The Unventured Passions

Nuit Blanche

Each raindrop was like a kaleidoscope, if one could only see more closely. Batuk wondered, as he sat alone, how it would be to stop time, to suspend this watery gift and peek through each one.
Perhaps it would be fun to sit inside those raindrops and take that gravity propelled ride to the earth, as he imagined it he felt his inner self laughing - a little at the crazy daydream and a little at his own silliness at the face of adversity. He saw the rain beads upon the tin sheet, upon each leaf of the redundant willow around his feet and washing his outstretched fingers. Soon they will pull together, forming the puddles, opening up a whole new avenue of rain-related fun, he thought and smiled. Perhaps it isn't normal to love such a morose rainy night so much, but who cares about normal anyway?
As at that very moment, Batuk Roy Chowdhury was pretty sure that "normal" was a made up thing.

"Batuk, are you ready?" A strong voice called out bringing him back to the reality, intimating him once again the reason why he was there.

"Satya Da, I'm still not sure... I don't think I can do this right!" Batuk felt a thud in his heart.

Satya narrowed his beautiful blue-green eyes, reflecting the aesthetics of the rain pearls.
"Brother, there isn't any time for this indecisiveness." He handed over a pair of  used latex gloves and pulled another pair out from his pocket for himself.

"Every second is precious. The more time we spend here taking about this, the more Samarth goes into the oblivion of death." Satya gestured him to follow.

"We two are the only ones available tonight in this safe house adept with the knowledge of surgery..." He paused. "And there are seven casualties, Batuk." Satya turned around to look directly in his apprehensive eyes.

"Look, either you do this, or I'm doing it alone." He bore his deep fearless eyes on Batuk, piercing his soul.
"I'm in no way letting my boys die without treatment!" He growled softly.
"You know why these men are lying there? Helpless... Writhing in pain? It's because of our motherland! It because people like you and me can breathe in a free India." Satya paused.
"I was just a few feet away when the bomb went off... I could've been in their place tonight.... "

Batuk noticed the hint of regret laced in his voice, eloquently reflecting his indomitable courage.

"I'll do it! I'll do it Satya Da." Batuk held his shoulder.
"But, I'm a first year student! She you are the epitome of medical genius! Do you think I can..."

Satya chuckled softly interrupting Batuk's words.
"I'm a drop out and you'll be Doctor Batuk Roy Chowdhury in a few years!"
A broad smile stretched across his lips.
"So, let's get to work brother... We have a long night ahead!"

.........................................

The same rain, weaving threads of water in the night sky had a different connotation outside the new mansion where the Roy Chowdhury couple lay.
Bondita's tear stricken eyes were wide open in question as Anirudh sat patiently infront of her and held her hands in his.

"Alright, so tell me Bondita, how do you think mothers feed their babies... Where do you think they get their milk from?"
Anirudh asked her in a calm voice.

"I... I don't know for sure... But, all mother's have milk in them for their babies... All good mothers." Bondita emphasised on the last sentence.

"Even foster mothers?" Anirudh asked tenderly.

"Yes! As I said..." She hushed as her voice started to choke again. "All good mothers... And, I fear I'm not one!"

Anirudh let out a sigh at her words and leaned back against the bed-rest. He held her hand and secured it gently on his chest.