"My Darling Sister"

September 9, 2014
2:30 AM

As I hurried back to the ward with a packet of Glucose, I was surprised to see bhauju being hastened into the other room. I fretted at the dire state she was in. I tried to call one of the nurses who were holding her, to ask of the situation, but they quickly entered the room, leaving me unhinged. I headed back to the room where she was kept earlier. Some of the women inside gave me hints on why and where my bhauju was taken. I sighed. She was about to deliver!
I leaped towards the delivery room and paused at its door. I peeped into it and saw what looked like a corridor. There were rooms on either sides of it. I walked past the first room on my left, and before I could take another step, I heard someone coming towards me. I swiftly returned back to the door, closed it after me and stood at the side. A nurse came out; and walked past me without saying anything. I kept waiting outside. My restlessness grew with every minute that went by. I marched from left to right, to right to left, entirely agitated. I was about to walk towards the previous room, when I felt I heard something that came from inside the delivery room. I paused. I brought my ears closer to the cemented wall and what I heard next was the most pleasing sound I had not had the chance to hear in ages-the sound of a newborn crying! I jumped. I could hear my own heart beats. My eyes dampened at the sound; I knew it came from the baby.
I wanted to rush inside to see bhauju and the baby, but I was supposed to wait until the nurses brought them out. So, I stood, completely motionless, waiting. After a long agonizing intermission, one of the nurses came out with bhauju in a wheel chair. She was smiling at me, and I was relieved to see her better than the condition I had left her in. I blankly glanced at the nurse and she grinned back gesturing me to follow her. I obeyed. She took me to the delivery room. The room was darker. My eyes wandered around. The nurse picked something up from the table and brought it closer to me. To my wonder, it was the baby! And she was the most beautiful being I had ever laid my eyes on! The nurse then handed the baby over to me and motioned me towards the door. As I held the baby in my arms, a strange feeling canopied me. I whirled back in time. I lamented.

It was a bright Saturday morning. I was working very hard trying to collect water from the well along with my friends. We were very excited that morning because we had been allowed to hire a cycle if we helped fetch our parents enough water for the day. And then out of the blue, I saw my brother coming towards me. As he came closer, he feebly whispered something into my ears, and ran off excitedly. I didn't believe the least of what I had heard. I was in denial, for I did not know what else I was expected of. After a few impossible attempts to hold my patience, I made a dart for the house, leaving my friends in bewilderment.
I slowly opened the front door, and sneaked a look around. My mother was lying on the bed, my ‘father’ holding the baby, and my two brothers watching the baby sleep, absolutely astounded.  Nobody seemed to notice me. I was blank. My mother called me to her side, but I was in a dilemma. Hesitantly, I gathered up my courage to go near her and sit at the edge of the bed, so that I could clearly see the baby’s face. As I sat down, my eyes ran all over the newborn’s face. She looked so calm. My heart shivered at her warmth. I had not seen anyone or anything as pretty as her. And I knew I was going to love and care for her more than anything in the world.  I steadily touched her hand; and I could hear a faint resonance.

I pretended to turn my eyes away when the nurse kept peeking into my face. She was still guiding us about how and when to do things to take care of bhauju and the newborn. Trying to hold together my emotions, I looked back at the baby. She seemed to be in a deep sleep as if she belonged there, in an unknown mystery. Her glaring innocence blinded me. My heart was heavy; and eyes moistened. I loved her in that instant. She was the chance I had missed years ago. She is the chance I will never get again; the chance to watch my sister grow into a beautiful woman, that she is destined to be.

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