Page 143 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

14 THE RELAPSE

Months passed, and everything was fine with Rinchen. He crawled around. Seeing him babbling and
growing made me smile.
“Our baby looks fine now,” I said, grinning at Choki. “The operation was successful.”
“Yeah,” said Choki. “But I hope he doesn’t relapse.”
“He won’t.”
Weeks later, Rinchen’s tummy rumbled, and the next morning, he vomited. We showed him to the
pediatrician. Medicines didn’t help him. He became weaker and dehydrated. And he flinched as his tummy
rumbled. So, Choki and I discussed.
“Maybe we should take him to the emergency ward,” I said. “He looks dehydrated.”
“Hurry,” she said.
The on-duty doctor checked the baby’s fever. “There’s nothing much to worry about. Feed him enough
ORS. Bring him back if he vomits.”
With time, Rinchen walked but diarrhea enfeebled him. He played little. He slept most of the time. One
morning, I was getting ready for school when he vomited.
“Gosh, he’s vomiting a lot,” said Choki. “We must show him to Dr. John.”
“Right away.” I dialed the principal’s phone number. “Sir, I am taking my baby to the hospital. You
should grant me leave today.”
“Please take him,” said Mr. Lhagey Tshering. “Don’t worry about your class. We will substitute.”
But Doctor John wasn’t there. So, I went to triage.
“Excuse me, nurse,” I said. “When is Dr. John coming?”
“Just a minute.” She read the duty roster on the wall. “He is in the operating theatre. Why?”
“I need to show my baby. Can I meet him there?”
“Maybe. Why don’t you ask someone there?”
We waited outside the operating theatre. Nobody came out. Rinchen vomited. He flinched as his
tummy rumbled. Choki nursed him with milk, but he threw it up. So, it was better not to feed him.
My knees like jelly, I paced the corridor back and forth. “For God’s sake, why don’t you come out for
one minute, doctor?”
Rinchen groaned in Choki’s lap. I shuffled around the OT building and peeped through the window. I
could see nothing inside. Gosh! Dr. John walked out of the OT after two hours.
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