Page 111 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

She gasped. “Why?”
“The baby seems bit serious,” said the nurse
“We are taking him to a better hospital, Ama,” I said. “Don’t worry.” I turned to the nurse. “What
about the ambulance?”
“Sorry, it’s in the workshop. You must arrange your transport.”
Right away, I phoned Tshering Zangmo’s hubby, Pema Dremey to arrange transport.
“I will ask Lotay,” he said.
“Do it fast, please,” I said.
The nurse handed me the referral form and said, “I’ll ask Samdrup Jongkhar hospital to send an
ambulance.” After the conversation, she said, “The ambulance is coming till halfway. Get everything ready.
Meanwhile, I’ll arrange a medic for you.”
After ten minutes, Pema Dremey called me. “Ata Lotay agreed to give us a lift, but you must fill some
gas.”
“Okay. Hurry, we are getting late.”
Lotay picked us from BHU minutes later. On the way, the baby groaned, and the medic drained out the
bile from a nasal tube.
We waited for the ambulance on the highway, but it wouldn’t come. My mind raced a mile a minute. I
peeped through the glass and said, “What could be delaying it?”
“Relax, please,” said the medic. “It would arrive soon.”
I got out and paced to the other side of the road and peered at the headlights coming from SJ road.
Half an hour passed. So, I returned to see my baby. He groaned harder.
“I think we should continue,” said Lotay. “The baby won’t make it if we wait for the ambulance.” He
switched the ignition on. “Get in, sir. Let’s move on.”
“I don’t know how I should thank you,” I said. “Thank you so much.”
After miles, the ambulance zoomed past us, flashing its beacon.
Lotay honked. “Ambulance!”
It stopped meters away and made a U-turn. The medics conversed for a while and told us to shift the
baby and mother to the ambulance. I waved to Lotay and Pema Dremey.
After lying Choki on the gurney, I cradled the baby in my arms and peeped through the glass. “Thank
you, Ata Lotay and Pema Dremey.”
“Take care!” they said.
The journey seemed to be taking ages. So, I chanted prayers, often checking the baby’s abdomen.
The medic drained out the fluid every half an hour.
“What is this disease called?” I asked.
“There are many causes of abdominal distension,” said the medic. “Only a specialist can explain it.”
We arrived at Samdrup Jongkhar Referral Hospital at midnight.
The ambulanceman opened the hatchback. “Baby first,” he said.
The medic held the intravenous line as I cradled away the baby in my arms.
“Help the mother,” said the ambulanceman.
“Abi, help Choki, please,” I said. “And Tsheulthrim, carry the bag. After me.”
We took the stairs to the nurse room on the second floor. Nurses were warming their hands by the
room heater.
“Nurse, emergency,” said the medic.
A fat nurse got up and spread a sheet on the table beside her. “Lie him in here.” She placed a
thermometer under the baby’s armpit and read the reading a few minutes later. “Oh, no! The baby has a
high fever.” She removed the blanket.

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