The Unknown Help

“Hurry up! We need to admit Chanda to the hospital. I am going out to get a Taxi.” Saying, Chanda’s husband Shekhar ran down the stairs, to the street and brought a taxi.

“Be careful. She is nine months down.” Shekhar told the taxi driver, as Chanda perspired in pain and gasped for breath while sitting inside the cab. The taxi driver nodded and drove cautiously to the nearby hospital.

Soon Chanda was put on a stretcher and was taken to the operation theatre. After almost an hour, a doctor came out with a smile on his face “Congratulations! It’s a baby boy.” Shekhar asked, “How is Chanda …” Before he could complete, the doctor replied, “Don’t worry, both the mother and the child are doing fine. You can see them after a while”. The family was filled with joy. After an hour, the baby and mother were shifted to a room.

Shekhar was permitted to meet Chanda in the room. While holding the child in his arms, tears rolled down his eyes with the feeling of completion. Chanda was overwhelmed by his reaction and her eyes were filled with tears too. Sensing that, Shekhar said, “Oh my God! He looks exactly like me.” and both giggled with happiness.

Chanda said, ‘You must leave now. Go home, your mother is alone at home. She must be anxious.’

Shekhar smiled,“Yes, mother would be worried. Don’t worry my dear, I’ll come tomorrow morning. You will be released within two days”.

Chanda nodded her head with a warm smile.

Throughout the day a nurse was there to assist Chanda, as and when was required. It was quarter past eleven at night, the nurse asked, “Madam, do you need anything else?” Chanda replied, “No. Please, go take some rest. If required, I will press the caller bell”. The Nurse nodded and left.

Since the stitches were fresh, it was painful. After a short nap, Chanda got up as she wanted to go to the washroom. She pressed the bell. The nurse did not come. It was 3:30 am. She pressed the bell a few more times but no one came to assist her. She then shouted, “Is anyone there? Sister, I need to go to the washroom.” “Hello?” Can anyone hear me?” There was no reply.

Soon Chanda realised that her shouts would wake up the newborn. The pressure was increasing. She conjured all her courage and managed to get up from the bed. The unbearable pain tickled her spine. Though the washroom was nearby, but to Chanda it seemed quite a distance. Leaning on the wall, she somehow managed to reach the washroom, and finally released herself.

Soon Chanda realised that she was unable to get up on her feet. She was in unbearable pain. She tried few more times but failed. Drained out of energy, she shouted, “Is anyone there?”

There was no reply. Her pain was gradually increasing. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

While she was whining for help, she murmured, “God! Please, please help me!”. Within a fraction of seconds, someone grasped her from behind and made her get up. Unbelievably, she was on her feet and her pain had slightly reduced. Since her eyes were filled with tears, she couldn’t see who the person was.

She reached her bed and was about to be seated, the nurse entered the room.

The nurse asked, “Do you need anything Madam? I just thought of checking you out. You were in deep sleep.”

It’s been 48 years now, Chanda still recalls that night and narrates the story to her grandchildren, of how an unknown, invisible help reached out to her that night.

Sweta Gupta