Page 116 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

“Sure. Mug, please?”
I gave him the mug.
He returned with tea and three slices of bread. “Your share, sir.”
“Bread for breakfast?” I said. “What else do we get?”
“They have a menu; eggs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Bread on Thursdays and Saturdays.
And Sundays—rice and lentil.”
“Thanks.” I woke Choki. “Ama, breakfast.”
“What’s for breakfast?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.
“Tea and bread.”
She nibbled on the first piece and said, “How is my baby?”
“He is sleeping. I think he is doing well.”
“I know it. I am his mother.”
My heart twitched, seeing her grief-stricken face. “He is sleeping. He is fine.”
“No, he isn’t.” She lifted the baby in her arms and pecked him on his flabby cheeks, tears glimmering in
her eyes. “Babies sleep when they’re sick.” Gingerly nudging the baby’s nose, she said, “I am sorry for the
disease, dear.”
I sobbed in my turn. So, I peered through the window, only to shed more. Outside, a young couple was
basking in the sun. They fiddled their newly-born baby and laughed.
“God, why?” I murmured, looking up at the sky. “Why are you punishing my baby?”
“Take milk,” said Choki, forcing her nipple into the baby’s mouth. “Come on, suck on it, dear.”
The baby choked on milk. “Boohoo!”
“Ha… ha… ha… he is crying,” she said. “He is okay.”
Choki lullabied the baby, walking around the room.
With time, our intimacy with the roommates grew stronger and we helped each other in times of need.
On the ninth day morning, the pediatrician said, “We are having a meeting about the baby.”
“About what, doctor?” I asked.
She turned back from the door. “I will tell you after the meeting.”
“What’s she talking about? What are they trying to do?”
“I have no idea,” she said.
I could feel my heart pounding. We waited for the pediatrician the entire afternoon.
In the evening, she walked in. “Surgeons have decided to operate the baby tomorrow. But remember,
they are not pediatric surgeons.”
“Operation? You didn’t tell us anything about the operation till now.”
“The X-ray report shows intestinal obstruction signs.”
“But doc, you didn’t tell us about the surgery before?”
“Treat this case as urgent, please. You may take the baby to Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral
Hospital, Thimphu. They have a German pediatric surgeon, but again, there’s a risk on this long journey.”
Stunned, Choki and I exchanged glances.
“What is your decision?” asked the pediatrician.
“Give us some time, doc,” I said. “We have to discuss.”
“Take your time, please. I’ll be in the nurse room.”
My brain worked more than a machine and my heart thudded, yet I couldn’t decide. “What should we
do, Ama? We’re between the devil and the deep blue sea. I mean, both options have grave risks.”
“Whatever you decide,” said Choki, wiping tears from her eyes.
“Um, let them operate our baby here. What do you say?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
I told the pediatrician.
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