Posted:
Ok, Am so hating the current track that revealed the past as it shows both of them in very poor light- Neil and Rags, here is my "alternate reality" take! Hope you all enjoy it!
Part 1: below:
Part 2: page 2
Part 3: page 3
Part 4: page 4
Part 5: page 5
"Dr. Neil, please come to the NICU!" called out the muted PDA in the nurses' station. Dr. Neil, who was finishing up with signing some paperwork, handed them over to the Matron and proceeded wit his purposeful long strides towards the Neonatal Intensive Care unit.
Glancing through the glass window that showed a glimpse of the tiny bundles, some breathing with great difficulty and many connected with tiny tubes, he was arrested by the gentle smile and touch of a young nurse delicately caressing a tiny baby with her two fingers, inserted through the small holes provided to help with moving tubes around or feed the baby or adjust its IV.
He went through the doors and enquired about his summons and was directly led into the surgery where a tiny baby awaited his expert fingers to fix his under-developed heart. The surgery was successful and after the intense two hours in the theatre, Dr. Neil changed out of his gown and peeked into the NICU ward. She was not there.
He proceeded with his busy day with one other planned surgery and an emergency later in the evening. He was exhausted and wanted to return home and have his usual peg before calling it a day. He decided to peek into the NICU before heading out to see how the baby he had operated upon in the morning was doing.
There she was again, the girl from the morning- she was caressing that baby once again. She was now dressed in colorful clothes- seemed like she was ready to leave for the day too. He entered and she looked up with a gentle smile. He smiled back and asked her what she was doing.
"Oh, I read that when we caress the babies they grow faster and are happier."
"Really? So are you a nurse here or in training?"
"In training. I am just learning the basics. This is my 2nd semester. Matron let me come to the NICU as I simple love these babies, especially that little fellow there."
"The one you have been caressing?"
"Yes. You see, I was in the general ward yesterday when they brought this woman who was brutally beaten by her husband- those were the last words she spoke before she passed out. She was losing a lot of blood and though she was not due for another 2 months, she gave birth yesterday and died. That is her baby. Nobody here knows who she is or where she came from. The police have taken custody of her body and will keep it in the morgue for a few days before they close the file on her. Nobody has shown up either for the baby. I feel so connected to this young fellow."
"Yeah, I could see that this morning," he flashed her his 1000 watt smile.
She was stunned. She dropped her eyes shyly and peeked at him through her lashes.
They met everyday for the next one month and as the baby whose operation Dr. Neil had performed got ready to leave the hospital with her happy family, no one asked after the little orphan boy.
He was growing in strength and could actually cry loud enough to bother the other babies. Their barely audible mewling were soon overridden by the orphan's cries. Ragini, was thrilled with the improvement shown by "her" baby.
"So what do you, don't you think it is time we gave this lusty fellow a name?" prompted Dr. Neil.
"How about Ranveer?" suggested Ragini. "After all he has come through a battle and battled so bravely for his life and won!"
"Great idea and great name! Hello, Ranveer. Nice to meet you pal!"
Anupamaa
