MPbGD Part 46 posted on pg 150 on 16/1/12 - Page 55

brilliant n simply awsum part di..

loved how armi is taking care of her..

trying to make her feel gud...

loved the part..

thnx for the pm...

Part 24

Armaan looked down embarrassed by what Kanamma had said but Riddhima took hold of the situation telling Kanamma "Come on show me around the orphanage." As they moved from floor to floor and room to room Riddhima was happy to see the improved conditions of the orphanage. Kanamma explained to her that the financial condition of the orphange was quite good now as they had some regular donors.

Most of the kids had gone to the nearby government school, but those below the school going age were kept in the playroom, supervised by two helpers. The helpers had got the tinytots to sit in a circle and were playing some game. Kanamma left her there and went to continue with her cooking. There were almost 15 of them between the ages of 2 and 4 and 2 one year olds. Initially the kids looked uncomfortable with Riddhima's presence but when she also sat among them and started playing with them, they played along with her.

When Armaan came looking for her she was sitting with some kids on her lap and some in front of her listening attentively to the dramatic story she was narrating. He could see the glow on her face as sat in their midst, and once again the guilt pang hit him. She had so much love for children, she really deserved to have her own kids.

When they left after lunch, Riddhima was surprised when they halted in front of one of the apartments in the bylanes. When Armaan got off and said "come" she looked up at him puzzled. "I want you meet someone" he said. She got out and followed him through the gate. They climbed to the first floor, and looking for the door number, Armaan rang the bell. A little girl opened the door and when Armaan asked for 'Raman saar', the girl called out "grandpa someone is here to see you."

Hearing the name Raman itself Riddhima had guessed it was the ex-manager of the orphanage. When he came out she was all smiles seeing him. He stared at them for a minute and then seemed to recognize her. "Riddhima?" he asked, very surprised to see her after so many years. When she joined her hands and said "vanakkam saar," he said "Vanakkam, come in, come in."

Riddhima introduced Armaan as her husband. Mr. Raman looked puzzled but didn't say anything. He enquired about Amulu, after they had enquired about each other's well being. He was very glad to hear that she had qualified as a Computer Engineer and was now happily married and settled in life. He gave the details about the other children, who were there during her time, and she was very happy to hear that most of them were now well placed in life, some even married and some even having kids.

After spending a few minutes in Mr. Raman's house, they left for their hotel. As soon as they were back in the vehicle, Riddhima turned towards him and said with a broad smile, "Thank you for the wonderful surprise athaan, I had a wonderful day today."

A: My mission has been successful if it made you happy.

"Yes, I'm very happy." She said and leaned back to rest her head on the car seat and closed her eyes, the smile still playing on her lips. "She must be tired" he thought. It was going to take them at least an hour to reach their hotel. Let her take a nap.

That evening, as they had dinner, Riddhima spoke a lot about the orphanage, recollecting about all the children. The pride as she spoke about them, was beaming on her face. They spoke a lot about the past in general. Both of them taking care not to mention about the reports which had to be collected the next day.

When she spoke to Suja, even she remarked that her amma was sounding very excited. It was then that she revealed that Armaan uncle had taken her opinion also about this surprise visit, the previous day itself and she had totally approved of it. But he had asked her to keep it a secret.

Only when they switched off the TV after the night news and started moving to their respective rooms, Riddhima asked him "what time do we have to leave in the morning?"

A: We have the doctor's appointment at 10 o'clock. Before that we'll have to collect all the reports. We'll leave by nine.

That night as they lay on their bed, both of them were thinking about the relationship blooming between them and realized that they were coming closer. Then both wondered what the future had in store for them?

The next morning they left as planned by 9. When they went to collect the reports they were told that it was forwarded to the consulting doctor. They were called into the consulting room after half an hour. When they entered the doctor was reading the reports. Then he checked her feet, hand, eyes, etc. Then looking at Riddhima he asked "You must have been having these problems since quite long, why didn't you seek medical help earlier?"

R: Actually I didn't have any serious problem except swelling of ankles. Sometimes I used to feel tired and drowsy. But I thought it was because I was ageing. So I didn't give it much thought.

Dr: What about your diabetes? What were you doing for that?

R: I was taking medication prescribed by my family doctor.

Then she went on to name them for him.

Dr.: How often did you get your blood tested for sugar?

R: Once every 4 or 5 months. If the sugar was high my doctor used to increase the dosage and ask for a test after 1 month. If the sugar levels came to normal she would bring the dosage down again.

Dr: What about your diet?

R: Actually, my doctor had asked to totally stop taking rice. But I couldn't do that. I used to take rice for lunch only, night I used to take some tiffin like upma, etc. but I don't take any sweets. Even for coffee I take only half spoon sugar.

Then looking at Armaan who was quietly listening all along, he said I'm very sorry to tell you that CKD has now progressed to ESRD.

R: ESRD? What's that?

Before the doctor could reply Armaan intervened and asked "what is the GFR?" The doctor looked surprised.

A: I'm a dentist. I've read a lot about CKD in the past few days.

Dr: Good, then I can tell you everything openly. The GFR is too low less than 15%. She needs a kidney transplant at the earliest.

Riddhima gasped in surprise. Armaan instinctively held her hand and patted it with his other hand. Then he turned to the doctor saying "If you don't mind, can she wait outside while we talk?" Before the doctor could reply Riddhima said "No let me hear what the doctor has to say."

Dr: Riddhima, you'll have to start with dialysis immediately but the ultimate solution is a transplant.

Seeing Riddhima shocked and speechless, Armaan said "doctor we need time to think over."

Dr: Sure, but I'll introduce to the coordinator and she'll guide you further in the matter.

When he rang the bell, a nurse came. Handing over the report files to her, he asked her to take them to Dr. Sudha. They were lead to another cabin where there were already 2 couples waiting. The doctor walked in, introduced herself and began explaining to all of them about how their kidney was no longer capable of filtering out the waste from their body. So they needed a replacement either from a deceased donor or a living donor.

The wait for deceased donor may be long she said, sometimes over a year or two or even more. She indirectly pointed out that a living donor was a better option. The rejection rates were also comparatively less in this case even if there was not a perfect match. She asked them to think it over and inform them their decision. In the meantime, they would have to get admitted and they would start with the dialysis that very day. Patients could go home in the evening and those coming from outside Chennai would be accommodated in the hospital.

Once out of the room, both of them were silent. They couldn't think what to say to each other. Armaan had expected this, that's why he wanted to talk alone to the doctor. Though Riddhima knew that her illness was serious, she hadn't expected it to proceed so far, so fast.

Armaan completed all the paper work and other formalities for admitting her, while she spoke to Suja. She only told her that they had asked her to get admitted to start the treatment. Immediately Suja said that she would call Prakash and they would come to Chennai as soon as possible. Riddhima's pleading that there was no need, as athaan was taking good care of her, fell on deaf ears. As soon as Armaan completed the formalities and came, a nurse took her to her room.

It was spacious and had all the amenities like TV, fridge, etc., no different from a hotel room. At the other end of the room there was another narrower bed. The nurse left saying that they would be serving food for the patients now and then she'd come and take her for the dialysis, Riddhima told Armaan about her talk with Suja and her adamancy to come to Chennai. He said he had also spoken to Prakash.

A: Let them come, we need to discuss things with them and they can also have a look at you and satisfy themselves. Otherwise Suja will continue worrying.

Riddhima also felt what he said was correct. But before they arrived she wanted to ascertain the cost of this treatment. She knew all this would be very expensive. But neither Suja nor her athaan would heed to her request not to spend that kind of money on her. For that matter neither would Prakash. He'd always considered her as his mother, not MIL.

She was served a bland diet of some boiled vegetable, khichdi and a watery sambhar with very little salt. She requested Armaan to go to the canteen and have food, but he said wasn't hungry and would have it later. After half an hour the nurse came and took her to the OT as some procedure was to be done before dialysis. A catheter had to be inserted in her neck temporarily.

As the nurse wheeled her in, she told Armaan who was looking very worried, "don't worry sir, it's just a small procedure and we'll be giving local anesthesia, so she won't know the pain.

R: Athaan you please go and have lunch. It won't help if you fall ill now.

Armaan admired this woman. She was so brave. That was perhaps because she had already faced the worst in her life that now nothing daunted her. He nodded and assured her not to worry and that he'd be here before she came out of the OT. Though he went to the canteen, even the thought of food was nauseous to him. His mind was in a muddle. He picked a cup of coffee and once again went to meet the co-ordinator.

From the OT Riddhima was wheeled into the dialysis room and the machine was set up. It would take a couple of hours the operator told her. Lying on the bed, she mentally calculated how much savings she must be having. Not much she knew because whatever little she saved she'd use to buy something for the school.

Many people thought school was a profitable business but she didn't think of it as business. She never spared any expense. She was obsessed about its cleanliness and would buy the best soap and disinfectant for cleaning the toilets. She employed as many sweepers and cleaners as there were teachers in her school and the best part was she paid them all as per government scales. She didn't pay them less and ask them to sign the book for more, as many schools did. So also, unlike other schools, she didn't compel students to buy books, uniforms etc. from the school. That would have given her a large profit. On the contrary she gave them free of cost to the poor students. Many students even enjoyed freeship for fees.

She didn't have much insurance either. In her younger age she didn't have money to spare for insurance etc. and later when she became diabetic, seeing so many exclusion clauses in the policy, she had decided to keep the money in the bank rather than pay insurance. Of course she had never thought she'll take so ill and that too so soon. She still had to fulfil her dream of making her school a high school. It had only up to std.VIII now.

Man Proposes but God Disposes she thought to herself. If this was what the Almighty had destined for her, so be it.