Part 17

Nilima and Disha rushed to the hospital.  Salil was waiting for them.  Dharini was allowed inside the ICU ward again. 

“Salil...!” Nilima was apprehensive.  “I don’t know.... bu...but Rini says its her!” Disha had already dashed in.  The security guard stopped her outside ICU ward and she peeped in through the glass door nervously.  She saw a girl on the bed with numerous tubes, wires and electrodes attached.  She pressed her hand on her mouth to suppress her scream.  “Dhaa....!” she was not sure.  Dharini was sitting on the chair beside the bed and was holding the bed.  She was told not to touch her Dhaa or anything.  She was to obey to be with her Dhaa.  

“Only one person is allowed inside...” The security guard was strict enough.  Disha waited with bated breath.  But Dharini was not to come out.  The doctor came with Nilima and Salil accompanied by the Inspector and the guard opened the Huge Glass door of ICU ward of civil hospital.  

“No.!” Nilima Clutched her mouth looking at the small figure lying on the bed miserably.  “No...!” she fainted and the doctor came to her help.  “Please take her out... !” He pleaded and Salil took his wife out when she was able to heave herself on her feet.  

“She can’t be Dhaa...! Look at her... she is so small... Dhaa is not this small....!” she kept saying holding on to her husband for support.

“Doctor...!” Disha ran behind the doctor.  “Yes..?” he looked back.

“I mean... can I go in and see my sister?” she pointed at the ICU ward.  “Yes!” he said.  “Umm..Can you please tell the guard...?” she requested joining her hands earnestly.  The doctor turned back to instruct the guard.

“Didi..!” Rini held Disha’s hand.  Disha kept looking at the small girl unblinkingly... “Didi... she is Dhaa..!” Rini said confidently.  Disha looked at Rini in disbelief.  The small girl didn’t look like Dhatri from any angle.  “Rini...!” Disha held her tightly.  Rini got up with a jerk.

“She is Dhaa, Didi..! Look at her hands... she cured someone... look at her ... She is Dhaa... my Dhaa...!” Dharini broke down.  Disha patted on her head.  “Shuu... Rini... stop crying... else they will send you out!” she whispered and Rini stopped immediately.  “No... I am not going anywhere....!” A nine year old child was determined to stay with her younger sister Dhatri.  “Rini...Let us go!” Disha pulled her hand.

“No.. I will stay here!” Rini resisted.  Doctor came in. 

“Dharini, go with your didi and come back later.  We have to change your sister’s bed...!” Doctor said gravely looking at the chart hung on Dhatri’s bed.  Disha took Dharini out of the ICU ward.  The ordeal was not over yet.  Doctor came out and talked to Salil.

“We have to put her on ventilator... she is not breathing properly..!” he said gravely and Dr. Salil hung his head dejected.  There was a bustle outside and the Dean came in hurriedly.  Doctor dashed forward to talk to him.  They had a talk in hushed voice and the doctor went away.  The scavengers, ward boys, nurses, aayas, matrons, sisters, interns... everyone associated with the hospital were in some kind of hurry.  Dr. Salil watched on helplessly.  He didn’t know what to do.  Dhatri was so critical that he couldn’t think of shifting her to a private hospital.  He heard siren and the motorcade stopped at the entrance of the hospital.  

Minister Inderjeet Negi walked into the hospital to pay a visit to the girl fighting her battle, who survived in the encounter with naxals.  Dr. Salil was shocked to see the minister at the hospital.  “How did he know?”

“Dr. Salil Dixit, don’t worry! She will be given the best possible treatment...!” Minister consoled him looking straight into his eyes with a shade of threat.  Salil shuddered.  He looked away in dejection.  He knew that his Dhaa was at the mercy of the minister now.  He had watched helplessly the sycophancy of the Dean of the hospital in front of the minister.  He lost hope....! Dhaa was losing her battle inside and he was losing his, outside the ICU ward.

“What am I going to do?” He had no answer.  Disha had taken Nilima back home.  She wouldn’t bear the anguish.  The girl on the bed was beyond recognition.  Dharini had not moved an inch from Dhaa’s bed.  She knew it was her Dhatri and was waiting for her to open her eyes.  It was sixth day since Dhatri was admitted to the hospital and Dharini had not left her sister.   

“Rini.. go home! Have some rest!” he said placing his hand on her head.  “No papa... Dhaa will wake up.  She will need me!” Dharini was sure that her Dhaa will wake up soon.  Salil looked away hiding his tears.  Doctors had said Dhatri was unable to breathe and was on artificial respiratory system.  He didn’t want Rini to see if anything happens to Dhaa.  He wanted to send her away.

“Papa... Don’t worry.  I will sleep here.  You go home!” A  kid was consoling her father.  Salil broke down.  “Rini...!” he lifted her and held her tightly for support.  Rini patted his back.  “Papa... you go home..!” she said maturely and wiped his tears.  It was nine in the night and Disha had come to take Rini home.  

“Rini.. go home.  Come back here tomorrow morning...!” her father, salil talked to her soothingly.  “No...!” she screamed hysterically.  “I am not leaving Dhaa... you all go!” she jerked herself free and ran towards the ICU ward.  Guard stopped her and she kicked him with all her might.

“No... Rini, Stop!” Disha held her tightly.  She looked back at her dejected father and said.  “Ok.. stay here with us.  But tomorrow morning we are going home to get breakfast for Dhaa...! She likes Kheer... So we are going to get her Kheer!” Disha said gravely and Dharini smiled.

“Yeah... Tomorrow morning we will get Kheer...! Didi ask mamma to prepare...!” she looked up.  Disha worked hard to hide her tears and forced a smile on her face.  They all set to spend the night in the hospital.  Rini slept peacefully on her father’s laps.  Disha didn’t even close her eyes.  Salil was completely dejected.  He held Disha’s hand for support.  Barely sixteen year old girl was taking care of the entire family. 

“Mr. Dixit...!” A nurse was waking him up.  “Wh.. what?” he woke up with a start and Disha opened her eyes getting up with a jerk.

“Please come with me...!” She said turning and Salil heaved Dharini.  Disha took her from Salil and Salil walked with the nurse with bated breath.  Disha patted on Dharini’s head to pacify her waiting for her father to return.  

 A person sitting at the other end of the corridor covered in a blanket stirred in his sleep.