Love and Tears - A Devakshi SS - last part updated on page 7 - Page 3

LOVE AND TEARS...

Chapter 3

Meanwhile in the hospital, chaos reigned. The gunmen managed to evade the security and scared the hell out of the persons at the main reception. They told people to hold their hands up in the air and file out of the hospital. This resulted in the entire reception area getting empty. One of them was left at the reception to guard the main entrance. The others swiftly located the other exits/ entrances and closed all of them to ensure that no one could enter the building. The three remaining gun men know exactly where to go. They had done their homework well and had selected the most vulnerable place in the hospital for the fulfillment of their demands. They shoved the liftman aside and took the lift to the fourth floor. They barged in and shut the door to the main entrance to the pediatric ward. Th clock on the wall read 1 PM.

In one of the operating theatres on the fourth floor, Sonakshi was in the middle of a knee surgery for an eight year old budding footballer. Ayush was a special child and Sona wanted to help him play again. He had told her about wanting to be a footballer like his icon - Lional Messi. There were three nurses and another doctor helping her with the surgery. They heard some sounds outside and Sona just asked one of the junior nurses to check outside. The nurse went and came back scurrying and whispered something into Sister Namrata's ears. Namrata did not react and told Sona to continue. Another 45 minutes later, Sona was done. She was happy with the way the surgery went off. She asked the junior doctor to finish up and clean the patient and keep him in the recovery room next room so that they could monitor him when he got back his consciousness. Sona and the team just pushed the door of the operating theatre and found themselves staring at two gun toting men who seemed to have held the whole fourth floor captive. One of the men spoke up "Put your hands up and move to the corner here". There were some ten nurses, four doctors and Ayush's parents already on the side. Sona moved quietly to the side and noticed that the gun men were tall and well built and were dressed in black clothes. They had their face covered and only their eyes were visible.

Sona noticed the time on the wall clock - 2 PM. There was total silence. She was the head the pediatric ward and felt it was her responsibility to speak up and she said "What do you all want? Do you even understand that there are children who are ill and need medical attention here? You cannot stop us from doing our duty. I will call the security!" One of the gunmen came close to her and gave her a tight slap across her right cheek and said "Shut up and keep quiet. You will soon find out what we want".

Meanwhile, Dev managed to locate Saurav, Nikki and Rhea outside the hospital in the crowd. They stood in one corner quietly, not knowing what to do. Nikki said "Bhaiya what should we do next. I am so worried for Bhabhi". Dev said "I am so worried for her too Rhea. And you know what we had an argument in the morning before she left for the hospital and I did not even speak to her. Now I regret it so much - I shouldn't have let my anger overpower my better judgment". Sourav was quiet as Dev spoke and he just told Dev "Don't worry nothing will happen to Sona - she is more courageous than all of us put together".

Sonakshi was standing quietly wondering what to do next. She wished she had her phone with her so that at least she could have texted for help. Meanwhile two of the young nurses were very sacred and started crying. Suddenly there was a sound from outside the door and a firm male voice said "This is the police here. Open the main door". Immediately one of the gun men fired a random shot and said "IF you value the life of the persons here go away. We will call you when we are ready to speak. Also remember if you come here again without us calling you specifically remember next time the bullet will not be wasted and there will be a victim". The threat was delivered in such a smooth and calm voice that Sona and others present were scared.

The footsteps went away. Sona cleared her throat and spoke up "See there are children who are admitted here who need our help so please do not stop us in helping them. Now its time for their lunch and medicines". The leader spoke to Sona "You are oversmart. Have you forgotten the slap you got? Stand here quietly".

Sona was about to retort when she decided to keep quiet. There were about 15 persons standing around against the wall. Ayush's mother asked after a while "my son has just been operated on and e must have recovered consciousness - can I please see him once?" The leader went upto her and shoved her against the wall and said "nothing doing. Keep quiet!".

Sona decided to try again. She said "There are innocent children here. Please let us do our duty and help them". The leader came upto her and looked into her eyes so deeply that she began to feel uncomfortable and said "OK. But don't try to be smart with us - do you understand?"

Sona did not trust herself to say anything and nodded her head and signaled to the doctors and nurses who were around to come to the nurses station. One of the gunmen came with them. Sona and her team did not talk with each other. Thankfully there were only 11 patients in the ward that day. One the doctors and the nurses went on the rounds to check on the patients and the others stared checking out the charts and the reports and arrange for the food. Sona looked up at the clock - it was 2.30 PM. She was thinking of a way to get to a phone somehow and call Dev.

She thought to herself "What if I die today Dev and we never get a chance to speak to each other again. What if I never get to hold you again. I really wish I had not fought with u this morning. I need to tell you how much I love you Dev!"Sona felt tears forming in her eyes and told herself "nothing will happen Sona - think of a way to distract these guys!".

<<End of Chapter 3>>