Chapter 8
Two days after Sugni walked back into the hospital, tired, and worried. The doctor said he wanted to do some test on Shanti and would have to results in a few days. He said there was something funny about her heart sounds. What did that mean?? She had to wait two days to find out.
Sugni spent the last two days at her daughter's bedside, telling Mrs. Flam she could not come out to work yet. She returned home only to have a quick shower and a bite to eat. She kept praying that it was nothing and the test showed she was fine and they let her out.
"Hey baby.." She said
"Mummy ...what took you so long..." Shanti was placed in the cardiac ward as they needed to monitor her heart and the children's section did not have the equipment. She was in a ward with six other female patients of varying ages and she was scared of them and all the beeping machines. She was a trooper though; as long as Sugni promised to return as soon as possible, she would stay for a few hours alone.
It was not the best situation, but the only one Sugni could afford at the moment, since they initially treated their patients for free. For cases that were more serious, that required surgery there was cost involved in that, or if you wanted faster treatment you had the option to pay.
"Sorry baby. A lot of traffic... I brought your new book." She said handing it to her the book Vickram gave to her. She loved it.
"Can we go home today?' She asked
"I hope so... you want to have some breakfast now?" She asked her.
"Ok."
She just finished feeding her and was about to take her for a bath when the doctor came in.
"Good morning Mrs. Mathur."
"Ms. Mathur...Good morning. Did you get the rest of the results back?" she asked
"Sorry Ms. Mathur... yes we did would you come into my office after I finish this exam so we can speak.' The doctor said.
"Ok."She said.
"Hey Shanti.." the doctor turn to her... "Do you mind if I listen to your heart...and then you can listen to mine?" Shanti laughed.
"Where you aware that your daughter had a hole in her heart" The doctor told Sugni a few minutes later as he they sat in his office
Sugni shook her head, .shocked at that.
" I am surprised no one picked it up on it during doctor visits." He said.
"Well apart for having her normal shots, she was never sick...she was always healthy I mean..."
"She was never active much?" He asked
"no...she is a quite child, she rather play with books or dolls than run around."
"hmm maybe that is why..." He mused. He looked at Sugni, as he nodded sadly.
"Well Ms. Mathur... I am sorry to inform you that..Shanti has a hole in her heart ,that according to these results is a big one. Usually it is something the child is born with and in some cases the hole closes up on its own .But with Shanti, that is not the case and at her age it is advisable we rectify the problem now with Surgery. If this goes unattended with the size...I am afraid things could get much worse."
Surgery?...heart problem? Oh God... Oh my God..." cried as her the news sank in. "Wait ...surgery...that is dangerous right..."
"Yes with any surgery there are some risk, but if she does not do it, we are looking at hospital stays like this one, and with the hole getting bigger it will put more pressure on her heart and her, which will eventually give up." He said
"Oh God!" Sugni began crying. Unconsciously she wrapped he arms around herself. This could not be happening. Not her baby ...Please god not her baby.
"Ms. Mathur...is there someone who can be here with you...her father maybe..." The doctor said.
"Huh...N-No it's its just me and her. Doctor ..doctor you have to save her please...what do we have to do?" She asked. No Shecould not break down. She looked at him, for him to tell her how to proceed.
"Well the only option right now is surgery...but..." He trailed off like he had more bad news
":but?"
"It is costly"
"Costly? How much?" she asked
$17, 000." he said.
Sugni was stunned. ..."I don't...I don't have that kind of money I..I""She closed her eyes.
"I know this is hard for you right now.. We can give you some time to arrange something. The longer she stays without the surgery ...the harder it will be for her." He said.
"I ll give you some time to think about what you want to do. For now...I'd like to keep her and monitor her for a few more days.. Her blood levels are a bit low ..I would like to get that up before we send her home."
Sugni got up in a daze as she walked back to her daughter's bed side. She was asleep. How could this be , she was fine two days ago. She was playing and laughing, and all excited, and now she was lying there possibly dying ...Oh God.
She sat at her side taking her little hand in hers. No...No she had to find a way to get the surgery done. Sitting around crying will be of no help. . Thinking quickly she knew she had about $2000 in savings...that was something she guessed. She had to do something.
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Ma'am please..." Sugni said as she looked at Mrs, Flam " I need this job...my daughter is really sick, don't do this please."
" oh I have heard that excuse before from my previous girl. Some sob story about a sick relative only to take my money a flee without a trace. It did not take you long to try that scam on me!" Mrs. Falm said scathingly.
Scam...no Ma'am it is the truth, she is in the hospital, I have been with her all this time... I swear...'
"Yes neglecting my work..! I don't need this from you Ok...to bad because I did kinda like you.. Anyways you can go there is no need for you to come back. You are fired." Mrs. Flam said.
"Mrs. Flam please..don't do this ...where would I go...please..." She begged.
Opening her purse , Ms Flam took out some cash. "This is for the last week you put in." She handed her the money "Good bye Sugni..." Mrs Flam said turning away from her.
Sugni walked out of the house in shock. She was just fired. She came here with the hopes that she could get some assistance from her boss. She was the only person who could help her right now.
But as she walked in her boss started raving at her for not showing up for work the past few days, despite the fact that Sugni informed her of her daughters illness.
Then she told her she could stay out and not return to work since she likes to make excuses. She out right called her a liar and refused to believe anything she had to say .
The last few days had been hell for her. After her conversation doctor. She came home and informed Rita about her predicament. It was Rita's idea that she approach her boss for assistance, knowing that it was an emergency.
Then instead of Shanti's blood going up as they were waiting for, she started to get worse, her heart rate going off irregularly that had the doctors more concerned about her health. They did not say it but Sugni could sense that something had to be done and soon.
She spent most of the time at her daughter's bed side, Today she came out with hopes to approach her boss lady, for some assistance, as she did not know anyone else.
Sugni walked into her little apartment not five minutes when there was a knock on her door. She opened it to reveal her neighbor.
"Hey you're back!...I brought some lunch...you must be hungry."
"Thanks!" she said gratefully as she set it on the table. "I'll take it with me to the hospital" She said.
"Maybe you should get a few hours rest...You've been up and down all week and sleeping on a metal chair is not helping."
"I can't leave her for so long." She said.
"I'll just grab some fresh clothes, shower change and leave." She said.
She needed to keep herself busy right now.
"Sugni...What happened with Mrs Flam?" She asked.
Sugni stopped not saying anything.
"Sugni? Hey what happened?" she asked noticing the way she was.
Sugni began to cry as the overwhelming feeling of helplessness began to take hold of her.
"She ...She fired me..." She said
"What? Why?'
"She ...She... said that I was making it all up and it was all a scam... And that I didn't have to come back any more...Oh God...Rita...What am I going to do?" She said
Unbelievable! " Rita exclaimed in horror.."That woman is heartless." She said. Taking Sugni by the shoulder, she led her to the couch to sit...
"Listen...don't worry...you are better off not working for her.!" She said.
"But I need the job. I have rent and now this..."
"Hey...look forget about the rent...ok... right now what is important is Shanti. I had a feeling she would not want to help you...I did not think the bag would fire you..." Reaching into her shirt pocket she pulled out a small piece of paper...' Here take this it might help." She said handing her a check for $5000.
Sugni stared at the check..."This...I...Rita..."
"I know it is not enough, I wish I could do more but it is all I can manage for now. " She said looking at her sadly
Rita...I don't know what to say...thank you!" She said as she hugged her. "And I promise I will pay you back some day..."
"It's ok...whenever you can...and listen don't worry about the rent ok...until you don't get another job. You just concentrate on that little angel of yours." She said
"You are so kind...thank you so much..."
"You don't have to thank me Sugni I wish I could help you more. I've been there...I know what it is like to have a child sick..I could not do anything for my little one...but if I can help you I will." She said tearfully.
Sugni looked at her landlord. She never thought of Rita of someone with problems, she was always a pleasant person, kind., and she seemed to have a fondness for Shanti...but she never mentioned anything about a child, not that Sugni asked her.
"Your little one?" She asked.
"yes..." She nodded sadly. "Two years ago I lost them, my husband and child, they were returning home from a field trip, when they met with a car accident. My Husband died instantly, but my little boy...he spent a week in the hospital in pain...and nothing could save him...his internal injuries to sever. "
"I am so sorry!' Sugni said.
"it's ok..After they left I came here...invested in this building and doing my best to move on. Your Shanti is a lot like my little boy was, both were the same age , both of them sweet , quite children." She wiped her eyes looking at her.
"I see how much you do for her. I know what ever brought you here Sugni, is a painful past. But I believe everyone deserves a second chance. Don't worry...she will get through this have faith." She said.
Sugni nodded. She hoped so she really hoped so.
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"Please can't you accept this...I promise I will come up with the rest of the money..." Sugni told the doctor. The next morning.
"I am sorry Sugni...it is against hospital policy. I am afraid we can' t accept that as a down payment" he said handing her the check she just handed to him.
"But Doctor..."
"Listen I know, this is hard but I don't make these rules. "Sugni looked at him helplessly
"Why don't you wait awhile, her blood reports look good, improving and she should be well enough to get discharged in about two days. We will join her to the clinic here, and monitor her, as
long as you see to it she follows the our instruction and takes it easy she should be alright, in the mean time you can see about raising the funds somehow." He said.
"But you said that it was important she had the surgery done as soon as possible, now you are telling me to wait?". Sugni said. Unbelievable that these people would put money in front of saving a child.
"I am sorry what else can you do.."
"And what happens if she gets worse in the mean time?" Sugni asked.
"We will treat her..." he began.
"Sure you just would not do the operation that could save her life, very good because of money my child's life hangs in the balance" She said disgusted.
"I am sorry I know this is hard for you, but I don't make these rules. We will do all we can...to make her as comfortable in the meantime..." He said
"Hmmm"
"I have to go now on my rounds..." he said anxious to get out of this awkward situation. He made to leave , with Sugni staring at him.
Now what? She had to take her child home, care for her, plus find a job and a way to raise funds. How was she supposed to do all of this? Sugni was praying for some kind of miracle to happen. Maybe she would wake up and all this would be a nightmare.
She could not even break down properly because she had to put on a strong face for Shanti. She made her way back to her daughters' bedside, where she was lying on the bed.
"Hey Shannu!" She said as she took a seat at her side.
"Hey mummy...is I going home today? "She asked hopefully.
"Soon baby soon..." She said.
"I have been in here forever, and I feel better now...I miss my school and I am supposed to be in the play..." She said.
"Honey...you will be back to school soon, ok...you just need to rest now so you can get strong again." She said.
"How about I read your story for you huh?" She said to distract her. It worked as she was caught up in the tale of princesses and dragons.
Sugni returned home a few hours later, Shanti was asleep and she had to see about some essentials like laundry as she was running out of clean clothes. She decided to tidy the apartment as she was at, cause sitting around staring at the walls was depressing, not seeing any way out. As she was dusting the counter, her hand knocked over a call card that was sitting on it. Taking it up she read it. On the front was the name Thakur Vickram Singh incorporated, at the back was his home address. His parting words to her in the car came back to her. , and if ever you need me my door is always open, no matter what." Sugni looked at the card for a long time, wondering what to do, until finally she made up her mind.
Financial markets and global economy
Ishaani
