee without further talking about her. I went to my department and started my rounds. But I could not take her face off my thoughts. Her eyes kept haunting me. Her words, </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">not tonight” </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">and her terrorized face remained floating in front of me. Then I remembered the lump I had felt in her abdomen. I have had training in Obs N Gyn. I can’t miss a pregnant womb. And hers was around the size of a four months pregnancy. But how can that be. She didn’t appear to be married.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After finishing the rounds I went to Dr. Dhasmana. She was my batch mate and was posted in the Obs N Gyn department. She was in her chamber. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Hello Vipin,”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-style:italic"> she was surprised to see me in her chamber </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“what brings you to my chamber. You don’t have a wife, or is it that you have hidden her form us”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-style:italic"> she joked.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“No Sushma, you will be the first to know when I marry.”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic"> I came to the point, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Actually I have come to talk to you about one patient.”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-style: italic"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Talk about a patient? But Vipin, your patients are kids. Why do you need an obstetrician’s help?” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-style:italic">she was still in a joking mood.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Well not that, I am talking about the girl in room number 7”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">She became sober. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Why are you interested in her? She is not under you. Do you know who she is and why she is here? ”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“No I don’t, Sushma” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">I tried to explain myself, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> It’s just that I was on night duty last night and went to see her on a call. I think she is carrying a child.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Are you out of your mind Vipin? Do you know what you are saying?” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She almost shouted. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“I have examined her last night, and I am sure she is at least four months pregnant.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Couldn’t it be that you felt her full bladder instead of uterus?” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">She doubted my diagnosis.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“I am quite sure, but then that is why I want your help” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“You are my old friend, Vipin,” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-style:italic">she said in a hushed voice, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“so I am telling you, don’t <span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic">get involved in this case. You don’t know anything about her.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">I wanted to ask Sushma what she knew about her, but then hesitated. <i>“I just thought she needed help, so I told you. I have no other interest in her, Sushma. If you don’t want then ask any other gynecologist to see her. Bye” </i>and I went back to my ward.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic"><o:p> [3]</o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">On my way to hostel in the evening I stopped at the private ward complex. The duty nurse was not there so I went straight to room number seven and knocked. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Come in”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic"> I instantly recognized the voice. How could anyone forget that lovely husky voice? She was still lying in the same pose I saw her the night before. But the pain was not visible on her face. She was looking fresh and charming.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Hello Doctor,”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-style:italic"> she gave a very sweet smile, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Thanks for last night, my pain is much less. How are you, I thought you doctors got leave after night duties.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Yes we get”, </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-style:italic">I pulled a stool and sat near her bed,</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “but I had some patients to workup, so I came back. Also I wanted to find out whether your pain subsided or not.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“So sweet of you, doctor” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-style:italic">she blushed, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“but I became alright just by your magical touch.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Rita, can I ask a personal question?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“There is nothing personal about me Doctor, ask whatever you want to.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Are you married?” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-style:italic"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I asked with much hesitation.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Doctor I hope you are not planning to propose me,”</span></i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> she laughed away my question.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Not that but I asked because you live here alone.” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">I did not reveal my suspicion regarding her pregnancy.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“No I am not married and in this condition I don’t hope any one will marry me. My father has been transferred to a different city. My mother lives with my younger brother. They come here often.” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-style: italic"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She was trying to look sad, but her eyes appeared to be angry.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“You don’t seem to be so ill, why then they don’t take you home.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Haven’t you seen my case sheet, doctor? What’s your name? Sorry, I should have asked earlier.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Its ok, I am Vipin. I have joined this hospital only few months back. , I never got to see your case sheet as I am posted in children’s department.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“So you don’t know anything about me.”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> She looked surprised,</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “I thought the whole town knew. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">Well Vipin, I am paralyzed below waist”.</span></span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> She was unusually casual in telling her illness<i> “a stray bullet hit my spine, you see.”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I was shocked. No one had told this. Every body had told about gunshot and about her charm and her sensuality, but no one had mentioned that she was a paraplegic. How could Rohit talk about doing<i> anything else </i>to a paraplegic? Disgusting! And then I remembered she might be pregnant. And she doesn’t seem to know about this. I was disturbed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“I can’t move my legs. I don’t have any sensation below waist. The nurses take care of my every need”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> she was sobbing,<i> “I can’t even sit without there support. This bed is all I know as my world for the past one year, or is it two.” </i>She started crying.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I didn’t know what to do, How to console her. I just patted on her shoulder and said, <i>“Believe in God, Rita, you will be well soon.” <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“I don’t believe in God” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">her sobbing stopped,<i> “and don’t give me false hopes, Vipin, thanks for your concern though”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“I have to go now, but I will come again tomorrow. I have to ask you something.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“There is nothing about me which the hospital staff doesn’t know, Doctor Vipin.” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">she was much relaxed now,<i> “You don’t know because you are new. You can ask any old timer here. But I wished you did not.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">I couldn’t sleep till late that night. I couldn’t take her image away from my mind. Who could have shot her? Why were her parents not besides her? And what if my diagnosis about her pregnancy comes true?<i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></i>I decided to ask sister Nisha more about her next morning. She was one of the oldest staff, and appeared to me the most sensible too.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">[4]</span><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Next morning before going to my ward, I went straight to the private ward. But sister Nisha was not on duty. She was on the evening shift. I thought I would come back in the evening and went to the OPD. The OPD was full of patients and I got busy examining kids. But I could not take my mind off Rita’s face. When the last patient was gone, Gupta Ji, the pharmacist, asked me if I had some problem.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was looking lost, he said. He was a stocky and very jolly person. He never missed a chance to crack a joke and laugh. And he didn’t liked people to be quite and dull. I had started admiring him in the past four months of working together. I thought I could ask him about Rita. He was also in this hospital for quite a long time. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Rita!!” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">he exclaimed,<i> “why are you interested in her, DokSaab. She is not your kind”. </i>He left his counter and came to my table and sat on the examination chair. “<i>Hers is <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a police case, and a simple Guy like you should not get involved.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Arey Gupta Ji, I was just curious about how she got that shot.” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I tried to explain him why I wanted to know about her,<i> “I had gone on a call that night. She is suffering so much because of her paralysis. Weren’t you here when she was admitted?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“No Doksaab, I was transferred to this hospital only six months back, but I know about her case. She is suffering for her misdeeds only, who else to be blame for her miseries.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I was surprised and even more curious. What were her misdeeds which she was paying for with a paralytic life?<i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Gupta Ji, that girl looks so innocent. What misdeeds could she have done to earn a gunshot?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“You will not believe me Doksaab but she is a call girl. Her father is a big police officer so he got her case suppressed. But from what media people talked about her she had bunked college to meet her customer at the Royal Hotel when she was shot. Must have been some scuffle for money.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">This was shocking. A call girl, this can not be true. She looks so innocent. Her eyes are so pure. Yes, she was sensuous, but not immoral. I couldn’t believe what Gupta was telling. But he was a senior man, and I had never seen him gossiping.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“But Gupta Ji wasn’t this man arrested? Do you know who he is?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">‘No, no arrests were made. He also must have been a big guy, some corrupt politician. The media wasn’t allowed, and was told that it was an accidental gunshot by some friend.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I was even now not satisfied about her being a call girl. I argued, <i>“But Gupta Ji, why do you say she was a call girl. It could be that she had gone there with her friend and it was just an accidental gunshot.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Doksaab, then tell me, why has the family abandoned her to this district hospital for so many months? No one has ever come to meet her since. Her father has got himself transferred to a different district. He only clears the hospital bill every month”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I could not even now believe she was a call girl. She looked so beautiful and pure. People must have got a wrong impression because she was shot in a hotel room. This was disturbing me, but how to find the truth. Only her family members or she herself could tell the truth. I didn’t know where to find her family and had no courage to ask her directly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But then I thought why should I bother about her?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She was not under my care, and what was her past is not my concern. I did my duty when I was on call, and I have also informed Sushma about her pregnancy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I thought Sushma and Gupta Ji were right. I should stay away from this case.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">[5]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">While returning to the hostel, I could not resist going to the private wards. Sister Nisha was sitting at the nursing station. She looked tired, but stood up and greeted me. I smiled and sat besides her. I wanted to ask her about Rita’s story but I could not gather enough courage after what Gupta Ji told.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Instead I enquired if Dr Sushma visited her, and what was her opinion. I was just curious to know whether she agreed with my diagnosis. Sister Nisha told that Dr Sushma had seen Rita this morning. She had ordered some investigations and an ultrasound.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She’ll get the tests done by the evening. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Can I see her now, Sister?” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I just wanted to see her once again.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Why not Doctor, come with me.” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">she took her case file and we headed for Room Number 7. Rita was looking tense. She looked at me. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“Hello Doctor Vipin!” </i>She said cheering up, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“How are you?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“I am fine Rita, but you look tensed, something bothering you?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Nothing doctor” </span></i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">she hesitated,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> “but that lady doctor came here for my checkup today?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I told sister Nisha to leave us alone for few minutes and I’ll call her when I need her. She obligingly went away.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Rita, I had asked her to check you up. You know I am a child specialist so when I examined you I that night I had some doubts which I wanted her to clear.” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">I tried to explain. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“What did she tell you?” </i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I asked fearing whether Sushma told her about my doubt. But wisely enough she didn’t tell Rita any thing about pregnancy.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Doctor thanks again for that night”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Rita it was my duty and you have already thanked for that once.” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Not for that, but for not trying to<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>take advantage of my situation.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“What are you saying?” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I sensed what she was trying to say.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> “Why should anybody take advantage? Has some one abused you? You can confide in me, Rita, without any fear.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“I know” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">she looked directly in my eyes and said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“That is why I am telling you. But whom should I name. These men, they all are the same. Sister Nisha has come to my rescue so many times.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I tried to resist initially, but then I succumbed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No one listens to me. They think I am of loose character.” <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Haven’t you complained to the superintendent about this?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“You mean Dr. Deshpandey”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"> She laughed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“I told him when he visited once. He laughed at me saying when I can’t feel any thing below waist, how do I know I am being raped. I also told Dr. Sushma but she is biased too. She said I must have provoked them. A call girl, that’s what she thinks I am.”</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“But you are not, I am sure of that.” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">I tried to reassure her.</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Yes I am not, but after what has happened to me no one believes me, not even my mother.” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">She started crying,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> “She said I spoiled family honour. For her I am as good as dead.”</i> She remained silent for many minutes, wiping her tears and sobbing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“Is something bothering you Rita?” </i>I tried to probe her, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“Do you want to share something with me?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Nothing Doctor, by the way, what was it that you doubted about me?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">She asked casually. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">After much thinking, whether to tell her now or not, I decided to tell her, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“I think you are pregnant Rita. But we can be sure only after we do the tests this evening.” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">She became tense. I didn’t know what to say to her. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Rita, were you expecting this?” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">I asked. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“I also fear this. But then sister Nisha gave me some pills. She told that she can’t stop them raping me but at least she can prevent me getting pregnant.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Oh, but don’t worry, may be my doubt is false. Let us wait for the tests” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">assuring her I left.</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">This was the third night I was unable to sleep because of this girl. Why should I be bothered about a patient who is not even under my charge? I tried to forget her and sleep, but her face always came in front of my eyes. I could not just ignore her. I had to help her. But how could I help her when even her mother had abandoned her. I decided I should meet her mother first. I wanted to know why she doubted the character of her daughter. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">[6]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I was sitting in my OPD when Sushma came in and told that I was right, Rita was indeed four months pregnant. She joked about my diagnostic ability and that I should be in the obstetrics dept instead of Pediatrics.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For her Rita was just another patient. She was not thinking about the problem a paraplegic would face because of pregnancy. So I asked, <i>“Leave the jokes Sushma, what will happen now?” </i>She appeared not to understand my concern, so I had to remind her, <i>“She is a paraplegic, and unmarried.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“O my God, I never thought about that, but now what can we do. Abortion at this stage would be risky, but would she want to carry the baby looking at her condition. I wonder who is the father, must be someone working in the hospital because none of her relatives visit her. This damn call girl, even the bullet didn’t change her habits. ”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Why do you speak like that about her, Sushma? What do you know about her past?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Hey don’t get serious Vipin. I was just repeating what people here talk about her. Ok I’ll talk to her and see what can be done.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“That will be better, Sushma,” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">I said and asked,<i> “Have you told her the diagnosis”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">She told she hadn’t. I was somewhat relieved. After the OPD I went straight to the office to find out Rita’s home address.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Mr. Siddiqui, the clerk, was busy chewing paan. He initially resented, but after some persuasion, gave her address.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><i>Rita Verma, d/o Sri P.K. Verma, IPS, 6B Officers’ Colony, Civil Lines.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Why do you want the address,” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">He asked suspiciously.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“We have to get a consent form signed from her father.”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> I lied.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“But you will not find him there. It’s good that he got transferred. Be careful, Doctor Sahib, this PK Verma is a very dangerous IPS officer. Do you know it was he who shot Rita, her only daughter?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“What!” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I was stunned,<i> “what are you talking Siddiqui Ji! He shot at his own daughter. But<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had heard that she was shot at by some customer after some scuffle over money.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Arey Doksaab, that was a cover up. Just think why a customer would shoot at the call girl. It was her father who shot at her. He found that his daughter was a call girl and shot at her in anger.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I was curious. I thought this man may know more about this case, so I sat next to him. <i>“Siddiqui Ji you know all about this case? Was she really a call girl?”</i> I asked getting closer to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Oh Doksaab, I don’t know much because this case was suppressed. No media person was allowed to go there at that time. Her father, Verma, is very influential police officer. He manipulated the case so that it was made to appear as an accident. But people talked a lot and I know there must be some truth in it.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“And what did the people say?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“They say that SP sahib had gone to raid the Royal Hotel, and He found Rita in one room with a stranger. She had bunked classes. In a fit of anger he shot at her. Later it was covered up and press told that it was a case of accidental gunshot. But soon after this incidence, SP sahib got himself transferred to Banda.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Oh, so then no case was lodged?” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">I probed Siddiqui Ji. <i>“I don’t know Doksaab, but the people stopped talking about this case. I hear that her family doesn’t even visit her. They just clear her bills timely, that’s all. I doubt if you will be able to get that consent signed at all.” “I will try my luck, lets see”</i> I thanked him and left.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black">[7]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Her case was becoming more and more complex. Were they all true, was she really a call girl? Was she actually shot by her father? And why did her father shoot her? I still could not believe this. Her eyes didn’t seem to lie, they were so pure. No, she could not be a call girl. There was some misunderstanding. But how could I find the truth. Only she, or her father, could tell what actually happened.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But why should I bother about her. It was her life and her fate. Why should I waste my time and energy finding why her father shot at her? It was my day off and I decide to go to a movie. Just as I was about to leave my room, a wardboy came from the hospital and told that sister Nisha had requested me to see her in the private wards. I guessed it must be something related to Rita, so I asked the peon to tell sister I was coming.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Nisha was looking anxious. <i>“Doctor, Rita is very depressed today. She hasn’t eaten anything since morning. She said she wanted to talk to you, so I called you.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Rita was looking tense. She brightened up looking at me, <i>“Oh Doctor Vipin, please help me”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“What happened Rita, why are you so tense,”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Doctor, I am very much worried. Sister says my reports are positive, I am pregnant.”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> I told her that I knew.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><i>“Doctor, can’t this be aborted?” </i>I told her it was now risky and can be tried only after her parents gave consent. <i>“But they will not, Vipin. They will not help me.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“I can try convincing them. But Even I can not help you unless I know the whole truth about you.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“But you know all about me, don’t you?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“No, what I know is only the hearsay, not the truth. You told me you were hit by a stray bullet, but I have heard that it was your father who shot at you. Why Rita, why did he have to fire at you. You say your mother doesn’t believe you, but how can she when even your father didn’t believe you.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“So you know it was my dad who shot at me”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> She hid her face in her hands and started sobbing. I sat besides her and held her hands and tried to console her. <i>“Rita, why don’t you tell me the truth, may be I’ll be able to help you then. What had happened in the hotel that day, why did your dad shoot at you? Why your mom believes you are a call girl. I wanted to talk to her but then I myself don’t know about you, how will I convince her that you are not bad.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">She stopped crying and remained silent for some time. <i>“Vipin, I am not like the way people think I am. It’s just because I was in that hotel room people thought I was a call girl. I tried to explain mom, but she didn’t listen. That visit to the Royal Hotel ruined my entire life.” </i>She asked for a glass of water. She was now looking calm. <i>“But Vipin, believe me, I had not gone there on my own. My classmate, Garima insisted me to come with her. I’ll tell you all, may be you understand me.” </i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I knew she was telling the truth. Her eyes were not lying. I settled on a chair near her bed and listened to her story. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">[8]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“I was in my first year of graduation. We, I and my friends had lots of fun, and studies too. I was enjoying this open atmosphere of college after the strict discipline of the convent from where I passed my twelfth. We were a gang of five girls, all giggling and frolicking. We were the most mischievous group in the college. We some times bunked classes and gossiped under the tamarind tree behind the college library. Many a times we bunked classes to watch the morning show at the Mayfair. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Of all my friends, Garima was the craziest. She was the richest too. She wore the most expensive dresses and always paid for the coffee in the canteen. Once I asked where she got so much money and such expensive things, she laughed and told she had a very rich uncle who gifted her often. She promised that she will some day introduce me too to her uncle. She was the only girl in our gang who had friends amongst the boys. She often went out with few of them after class. Movies, she told whenever we asked where she went. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">That day she asked me to come for a movie as she had two tickets for “Bobby” and her boyfriend was not able to go. When I told her I would get late for home, she assured it was an afternoon show and would be over by 3 pm. No one would come to know, she told. On the way she told me that before the movie we will go to the nearby Royal Hotel as she had to meet her uncle. We reached the Royal Hotel by 11, and she took me to this room. She said here we can have coffee in privacy while waiting for her uncle. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">While we were having coffee, she went out to make a phone call to her friend. She told me that if her uncle came in the meanwhile, I should ask him to sit and talk to him till she comes. I waited for her, finishing my coffee, when someone knocked at the door. </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“It’s open”<i>, I told, thinking it must be Garima. But to my surprise, I saw Dad entering the room, alone.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He too was shocked to find me there. </i>“Rita, what the hell are you doing here?”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></i>“Dad, I had ccome here with GGarima”<i> I stammered and then asked, </i>“but what are you doing here, and where’s Garima?”<i> He was trembling with anger, I don’t know what he understood, but then all of a sudden he took out his service revolver and fired at me. I became unconscious after that and when I woke up I was in this hospital. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I never saw Dad again after that. Mom said he was very upset. He never imagined I could be a call girl. But why did he think so about me? She told me that Dad had raided the hotel and found me there in the hotel room. I tried to explain, to tell them about Garima, but they didn’t listen to me. Mom only scolded me that I ruined her family name.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Mom and Mukul, my younger brother stayed with me for few weeks, but never spoke to me. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They left me alone when I was out of danger. They have never come again. They only send money for my needs and pay the hospital bills.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Her tale left me speechless. She was a victim of a big misconception and it had done her irreparable damage. She was found at a wrong place at a wrong time. Mr. Verma had himself raided the Hotel and found Rita in the room, apparently waiting for some one. Who would believe she was not waiting there for a customer. Only Garima knew the truth but who would believe her too. But where did she disappear after the incident. Why didn’t she tell Mr. Verma the truth? May be she got terrified seeing the police. But then she could have come later and told Rita’s parents the truth. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Did Garima come to see you after that?” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“No, none of my classmates came here to see me. Initially I was too shocked to even think about it. But later I tried to contact her. I asked one ayah to find her in the college and ask her to see me. But the ayah couldn’t find her. Then I gave up the idea and resigned to my fate. ”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Rita, to prove your innocence we must know where is Garima. Only she can prove that you had gone with her. Do you know any friends of her, or her address?”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Manan Shankar was very close to her, may be he knows. He may remember me too. We were in same class but a different section. ”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">I assured her that I’ll try to find Garima. But I decided to meet her mother whether I find Garima or not. I had to talk to her about the pregnancy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px; ">[9]</span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">After leaving Rita, I took a rickshaw and went straight to the Civil lines. It was around 2 pm and the roads were empty. Locating 6B was not difficult in this Government colony. There was a guard at the gate. I told her to tell Mrs. Verma that I had come from the district Hospital and wanted to meet her urgently.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He told me to wait at the gate and went inside. He came back within minutes and told me that Mrs. Verma would see me soon. He asked me to sit in the veranda. There were many cane sofas. Few palm trees were placed in the corners. One wall had many fading black n white photographs of a young police officer. He must me the S.P.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Mr. Verma. He was looking very smart. I had to wait for about fifteen minutes when the door opened and Mrs. Verma appeared. She was looking very graceful and stern. <i>“Is there any problem, Mister…?” <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Vipin, Doctor Vipin.”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"> I introduced myself, <i>“No ma’am not much of a problem, I just wanted to meet you.” <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Look Doctor Vipin, if it’s about Rita, I don’t want to talk about her.” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She was trying to appear unconcerned but I felt, looking at her, that she wanted to know about her daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Well ma’am actually it’s about her only, and though she is not under me, I am a child specialist, I think she needs your help.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“If she is not under you, then why are you so much bothered? I have told you that I do not want to talk about her. For us she is as good as dead.” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But her stern face was melting.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Her voice had softened. There was agony in her speech. I tried to persuade more.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“She is not dead yet, but will die soon if she is left to suffer like that.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Well, what do you know about her, Doctor? She is suffering because of her own misdeeds.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“What deeds are you talking about, Mrs. Verma.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“As if you don’t know, she was caught red handed as a call girl.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Caught red handed, you mean she was found in the hotel room with a man? And you believe this story about your daughter. That daughter who had never given you reasons to suspect her before this. Had she ever come home late? <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Tell me, did you ever felt she was cheating you? Just because your husband found her in a hotel room, alone, waiting for her friend, he made his conclusions. And he gave her instant justice too, without giving her a chance to explain. And you too never tried to listen to her story. Your husband made her a cripple for life and you left her at the mercy of the nursing staff, to die.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“But then what was she doing alone, in that hotel room, when she was supposed to be in her class. Mr. Verma says he had gone there on a tipoff about a call girl racket being run from that hotel.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“You didn’t listen to your daughter’s explanation but I have. She says, and I believe her that she had gone to see a movie with her friend Garima. On the way Garima stopped at the hotel to meet her uncle. ”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Then where was Garima. Why wasn’t she caught too?”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“She had gone out to make a phone call. She must have been terrified and ran away when she saw the police and gunshots.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“But then why didn’t she come afterwards to tell us all this.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“That is what is worrying me. We have to find her. But before that, you have to talk to your daughter. She is in more trouble.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">By now Mrs. Verma had broken completely. She was sobbing loudly. <i>“It’s entirely my fault. I should have listened to what she was trying to tell. I know my daughter, she was not like that. But I was angry because Mr. Verma was deeply hurt after this incident. He had stopped talking to us. He remained inside his room for long times, drinking a lot. I didn’t want to hurt him more by taking her side. Even then, he was so disturbed that he asked for a transfer from this city.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">But now I feel I wronged my daughter. Thanks for coming, Doctor. Tell Rita I’ll be coming in the evening. But what more trouble were you talking about.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">How should I put the news of her pregnancy to Mrs. Verma? <i>“Some unscrupulous doctor, taking advantage of her paralysis, raped her. And now she is four months pregnant.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">She was shocked. She appeared to loose all her strength and fell on the sofa. I tried to console her.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She tried to regain her composure and stood up. I took her leave, but before going I requested her not to tell anything to Mr. Verma as I didn’t wanted to face his ire. She promised she will not tell him anything until she met Rita. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black">[10]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">After leaving Mrs. Verma I didn’t feel like going back to the hostel. I thought of having a coffee, so I went to the Royal Hotel’s restaurant. More than the coffee, I was curious to see the place. It was around six in the evening, and the restaurant was almost empty. Light music was being played. The place was cozy, and warm. I took a corner table and waited for the waiter. I was reading the menu card when the waiter came. <i>“Good evening sir”</i> he said and the seeing me, got excited, <i>“Arey sahib, aren’t you the doctor in the children’s hospital, sorry sahib I could not recognize you before. You treated my son. He is ok now, just a bit cranky, that’s all. What should I bring for you sahib.”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">I didn’t recognize him. Lots of patients come to the city hospital. But I smiled back and placed my order. He took just five minutes to bring the coffee and sandwiches.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><i>“What’s your name?”</i> I asked. I thought may be he knew about that gunshot affair, though it was a year old story.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Dil Bahadur, sahib” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">he told excitedly. “<i>I am the oldest waiter in Royal Hotel, sahib. I know most of the customer’s choices.” </i>Oldest waiter, so he must know about that case.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Dil Bahadur, do you remember that Rita Verma case. Were you here at that time?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“No sahib, I was my day off when that incident happened. But I heard about it from other waiters. No one will talk about it now, they all fear police harassment. Why do you ask about it, sahib?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“I am curious because Rita is admitted in our hospital and is under my charge. She said there was one more girl with her that day. I was wondering what happened to her.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">“Arey you are talking about Garima memsaab. She is a pimp, Sahib. She tricks innocent college girls into this dirty business. She often came here to provide young girls to rich businessmen. I think that day she tricked this Rita Memsaab into this. It was a coincidence that police raided the hotel that day” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">he came closer to me, <i>“She never came to this hotel after that. I have heard she has been arrested last month along with three other girls and there customers. But not from our hotel, she was running this racket from a house in Mahanagar.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></i>He went away to attend another customer. I hurriedly finished my coffee, and leaving sufficient money at the table, left for hostel. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Garima was a pimp trapping college girls. Shocking! So she had intentionally left Rita alone in that room. But who was her uncle? He must have been some rich businessman. May be she had gone to inform him and when they returned SP sahib had raided the hotel. They must have fled. My mind stopped thinking. I was tired. This affair was making me mad. I just came to my room and fell on my bed. I didn’t want to think about this. I don’t know when I slept. My head was heavy when I woke the next day. I had to meet Garima to clear this affair. But how could I meet her when she was in police custody. I thought I would ask Mrs. Verma to help. Deciding I would go to her this afternoon, I went to my OPD.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">[11]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">When I was returning from my duty, I thought of seeing Rita. I went straight to her room without telling the nurse on duty. Her room was open. Surprisingly, she was sitting with someone supporting her back. She was looking very happy. <i>“Hi Vipin!” </i>she got excited as she saw me<i>, “look who is here”</i> she said. Then I noticed it was Mrs. Verma, who was sitting behind her and combing her hairs. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“When did you come, Mrs. Verma?” </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I never expected she would come here even though she had promised.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“I came here last night only. Thanks Vipin, for opening my eyes. I was blind not to see the truth behind her innocent face. How could I ever doubt my daughter? But now every thing will be all right. Doctor, can I take her home in this condition? I don’t want to leave her alone once again. We can employ private nurses for her care if needed. ”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Well, previously she was not being discharged because she had nowhere to go. But now since she is pregnant, I’ll have to talk to Dr. Dhasmana. Have you thought about that, Ma’am? She had told me it would be difficult and risky to abort now.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“For me now her life is more important than any thing else. I will not take the risk. I think I’ll let he carry the baby. She has had her share of defamation anyways. Aborting the baby will not wash that away.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“But have you told your husband. He must still be angry with her.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“I have not told him yet. I will explain when he comes home. You don’t worry about him. He has gone only last week so he will not be back before a month. By that time I’ll try to meet Garima and persuade her to tell the truth to Mr. Verma when he comes.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">I told her that she need not worry and that I’ll talk to Garima and convince her. I requested her to just ask the SO of the police station to let me meet her. She assured that it will be done.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">From there I went to Sushma and told her Mrs. Verma’s request to get Rita discharged. There was no problem as far as pregnancy was concerned, she informed me. She said it could be managed but they would have to employ a full time nurse to look after. Within next few days she was discharged from the hospital. Rita was very happy and excited. She asked me to come to her home sometimes. <i>“Thanks for everything, Vipin”</i> she said as she was transferred to the ambulance. I just responded with a smile. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">[12]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Several times I had thought of meeting Garima. But every time I wanted to go, some hospital work came up. Gradually it slipped off my mind. As there was no news from Rita, I assumed she was well accepted by the family. With the days passing I got busy with the routine and forgot Rita.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Suddenly I realized I was standing in her room. She was lying on her bed, propped up by few pillows. Just like I had seen her the last time in room number 7. But her face was expressionless. The sensuousness was not there. She was staring blankly towards the window. She was clutching a piece of paper in her hands. I tried to greet her. <i>“Hello Rita”</i> I said weakly. She looked at me and spoke <i>“Vipin!”</i> she started crying, <i>“Why did he do this to me” <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“What are you saying Rita. How did this happen.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She kept on crying. I held her hand to console her. She handed me the crumpled piece of paper. <i>“Read this, he gave this to me early morning. I wish I had read it then only.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">‘Dear kid, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">I am sorry, it was my fault and I suspected you. I will not be able to live with this guilt. I hope you will forgive me. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pa’<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Oh no, but why did he take this rash step. Even if he realized his mistake, he could have repented for his error by accepting you home.”</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She had calmed down by now. I asked her what had happened last night.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Pa came home from Banda at around 9 PM. Mom had till then not informed him of my return. When she told him about me he got very excited and angry. Mom tried to explain the circumstances in which I reached the Royal Hotel. She told him about Garima and how I had gone with her to watch a movie and had stopped at the hotel on Garima’s request. Somehow, after listening this he calmed down. He didn’t come to my room at that time. It was around midnight when he told Mom that he was going out as he had to meet someone.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I don’t know when I slept but I woke up as I felt someone had entered my room. I saw Pa standing near my bed. Before I could say any thing, he put this paper on my bed and left. I didn’t read it then as I was sleepy and it was dark too. I fell asleep once again and woke only by the sound of his revolver.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She broke down into a fit of crying once again. I tried to console her, but she would not stop. <i>“It’s because I came home that he did this. I wish I had remained in the hospital only. Now how will Mom live?” </i>some of her friends had come in so I quietly moved out. I told Mukul that I’ll come again later and left.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">I came back to my hostel, but I couldn’t go to the ward. I was disturbed by the morning’s events. One thing I was not able to understand, why he committed suicide. Even if he realized that he misunderstood his daughter, he could have explained his error of judgment, and Rita would have understood him. This was not a guilt big enough that he took this extreme step. Then I remembered he had gone to meet someone after he knew about her daughter. Whom did he meet? Suddenly it struck to me that he went to meet Garima, may be to confirm her story.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I thought of meeting Garima, may be she knew why he committed suicide.<i><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Instead of going to the wards I went straight to the Mahanagar police station, where Garima was lodged. I gave my introduction to the in charge and requested him. He allowed me to meet Garima and told a constable to accompany me to the cell where Garima was living.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">She was sitting on a bench, drinking tea. She was almost the same age as Rita, but looking much thinner, and older. She was wearing a white khaddar sari, just as I had seen prisoners wearing in some movie. The constable left us alone. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Hello Garima, I am Vipin, Rita’s doctor.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Now what do you want. I have already said sorry to her father. Had I known she was Mr. Verma’s daughter I wouldn’t have even touched her.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“So Mr. Verma came here last night” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Yes, so what?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Well he committed suicide after he went from here”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Oh! But I had expected this. He had no choice. He was living with a guilt feeling since the day he saw Garima in that hotel room.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“But why did he feel guilty, he was just doing his duty by conducting that raid.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“What raid, he had come there to meet me. I often introduced him to new girls from college. Young virgin girls were his weakness. He gave me a lot of money and expensive gifts in return. That day I had promised to introduce him to a very sexy young college girl. Had I known he was Rita’s father, I would never have made this blunder. I came to know only after he shot at Rita. But then I was terrified and ran away. Last night he came to ask me whether Rita knew why she was waiting in that room.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I told him the truth that Rita was innocent and she was expecting to meet my uncle.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“Garima, you did a very noble deed by telling Mr. Verma the truth about Rita, but I request you one more thing. Don’t tell this truth about Mr. Verma to any one else. Your previous action has made her life hell, now if Rita knows the truth about her father her life will become even worse. Let her live under the false belief that her father was an honest police officer and a caring father.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">When I came back to see Rita, she was sleeping, clutching a photo of Mr. Verma in her hands.<i> </i>She was looking so innocent and sensuous.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12224484449558881498noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602106791474808374.post-87124546311040739232008-03-04T20:07:00.000-08:002008-03-04T20:10:00.045-08:00Song<p style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153); font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">You will, won't you?<br />Won't you sing my song?</p><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153); font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">Written in the ink of love<br />On the pages of my soul<br />I have poured my heart<br />I can not be all wrong<br />Won't you sing my song?</p><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153); font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">Song of my love for you<br />Whatever tune it may be<br />Whoever plays the music<br />I just want you to sing along<span><br /></span>Won't you sing my song?<br /></p><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153); font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">These meaningless words<br />Waiting for you to kiss them<br />And give them your melody<br />Haven't they waited too long?<br />When will you sing my song?<br /></p><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">You will, someday, won't you?<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Won't you sing my song?</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12224484449558881498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602106791474808374.post-36221914758509121412007-08-31T00:12:00.001-07:002007-08-31T00:12:41.889-07:00My Wish<div style="text-align: center;"><p align="center"><span style="font-size: 130%;">I wish I could sing...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: 130%;">but did not find a song </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: 130%;">I wish I could write...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: 130%;">but did not find a story</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: 130%;">I wish I could fly...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: 130%;">but did not find the wings</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: 130%;">I wish I could dance...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: 130%;">but did not find the steps </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: 130%;">So many things I wished I could...</span></p><span style="font-size: 130%;">but did not find the wishing well.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12224484449558881498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602106791474808374.post-14034377734239772362007-08-31T00:10:00.000-07:002007-08-31T00:11:48.434-07:00In LoveI think I am in love.<br />In love for the third time.<br />First time it was when my uncle gifted me my first storybook, a famous five by Enid Blyton. I was just 11 years old. My love for books has never diminished since. Not even my love for Sandhya, whom I married after four years of a torrid affair, could lessen my first love. Whatever her hatred for books, she learnt to share her bed with my books.<br />That was till <em>Rags4u</em> came into my life. We met in an online forum discussing books. She was a literature graduate doing P.G. and a bookworm like me. We shared all our knowledge of books. She had a great collection of classics. We talked about fiction, dramas, poetry, genres of literature, Ayn Rand, Harper Lee, Lawrence, Huxley. When at home I used to think about which book should I discuss with her, when at office I used to rush my work so that I may sit at my PC.<br />I was feeling so good that Sandhya asked one evening why was I so excited these days. "I am in love with Rags4u," I told a confused Sandhya, " Well not that I don't love you, you are my life, but I cant imagine a day without talking to Rags4u. I feel great when I see her online. Whenever I read a good novel I want to share with her. I think this is love, platonic love, Sandhya".<br /><div style="text-align: left;">She was smiling. I think she has understood me. After all she is my second love.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12224484449558881498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602106791474808374.post-19097755146233392372007-06-22T06:21:00.000-07:002007-06-22T23:46:20.853-07:00Confessions of an Eve Teaser<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I was born and bought up in a family where Eve teasing was not a taboo. It was in fact a favorite activity during any family get together. My father had a natural ability to tease. And he had so many eves around him to tease. My <span style="font-style: italic;">mausi </span>(mom's sister), four <span style="font-style: italic;">mamis </span>(mom's brother's wives) , my <span style="font-style: italic;">tai ji</span> (his bhabhi), they all loved Dabboo Dada (my dad). The things he said to them, made them blush, though I could hardly understand the meaning at that time. Now when I recollect, I smile at the double meaning sentences he spoke, some times bordering to vulgarity. His was a <span style="font-style: italic;">Mazaak ka rishta </span>with them, he told me.<br />So teasing females came naturally to me. I used to tease my sisters till they wept. Throwing their dolls over the almira, drawing Kaajal mustaches over their faces while they slept, stealing their "<span style="font-style: italic;">Dear Diary"</span> and then reading it aloud at dinner, were some of my favorite activities. My next target were the girls in my neighborhood. Making faces at them, tying their ponytails to the chairs, calling them names. They cried, complained to my parents, but then came again the next day to play with us. My dad told that teasing was a fun activity which promoted bonding .</span><span style="font-size:130%;">He said it unites people while embarrassing them and expresses affection though humiliation. Ironic, isn't it !!<br />Later through my psychology books, I learnt more about this behavior. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Teasing has been described by psychologists as privileged disrespect, playful annoyance, and a mock insult. The contradictory nature of this word is best conveyed through its derivation. Teasing roots from the Anglo-Saxon word <span style="font-style: italic;">taesan</span> (to tear apart) and the French word <span style="font-style: italic;">attiser</span> (to make warm). Teasing ranges from playful joking to aggressive bullying and can be expressed both physically and verbally. While bullying takes the form of hitting, kicking and other violent behaviors, teasing is manifested through nicknames, facial gestures and taunting .<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Teasing is a pervasive activity that occurs in most group contexts including family, friends, coworkers and teammates. While teasing is commonly thought of as an</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> ostracizing mechanism, new research has suggested that teasing actually facilitates bonds within a group and acts as an indicator of intimacy. While teasing is most prevalent among group members who are familiar with one another, teasing can be used among strangers to communicate friendliness and indirectly express affection. Thus, teasing can actually integrate the rookie by revealing both the norms of the group as well as the status of it's members.<br />So convinced that teasing is a harmless activity, I continued this habit of teasing my female classmates in my medical university too. It appeared that they enjoyed it too as they started calling me <span style="font-style: italic;">Mickey (Mouse). </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">It never occurred to me that teasing, or rather eve teasing could be a crime. Until I read a news item about a girl, Sarika Shah. She , </span><span style="font-size:130%;">a student of Ethiraj College in Chennai, fell victim to eve-teasing in the vicinity of her college; she was manhandled and the injuries she sustained proved fatal. It was then that I realised eve teasing could be hurtful, humiliating and sometimes dangerous, even fatal.<br />I was convinced that eve teasing is a menace which has to be tackled, but remained indifferent to the problem. That was till my daughter became a teenager this month, and the starting of Blank Noise Project in Lucknow. I know something has to be done. We can not remain a mute spectator any more. and BNP is the first step in right direction.<br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12224484449558881498noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602106791474808374.post-63402294939286896362006-10-05T07:46:00.000-07:002006-10-05T08:05:27.483-07:00Duty Bound<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">C.P.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">[1]<br /></div><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">It was my first day in the RNM hospital. I was very excited. I was given the charge of Pediatrics ward. That was my first independent assignment. Till now I had always been under some senior, and had only carried out their decisions. Now I could take my own treatment decisions.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">I was having a little chat with the nurse when this ward boy came panting.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-Doctor, there's a very serious baby in the OPD.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">We rushed to the OPD. An old woman was holding this newly born baby, and was crying.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-Doc saab, save my baby.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">The man, around seventy, was looking at me very earnestly.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">I placed the baby on the couch. He was blue, limp, not breathing, and blood stained. I put my stethoscope on his chest. His heart was beating, very slow.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-Tell me what happened.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-Doc saab my bahu gave birth before time, we could not bring her to the hospital. this baby has not cried after birth.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">I started resuscitation almost mechanically. Clean the mouth, put in a tube in his wind pipes and pushed oxygen. All the training I had received I applied on this child. Within minutes His color changed. He took one or two gasps and then started breathing rapidly. I started a IV drip and shifted the baby to ICU.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-Uncle if you came five minutes late we could not have saved the baby. But now he's out of danger. We'll keep him here for two days.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-Doc saab you are God for us,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">said that old man and fell on my feet.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-That's was my duty, uncle, I have saved so many such children before.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">I had done a good resuscitation job, as always. A victorious smile was on my face</span><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />[2]<br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">I was about to leave my clinic, when Uma phoned from the reception,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-there's a patient having convulsions, should I refuse sir, its already very late for you..</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-No Uma , let him in, how old is he?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-about fifteen, sir.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">I am a senior consultant and after fifteen years of practice can afford receptionists and can refuse patients. Patients have to take appointment in the morning to consult me in the evening.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">In the examination room this young boy was lying on the table, and convulsing vigorously. I just made a cursory glance at him and asked the nurse to give intravenous calmpose. Within minutes his jerks stopped and his body relaxed.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">He had a strange round moronic face. His limbs were shrivelled. a repulsive odour was there around him. even from distance I could tell the diagnosis, Cerebral Palsy.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-How long has he been like this,</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">The lady was sobbing. His husband, around my age, but looking older, looked at me. there was a mixed emotion on his face, joy, of seeing his child sleeping peacefully, and agony, of parenting a CP child.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-almost always. But we could only come to know when he was unable to sit while other children his age were running. We have been to a number of hospitals, so many specialists, but he will always remain like this. Only death will cure him.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-was there any problem at the time of birth?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-Yes,</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"> spoke the lady , for the first time,</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br /><br />-he didn't breath when he was born. his grandpa took him to the nearby hospital where he was admitted for three days.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">I could now see anger on the face of his father.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">-I regret that moment my dad took him to that doctor. He saved my son from death but gave him this cursed life.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-Which hospital did your father took him to?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-RNM.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">I felt a lump in my throat which I could not swallow. The words of the nurse on duty that day were still fresh in my ears, </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">Don't save this baby Doc Saab, You know how much damage his brain must have had by now. What life will you give him,</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"> and I had snubbed her, </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;">Who are we to predict future, Sister, we can only do our duty.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-family: courier new;"><br />-why did your dad took him to that hospital instead of letting him die in your home. and why have you brought him to me, instead of letting him convulse to death. I tell you why, you don't want to be responsible for his sufferings and me to take the blame. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12224484449558881498noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602106791474808374.post-71105671314885205482006-09-26T01:18:00.000-07:002006-09-26T01:19:30.476-07:00net-pal<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">The pandal wore a deserted look. Last of the guests were going home after dinner. Gaurav was getting bored and desperately wanted to go back to his room to change. A long night full of various ceremonies was still awaiting us. I also wanted to change into something light. This wedding outfit for jaimala was killing me. Meeting so many people on a single evening was exciting and strenuous. I was too tired. So many people came to bless us and I had to get up every time to greet them or touch their feet. Almost every one whom I expected came. Mehra Aunty was there with her three daughters, all wearing similar dress just like uniforms. Sagar Uncle came in the same old gray suit, which he wears on every colony wedding. So many relatives, close and distant, all came. </span> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">Meenu Di's bag was overflowing with small decorative envelopes, which the guest gave as the monetary token of their priceless blessings. She must have collected a handsome amount by now. Gupta Uncle and Aunty were genuinely excited looking at me in this Bridal dress. Doctor Thakur came alone, gave me a small red envelop and left soon telling about some serious patient at his clinic. He has treated me when I was a child. I was expecting her wife to come too. She is ten years senior to me but we are good friends. I looked for Meenu di but she was away, so I kept the envelop in my hand.</span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"> All my friends got themselves photographed with their Jeeju. Sheila was becoming especially very flirty with Gaurav and I had to push her away. Every one whom I expected came, every one except him. All evening I had anxiously waited for Ajay to come. I got a little disappointed by now. He had promised He'd come. But now the functions were almost over. Gaurav gave me a shy smile as he went with his friends. My gang, Simran, Pooja, Neha and Jaya were giggling at some lewd joke. I stretched my legs and tried to relax on the sofa.</span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">I was thinking about Ajay. Why didn't he come? This would be the first time when he didn't come after promising. It was about three years back when I first met Ajay. I had just finished my Intermediate and waiting for the results. Jaya and I were having lots of fun. Roaming all day on my black scooty. Tea at Tulsi, coffee at Barista, chaat at Royal Cafe, or just window-shopping at Janpath. It was Jaya's idea to go to CyberX, a cyber cafe near our home, for chatting.</span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">I had never tried chatting before though I was using net for my school projects and emails. The cafe was full. It was pleasant homely hall; interior was cozy and cool considering the sultry July weather. The moment I logged into the yahoo chat room with my mail ID, <i>garry_abc</i>, my PC screen was full of chat requests popping up like popcorn in the machine at Tulsi. <i>"asl", "ctc", "hi babe", "wanna have fun! garry"</i>. I was at my wits end. I just closed all the windows. </span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">Then one window popped up, <i>" HI garry, this is ajay, 27/m/india, extremely bored, and no one to chat :( , can u help me plz".</i> I don't know why but couldn't resist his desperate appeal. <i>"hi ajai 19/f/in here"</i>. He told he was a fresher ENT Surgeon at Nehru Hospital, Allahabad living alone with no friend in town. We began to chat almost every day. He said he was free in the evenings and so my evenings were booked for chat with Ajay. We talked about so many things. My likes, my dislikes, movies I saw, books I read, music I listened, my family, my friends. He was interested in all about me. Clock struck 5 and I couldn't resist reaching CyberX. Most of the time alone, but sometimes Jaya sat by my side. His style was hypnotic. His use of words was fascinating. I had never seen him. That day I asked him to come to voice chat. He had a rich deep voice. Just chat and few emails were enough to bring me to this state. I was in love with him. Ajay was in my dreams, in my thoughts. </span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">But whenever I tried to be a little personal with him, he evaded replying. He changed the subject</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"> </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">very diplomatically, talking about his patients and his hospital. I thought he was being shy, and will open up.</span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"> My Inter result was as expected, but I couldn't get through CPMT. Since Dad was not in favour of my sitting idle preparing for next attempt, I joined a course in dietetics, at Naini Agriculture University Allahabad. NO one could guess why I chose Allahabad over Delhi, but Dad was satisfied that I will be nearer to my home. Only Jaya knew why, but she promised she’d not tell. Ajay was excited too. </span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">My first month at Naini was very busy, so I couldn't chat with him, only few hurried emails were the only exchange between us. Then again it was the usual daily chat. I asked him to come someday to my hostel, but he said he was very busy because</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"> </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">many of his colleagues were on leave. </span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">Jaya had come to his uncle's place in Allahabad that weekend. She came to meet me and I agreed her that we will ourselves go to meet Ajay at his hospital. Nehru Hospital was just like a typical district hospital, smelly, overflowing with patients and their relatives. We managed to reach the office. "There's no Doctor Ajay here, not since I came here 3 yrs back" said the Medical Superintendent. We came back disappointed. </span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">That evening I told Ajay about our visit to his Hospital. He didn't reply. just disconnected. He didn't come online after that. I was very angry, and hurt. So this man was making a fool of me. I'll never forgive him. I became busy with my studies.</span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"> Then one day I got his email. <i>"sorry garima. I never wanted to hurt you, but unintentionally I have done so. I know you will not excuse me, but I am writing this so that I may feel lighter in my heart. This guilty feeling is unbearable. Garima, its true I am a doctor living alone, not at Allahabad, but Lucknow. But I am married, my family, wife, son and parents live at Gonda. I never told you that I was a bachelor and never tried to flirt with you. That day at Logon, I was checking my mails, I saw you chatting on yahoo. You were looking cute. I snooped your ID and sent you that chat request. I started enjoying chatting with you. Just to avoid any chance of face-to-face contact I told you a lie about Allahabad. I did my MBBS from Allahabad, so I knew a lot about Allahabad. When you joined this dietetics course at Allahabad, I knew I was in trouble, but I never knew you would start searching for me. I don't know which of my words gave you this Idea, but there was no romantic suggestion in my chat. Its that I was alone and enjoyed chatting. I treated you as a true friend. If you believe me, and excuse me, and after all my lies, still keep me as your friend, then please reply soon, or just ignore this and you will never hear from me. Yours Ajay"</i></span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">There was sincerity in his reply. One month I had not talked to him. But I missed him. That evening I sent him my reply. I was now more relaxed with him. He joked about finding a very handsome doctor for me. Before the completion of my dietetics degree, Dad settled my Marriage with Gaurav. Ajay approved of Gaurav as soon as he saw his photo. He said both names, Gaurav and Garima had same meanings. The marriage was in February. I e-mailed the scanned wedding card to him, as I was scared to ask his address and personally invite him. But He promised He’d come<i>.</i></span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"><i> </i> "Hey do you want to stay in this pandal the whole night " Jaya was standing in front of me. " Oh no, just coming" I said and looked at this red envelop. Out of curiosity I opened to see how much money did Doctor Thakur gave. There was a thousand-rupee note, and a small letter. Jaya snatched the letter and started reading.</span></p> <p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"><i>" Hello</i> Garima<i>, God bless you. May your Life with </i> Gaurav<i> be full with joy. I promised so I came. Chatting with you were the most memorable times in my life. I hope you will be able to forgive and forget me.<br />Dr Thakur aka Ajay ” </i></span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12224484449558881498noreply@blogger.com1