The Falling Petals...🌺

Another-day-passed-in-prayers...

"The saline tube has come out" the ward boy said.

I jumped, and caught hold of that tube to give it to the nurse as soon as possible so that she could fix it. But the nurse appeared too lazy to do that.

"Please fix that thing first," I said to her.

"'Relax, sir. Everyday we handle many patients. Don't worry" she said, arrogantly.

" Yes, and that's why you have become so callous," l said silently.

Dae had started showing some movement in her hands, which was gradually increasing, maybe because of the pain. In a little while, she was literally shaking her hands to get rid of the needles piercing her hand. Seeing her, I panicked and asked the nurse to do something.

"She is in a sub-conscious state where everybody reacts this way, nothing new," she answered, completely ignoring my panic.

Maybe not for her, but it was definitely new for me. I was not able to stand seeing my better-half in that state. I was getting frustrated by the nurse's behavior but I knew we were not in a position to do anything which might add to our miseries. I stood beside Dae, holding her hands in mine in order to prevent her from taking off the saline and the ventilator tubes.

"Apart from you, everybody can leave this room," the nurse said pointing at me.

"Why?" I asked her in a gentle tone.

'"We are going to begin the scan and usually we allow attendants to stay only if we need them. I need you to hold her hands throughout the scan or she might take off her saline needle." she explained.

Dad, Hyungnim and the ward boy left the room, the nurse closed the door from inside and gave me a sleeveless jacket, to protect me from the rays coming out of that giant white wheel, I think. She then went inside the control room to operate the machine. Back in this room, I was standing, holding my beloved's hands, looking at her face. My heart bargaining with God, "Anything but not her."

I gradually felt the strength with which she was trying to shake her hands.. It was getting difficult for me to hold her firmly without hurting her. No one was around us. I steeled myself to hold her tight.

And I started talking to her.

"Hey, dear, I am so sorry if I am hurting you, but this is for your good. I am doing this because I want you to get well soon. I am doing this because you are the best thing that ever happened to me and I dont want to see that going away from me because i simply cannot think of living without you. Come back to me, please. Open your eyes and see, your Shillang is here for you ."

Holding her hands in mine, I bent down to whisper in her ears, "Fight, Fight for me, for all of us, And I promise you, we will provide you the best hospital, the best doctors, the best medicine and the best care."

For rest of the few minutes, I kept seeing her face.

Meanwhile, the nurse came in from the control room confirming that the scan was done. I realized that the sound coming from the machine wasn't there anymore. She opened the door and I saw Dad and Hyungnim standing outside, looking at me.

With the help of the ward boy, we then shifted her back to the stretcher. This time, I took care to shift the saline pouch, the urine bag and the ventilator along with her. I didn't want anybody to make any mistake this time. After shifting her back to the stretcher, the ward boy wheeled her out of the scan room. We too were walking along with them. Back at the entrance I saw the reception lady again, looking at me. "I am Sorry," I said and passed by her. On the way back to the ICU, the nurse took a different route - an elevator that led to the ICU, Our entrance was prohibited. We stood there, seeing them taking her away. I joined my palms, praying to God to take care of her and make her, get well soon. Then we returned to the ICU attendant-hall, back on the same chairs, amid the same crowd, hearing similar announcement.