The Cry of a Woman

"I am afraid. You will have to admit him in the hospital". "It's a case of regular jaundice that occurs among age group 7-10 years, but your son needs a specific medical attention".

I don't remember the reaction of my parents when the doctor mentioned the word hospital. I was perplexed because I found myself to be extremely healthy and was unable to understand the reason for my admission. Despite that, I was excited about the idea of moving away from school and getting admitted into the hospital. Blame it on the age here!

The next day afternoon I found myself in Military hospital of Ramgarh Cantonment. Along with my parents and neighbor aunt, I walked through those old corridors. I noticed a garden with 2 little swings positioned and the thought of swinging excited me. Barring a few people movement here and there, the entire hospital was quiet and that moment again made me question the reason for my admission.

We soon reached a ward room which had around 7 beds. I looked up towards the old roof which accommodated some 5 odd ceiling fans that made a low creaky noise and conveyed their vintage status. It was so quiet all around that I could even hear the slightest whisper in the room. While some beds were empty, the rest were occupied by people who seemed fit and fine. My apprehensions were cleared by late evening, when I realized that the people who looked fit and fine were visitors and they had all gone leaving the actual patients who looked miserable and rightfully bed ridden.

I compared my situation with them and felt really happy. Reason I had my mom with me and she looked like a pillar of strength. However, my happiness was short lived when I learned that she will leave me alone in the hospital and go back home the next day.

Next afternoon as my mother prepared to leave, I cried and ran after her till the garden asking her to stay back. The nurse had to step in and pull me back. I watched my mom go and for a moment I thought that it was the end of the world. I sobbed furiously till the nurse escorted me to my ward. Surprisingly, I found an elderly boy waiting for me near my bed. He was quite tall and had an apple in hand.

" I saw you running towards the garden" Has your mother left?" - He asked

"Yes, she has left"- I replied in a low tone.

Don't worry. We will play together. Do you like apples?- He stretched out his hand to offer me and apple.

I was a little reluctant but the boy's acquaintance compelled me take that apple and the next thing I knew was that I had found a friend at the hospital.

I took the fruit from his hand and started chewing it noisily while the other patients looked as if there is something definitely queer about me.

"I live in the other ward. It's next to the lunch room and very close to the garden"- He explained.

"What disease you have?Why are you here"? I asked him.

He kept mum and it looked as if he didn't want to disclose.

"I will see you again tomorrow. If the nurse finds me missing from my bed, she will scold me"- He scurried.

My next day followed with a series of doctor & nurse visits who conducted assorted checkups.

" When will my mother come?" - I asked the nurse.

"She will come if you take your medicines and food on time"- She replied while examining the thermometer.

"Ok. Time for lunch now. Get up and follow these people who will lead you to the mess room"- She pointed me towards a group of patients who were ready to leave the ward room. It then struck me that I could meet my friend at the lunch room.

I met him in the lunch room. We picked up plates and approached the matron who was serving rotis and a curry. She had worn a white sari with a blue border and had big cat like eyes.

"Meat khaata kya? (Do you eat meat?) she asked me callously.

Her intimidating body language petrified me. I felt as if she'd punish me if I say yes.

"Nahi"- I muttered.

That moment took me back to my 2nd standard science text book which had a lesson on food. The colorful picture of meat and eggs was fresh in my mind. I then turned my plate to the other matron who was serving vegetable curry and she pleased looking at me.

My bonding with the elder boy grew stronger and we enjoyed occasional long walks within the hospital, had fun at the swings, ate lunch and dinner together and yet I was unable to figure out the reason for his admission in the hospital.

One late evening as I was passing through one of the corridors of the hospital, I head a shrill woman cry from a room that located in a corner. I became curious and thought that somebody was getting beaten up for not taking medicines on time or maybe an injection is being given and the pain must be intolerable.

As I neared the room, the groan & moan became louder. I meekly pushed the door to see what's happening inside. I stepped in and tried to look around. There were people in a corner and it looked like a huddle.

"Idhar kya kar raha hai?" chal bhaag yahan se?" (What are you doing here? shoo")- It was a big strong woman who appeared from nowhere and yelled at me. I immediately took my heels. I rushed to my bed and covered myself with the bed-sheet. Clueless about the situation.

Next day, I was delighted to see my mother back and I also had many visitors. One among them was my friend and neighbor Bhupinder Singh who came with his mom and father Col Balwinder Sandhu.

Earlier, I had a spat with Bhupinder when I ridiculed him by calling him a boy with lotus on his head. When it angered him, I added extra agony by saying "shaam ho gaya, ab Kamal khil Jayega". (The lotus will now bloom because its evening.)

He was harmless and a puny Sardar boy who shared with me, the hobby of collecting variety of matchboxes. On afternoons, we boys used to wander around the backyard of various army quarters, to collect matchboxes. The sound/whistle of pressure cooker from homes, conveyed the afternoon lunch being cooked in various homes.

Bhupinder looked very pleased he sat on my bed and flaunted his new collection.

" Yeh dekh Ship" hai tere paas? (Look at this ship matchbox" Do you have it?")
" Aur yeh dekh...Jar, Cheetah Fight, two roses.

His collection made me jealous and I then wanted to get out of the hospital.

While I was being surrounded by visitors and enjoying the attention, I saw my friend from the other ward room standing at the door and waiting for me to join him play. However, having looked at the crowd, he walked away. At that juncture, my mother announced that I will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.

After the visitors and my parents left, I ran to my friend to tell him the news. He was sitting on his bed a staring at a Hindi comic book in his hand.

" I am leaving tomorrow" - I said

"Oh! That's nice? Has your mother come?- His tone carried a tinge of sadness.

"She will come tomorrow to take me home" By the way, when will you get discharged?- I asked him

"Oh! I really don't know"- He looked dejected.

I decided to leave his ward room and while coming back, I came across that mysterious room again and heard the loud female moan. Afraid of the big woman of that room, I choose to stand out and listen to the cry and wondered why would someone cry so much? All sorts of cries were heard during my 10 minute wait outside the room that night.

Next day morning, my dad and mom came to take me home. While my dad went to the administration section complete my discharge formalities, I dragged my mom towards that mysterious room.

"Maa, this is the room I was telling you about. The doctors inside punish the patients who do not take medicines on time. They give painful injections make the patients cry and groan in pain".- I told her excitedly.

My mother looked up and read the heading of that room. She quietly chuckled.

"Oh yes, they do that to people who do not eat leafy vegetables too"- She warned me.

"And you know what Maa, it's a strange injection they give.- I told her eagerly.

Oh really? what' so strange about that?- She asked me

Well, after sometime, the loud cry of the person will sound as if a little baby is crying"