Asked to Leave

by Krishna D Bhatt

  Once the programme was started, many things were told by speakers, a lot of appreciations, and a lot of good things, which were far away from the facts. Still the audience was having fun and getting entertained. I thought that it was the right time to speak up in an appropriate format and let those people know what they had done that night.

  “My fellow EXXLites,

  It’s been a while we heard some of our colleagues had mentioned very good parts of tolerance in India, but I have to pull an attention of yours to one thing, it’s tolerance in India, we are talking about tolerance, not about India as a motherland. So if someone like a well-known actor thinks that something intolerant is happening in the country, feels himself and his family insecure, it’s one of his human rights to express his feelings. Nobody tried to understand what is the current situation of our society, neither the Actor family, nor I are mentioning that we have Zero tolerance, we want this as maximum as 100%, we want to see brotherhood as much as 100%, people around the globe should take our name as an epitome of tolerance. Can’t we be tolerant enough to let people take us as an example of brotherhood, peace, care and help? He, as a human being, has the inherent right to say what he feels personally, as he also has personal life; intolerance is something which should be fixed, so that we can witness the better place to live. Some people had connected it with nation and made the national issue, shared comments; it had put the moral of every person down, who were positive for society. What I feel is we live in the place known for peace in spite of several wars, among local people and the visitors.

  Tolerance is best portrayed in the sacrifice of your personal will for someone else’s goodness. It plays role between societies, group of people and their behaviour with minority, brotherhood among people staying in the different parts of the nation and the different parts of the world. To shelter this point with a valid frame, I would like you to recall the speeches of one of our most knowledgeable, down to earth, people oriented former President, who talked about this. The day when he took his last breath, he was thinking about the making the planet Earth liveable. He was not happy with the way, some people were stopping the parliament to run and function.

  I had a lot of concepts in mind to make some changes in society; I wanted to see our society setting an example of ideal society, principles rather than fake tolerance speeches. Because it was easy for anyone to say in the media that ‘the country is most tolerant place in the earth’, however it is tough for making the place most tolerant.

  If all of us want, then only we can make this earth liveable, it was the dream of the former president, it became my dream, when I heard about his death and his last day, the dream of making this country along with the earth was going through his mind, we all should hold our breath, and listen to his voice, our own soul’s voice, so that we can bring a change in the society, at least by changing ourselves and becoming more responsible. And that’s what president wanted, and so did the actor.

  I have a request to all of you, before you take any action or before you say anything to anyone, or before you behave the way some of my colleagues were behaving here in the last few hours, please apply your thoughts, words and actions on yourself, so that you have a better understanding, it will help you to become better. So, if everyone applies this terminology of evaluating themselves ...”

  “He is boring.” Someone was heard saying it, an OPS Manager looked at him, I recognised that voice, and he put himself mute after the deadly look of Manager. It gave me some time to relax, an extra energy to go on. After thanking that guy, I went on.

  “So, my dear lovely friends; we are human beings, we should know the death is around the corner. It can engulf us any time, but before that, we have a choice and responsibility to make this place better for our children, their children and so on. We all have to think about it, this is an alarming call for all of us to wake up and do something for humanity, and the nature. We can’t fight with natural calamities and the natural death, however we should be in the state of peace, when saying goodbye to the mother earth and our beloved near and dear ones.”

  Moreover, people who think our law is not so strong, they are right so far. Though, I don’t agree with forcing someone to become good with terror of stronger law; however strong law protects innocent victims by setting up examples of justice. To make society crime-free, we all should become better, if we consider every day the last day of our lives, and we commit with ourselves that we will end the day with a good deed, I can guarantee, we will be able to make this earth as beautiful as the heaven. Yes, you heard it right; it could become better than heaven. We are blessed with beautiful soul, brave heart, and brilliant mind, so this is the right time to utilise our best to make the society better.

  As far as amendments in the law is concerned, it should be; for our best protection.

  At the end of my ‘boring’ speech, I would like all of you to think about your parents, children, the one who love you the most before doing anything, I am sure, you will give the best shot, and you will become the successful person. You need to know, who you are.

  So, thank you very much for being patient to listen to me, let’s wait for the Sunrise, wait for the better place to live, the heaven. That’s all.” The entire floor stood up and praised me for the speech. I saw the senior managers and HR talking wearing smile. What a precious moment! I was in the heaven which I was talking about to create, people were lovely, found them awesome. Mr. Parag Acharya came forward and hugged me; it was another gift for me to be hugged by the senior manager in front of everyone in the office. The best reason of happiness was that they didn’t get bored, otherwise, in this 21st century, who buys time for them to understand, everyone is running after money like anything.

  After the crowd got scattered, I saw Vipinn and Srejana Govil coming at my workstation. I found myself in the state of dilemma; I thought either they realised what they were trying to do and feel sorry, I will forgive them; or they have plan to target me further to tease me and bother me.

  “Thank you brother, you made everyone shut. We were joking, trying to have fun so that we can pass time easily. You know, 9 hours shift suc*s. We are glad that you are part of our team.” Vipinn said, and Srejana still remained silent, just looking at me.

  “It’s okay.” I said.

  The reason I was happy was that my ideas and thoughts had been taken seriously by the people who hated me for being Sachin Tendulkar fan, being someone different from the crowd, they put myself away from the crowd; and treated me very nicely. It was the real happiness.

  It was the moment when I thought, I will go to everyone’s lap as an innocent infant (in the form of this book), and tell everyone to express love, care, human touch, brotherhood, motherhood and take care of everyone’s feelings.

  I was fortunate enough to get the first prize for the contest. So, that night was an awakening for most of them, who were part of the crowd. For me, it was an experience of handling tough colleagues, who first insulted me, then got impressed and praised me. The miraculous hug from ‘Vipinn’ was one of the lovely moments.

  ***

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Birth Of Daughters And

  The Dream Of Orphanage

  March 14th 2014, Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi

  “I think we should go to the hospital right now.” Devika was feeling restless saying that to me.

  “Sure, what’s going on?” I asked her dialling 102 ambulance helpline.

  “I am fine, but I think this is the right time to approach the doctor. Which hospital are we considering?” She asked.

  “Well, my corporate medical policy doesn’t cover this. So we should go to either Safdarjung hospital, or AIIMS.” I asked her to get ready.

  We went to AIIMS first, considering it as one of the best hospitals in India, but when we reached there, we got shocked to see the crowd.

  “Brother, could you tell me how to get an admissi
on here? It’s first time I am visiting in this hospital and it’s huge with huge crowd as well.” I asked the ambulance driver for the suggestion.

  “Sir, why don’t you get her admitted to Safdarjung, I can make you reach there within 2 minutes. And as compared to the AIIMS, you will get less people there. I will tell you the trick to get an admission quickly.” He said.

  “Sure, then let’s go to Safdarjung Hospital.” I showed him green signal and he didn’t stop his ambulance car unless he reached to the main entrance of the hospital. I relaxed a bit when I saw “Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital”.

  We didn’t follow the alternative suggested by the driver because we believed in love more than the money. So, I entered to the emergency block’s labour ward reception.

  “She has got pain and needs immediate care.” I requested the hospital staff to hurry up. She went inside, and after 30 seconds, came back to me, asked for the documents along with previously diagnosed ultrasound reports and a disclaimer which had a conclusion that hospital administration, doctors and nurses will not be responsible for the death of patient during the treatment.

  They took Devika to 3rd floor, ward.no.5.after consulting with the surgeon. The lady was very nice; she was the definition of the doctor. She treated Devika like a mother treats her daughter.

  “We don’t think she can make it normally. I think we should go for the surgery.” They tried for normal delivery for couple of hours, as it was not possible, they asked me to arrange some medicines and injections.

  “Come as fast as you can, because the baby is likely loosing heartbeats. We have to go for the immediate surgery.” Nurse staff said.

  I took the slip from her, and ran as fast as the rabbit and went to the main road between the AIIMS and VMMC SJH at 2 AM in the early morning, most of the medical stores were shut down, I saw a LED bulb spreading the light till the halfway of the highway and ran towards that medical store.

  “Sir, please give me medicines as mentioned in this slip. Please hurry up.” I requested him to make it quick.

  “Here you go.” He handed me over the parcel and bill. I checked the bill, it was Rs.900, gave him 2 notes of Rs.500 and ran away saying “keep the rest with you!” as I had to reach in the hospital as soon as possible. I was doing it for myself, as my life was directly connected to them, and it is of course. I still feel sorry for child as I had a thought of saving mother, if they come up with choice to save either mother or child. It was not a justice to the child, but it was not in my hands. I prayed to save both of them.

  “How are you feeling?” Pushing the wheel chair towards the operation theatre I asked Devika.

  “I am scared. I doubt if I can make it.” It was easy for me to understand that she was scared and nervous.

  “You will be fine; these doctors have very good experience in this. They are experts. Better than the private hospitals. And for the sake of our love, you are going to be alright.”

  She didn’t tell me anything in reply to that promise, but with tears falling off her eyes, she said a lot, she might have been thinking that it was the last time she was seeing me, or crying because of the severe pain.

  I was sure that she would be able to make it. I waited outside the operating theatre for 3 hours and a half, as she got operated; they gave me the confirmation that she was all set to be operated.

  “Congratulations! You got a baby girl.” I heard the voice of a nurse, while I was waiting in the patient waiting area about 100 meters away from the labour ward. I never cursed myself for being a father of a girl child. I should be proud of her and her mother who had to let her belly cut to give her life. I thanked all of my well-wishers, the mother Devika, doctors and nurses, the God and nature. I was very happy to see myself as a father. I was experiencing a new world, the world of extended love, the world of responsibility and the world of extended happiness.

  I was surprised to experience a unique happiness, not because I had got a baby girl; she was my second child as I had been blessed with a sweetheart Leena already. The reason I was surprised was not my happiness, it was the data of forceful abortions of female foeticide and gender determination which was increasing day by day.

  “Why the hell some human beings claim that they have got the most superior brain, soul and spirit; but kill their own daughters in the form of female foeticide and honour killing. And why a human forgets that the lady he had married to is someone else’s daughter too? Why are they not enjoying the happiness which now I am enjoying?” I was asking this question holding my daughter, a small living creature made by the blood of both of us. I was flaming against that part of the society, which does such shameful and criminal activities with their own blood.

  I thought the caesarean surgery which she had undergone through was a cakewalk. I wish I could be wrong. I watched the video after a few hours, and it left me astonished from inside. It was literally bewildering and shocking.

  “Sir, give us something to make us happy, in lieu of the best wishes and the care during this procedure.” One of the hospital staffs who brought my angel out of the operation theatre and handed over to me was still standing next to me with hopeful eyes.

  “What is he talking about? He will be blessed for his blessings, and he gets paid for the job he does.” I asked to a new friend of mine, whose wife was also admitted there in the same ward.

  “Brother, please don’t argue with them. They are very dangerous people. Yesterday someone had argued with them and didn’t pay them money. You know what happened with his son, he was found dead and bleeding from head, they came back and said that they could not save his child.” I got scared as I had my baby girl with me; however my dear lovely wife Devika was still in the operation theatre.

  “Come here brother. Is it enough?” I firstly looked at his face, wearing a blue gown, he was not able to face me, but I had no choice, except paying him; as I had a choice to sign on my wife’s death warrant which they asked me to sign before commencing the treatment earlier.

  “Yes.” Calling me in the corner, where no CCTV cameras were installed, he took money from my hand, and asked me to wait outside.

  “Could you please distribute among your staff?” I asked to confirm.

  “Yes.” He shook his head, and went inside with happy face. I felt very bad with that ‘so called system’, but I sacrificed my principles for the 2nd time in my life there. First time I did that to save my father’s life way back in 2009 in one of the Govt. hospitals itself. I was feeling sorry to myself; it was wounding me to give bribery, “Oh God! Forgive me please and let me forget this.” I prayed, and went outside to take her in the sunlight. With her closed tiny eyes, she was looking awesome, sometimes she was opening her eyes, sometimes closing her eyes, sometimes crying, sometimes being silent. I was very happy to let her hands on my 0.5 mm long beard.

  “Sir, why did you pay him?” I got another shock as the security guard sitting 100 meters away got to know that I gave money to hospital staff.

  “Hmm, how do you know that? And whom did I give money?” I asked.

  “Sir, we are the security guards, we know what happens here and we keep an update of every incident that happens in the hospital premises. Anyways I was asking you because you were not supposed to give them as they don’t ask for money to those who get daughters.” He said with a little smile, showed me the blue teeth because of smoking Bidi in the hospital premises.

  “No issues brother. Thank you for an update.” I said and went outside.

  “You can come and meet the patient.” Dressed in the nurse’s uniform, a lady asked me to follow her. I went inside, and saw my lovely wife, counting the stars.

  “How are you doing now?” I asked and tried to hand over my angel to her. She signalled me to let her sleep next to her, I obeyed. Looking at her, she may be thinking about her future, but I was busy enjoying today, asked office people that I would no
t come for 5 days as it was approved paternity leave.

  “Where is the lady laying next to me? Her baby is crying for 5 minutes and she is not there.” Devika was worried for the child crying next to her.

  “I want to hold her, but I don’t think it is going to be good for me or her. Her mother may be coming on in within a short while.” I wanted to hold that infant.

  After some time, I went outside and called the sister-in charge (the nurse on duty) and let her know that the baby had been crying for a while, didn’t see her mother, father or attendants.

  “Oh God; they were supposed to be discharged today. The young couple was looking suspicious. Could you please give me that file?” Nurse hurried up and asked for help.

  “It is switched off.” The nurse tried both the phone numbers mentioned on the admission card.

  The baby was still crying, though our culture and custom don’t allow us to hold someone else’s baby within 11 days if it is boy, or 9 days if it is girl, we didn’t care of it, because neither mine, nor did Devika’s conscience allow us to remain quiet for a long time. “Can someone take care of her until we find her parents out?” Nurse asked for help.

  “Yes, we will. You please hand her over to Devika. Is it safe to feed her?” I asked I and found an affirmative answer from the nurse.

  It was reported to hospital administration. They tried their best to figure it out but could not search them, finally they reported to police. A mother had gone into darkness leaving a burning lamp in the lap of some other mother. Oh God; what an unbelievable incident it was! The couple had finally been disappeared and left the newborn child in the hospital bed, crying and sobbing. But it must be the coincidence that we were there next to her, to take care of her.