Page 113 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

The medic fastened the IV line to the metal frame above the bed.
“Tsheulthrim, you should see your little brother,” I said. “Who knows, you may not see him again.”
She pecked him on his cheeks and sobbed. Abi sobbed too. Tears replenished my eyes, and I almost
dropped to my knees.
“Get in, sir,” said the ambulanceman.
I got in and peeped through the wind. “Abi, take care of Tsheulthrim. And Tsheulthrim, listen to your
Abi, okay?”
She nodded, leaning against Abi.
“Don’t worry about her,” said Abi. “Take care of the baby.”
As the ambulance moved away, I waved to them as if we were taking the baby for burial even before his
passing. “Poor baby, I can’t believe you made a fleeting visit to us.” I pecked his flabby cheeks. “Ken-cho-
sum, you must save my baby.”
The ambulance sped after we crossed the check post at Charkilo. Trees flashed past the window as the
ambulance zoomed along the uneven road. After fifteen miles, Choki sat up. “I am dying, drive slow.” She
slid the window-glass open and barfed. Nothing came out.
“We’ll be late,” said the ambulanceman, maneuvering the hairpin bend. “Every minute counts.”
“You must endure it, Choki,” I said.
“Oh, God! I am dying!” she said, lying down. “Mom!”
“Drive slow, please,” I said. “She is suffering from motion sickness.”
“We will get late,” said the ambulanceman. “It’s a long journey.”
The ambulanceman was polite, but he wouldn’t decelerate. Even the medic fidgeted when Choki
groaned and squirmed.
“Stop the ambulance!” shouted Choki, grimacing. “I am staying here.”
The ambulanceman pulled over at the roadside and said, “She won’t stop wailing. I think you should
give her an injection, sir.”
“It’s risky,” said the medic. “She already had one before we started.” He turned to me. “What do you
say?”
“What is the injection for?” I asked.
“It’s a sedative. It will put her to sleep, but has side effects.”
“Um, I think you should give her one,” I said. “She is in agony.”
Minutes later, Choki went to sleep. The narrow road had many curves running under the overlapping
branches.
“Ouch, I can’t travel farther.” Choki sat up and grasped my arms. “Give me another injection, please.”
“You already had two,” said the medic. “It’s too risky.”
“Please give her the last dose,” said the ambulanceman, parking at the roadside.
“Hope this puts her to sleep this time,” said the medic.
Darkness fell, and the journey took forever.
“Where’re we?” I said.
“We’ve just crossed the Sherichhu bridge,” said the ambulanceman.
“Sherichhu? It is the midpoint, isn’t it?”
“Closer to Mongar.”
“How far is Mongar from here?”
“About one and a half-hour drive.”
“Oops, quite far,” I muttered, fiddling the baby’s nose. “God, take the baby and mother safely, please.”
We wound up a mountain pass at Korila and traveled downhill. In the distance, a constellation of lights
glittered.
“Which place is that?”
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