Page 171 - FATE & DESTINY

FATE & DESTINY

“Don’t you think it’s safe to stay in the lodge?”
“Please, Apa,” said Choki.
“I assure you,” said Ata Gelong. “Everything would be fine. Well, we must reserve the car at the Travel
Agent.”
“Since you insist.” I shuffled after him.
Ata Gelong reserved a car at Devaki Travels for two thousand rupees. “When should we start
tomorrow?” he asked.
The proprietor said, “You had better start early so you can return before nightfall.”
“6.30 am?” I asked.
He nodded. “Right time.”
The next morning, a car arrived to pick us. It was an ambassadorial car. The chauffeur was young and
humble. He seemed to know hell a lot about the tour of Chennai beaches. On the way, he stopped by a
few Hindu temples.
Marina Beach was dotted with flamboyant boulevards. Sea ornaments were laid along the shoreline.
Waves crashed on the shore and the breeze refreshed me. I dragged Rinchen by his hands into the waves.
The waves cooled my feet as I had always wanted in the searing midday heat. “You can play here if you
like,” I said.
Rinchen waded into the waves and babbled. He dragged me deeper into the waves.
“No, you will not go into the sand,” I said. “They are loose.”
But he guffawed and splashed the water with his legs.
Next, we drove to the other beach. There, Ata Gelong removed his shirt and waded deeper into the
tidal waves. He disappeared. After the waves rolled away back to the ocean, he crawled out. His teeth
clattered.
“What happened?” I asked.
“I…I almost drowned.”
“What?”
“That was close!”
“If we stay anymore, you’re gonna put me in trouble,” I said.
“Let’s get going,” said Choki. “It’s already evening.”
We arrived at our lodge at nightfall.
We tipped the chauffeur with fifty rupees.
“That’s it?” he said.
“Sorry, we’re running short of expenditure,” I said. “Good night.”
In the next check-up, Dr. Jacob said, “We will remove the catheter.”
“Is it time to remove it, doctor?” I asked.
“It should remain there for another two months, but you must go back home now.”
“We can wait for that if that’s the case.”
“He should be fine. Bring him for the last check-up next week. If everything is okay, you can take the
baby home.”
“We can’t wait to go home now,” I said.
The next week, Dr. Jacob said, “The baby looks fine now. You can reserve your train for home.”
A gigantic grin spread across my face as I bowed to him. “We’re grateful to you and your team, doctor.”
He smiled and told his junior surgeon to remove the stitches. The junior surgeon took Rinchen to the
minor OT and removed the stitches.

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