The Hospital

The Plan To Connect

"She is inside Dr Meenal's consultation room. She came up with a knife and locked Dr Meenal in the room along with her." Said Vivaan.

Everyone looked at Vivaan stunned. Dr. Vikram however did not panic. Instead, he began asking questions.

"Was Dr Meenal alone? Who else knows about this?"

"Sir she wasn't alone. There was a nurse who was keeping the next patient ready. The minute she kept the next file in a room and walked out, that woman locked the room. Only she knows about this because she heard Dr Meenal screening for help and saying that her patient brought a knife."

"Who was the next patient? Is she aware of what is happening?" Asked Dr Vikram again.

"We told her that Dr Meenal suddenly fell sick." Replied Vivaan.

"Shift that patient to Dr Rukhaiyah's room for consultation and tell Doctor to use the patient details uploaded online for now."

"Okay Sir but what about Dr Meenal?"

"Sir, I think I know this lady." blurted out Sneha.

Everyone's attention immediately fell on Sneha. She looked around and spoke slowly.

"Today while coming, in the elevator I met a pregnant woman who looked like she was having a panic attack. When I tried calming her down, I noticed that she did a prenatal sex determination test ."

As soon as she mentioned the sex determination test, Ayesha gasped, Vivan's eyes widened in shock and Dr Vikram looked at her stunned. As per Indian law, no woman should check the gender of the unborn child before birth. This law was made to protect the female babies. Unfortunately, it continues in many places in exchange for money and Sneha was clear that this was happening in Lakshmi Narayan Hospital as well.

"Let me speak with her. She knows me so maybe she would listen to me." Said Sneha.

"Dr Sneha, you just joined the hospital today. These kinds of matters are dealt with by senior doctors, not interns or medical officers. If anything goes wrong, I will be also held responsible." Said Vikram.

"Sir, I do agree with you but I think on one level I had connected with that woman. I am confident that I can convince her."

"Doctor Sneha, as told earlier you will have to go on duty to the obstetric and gynecology department. Find the receptionist at the first and check where you are posted. I think you are supposed to work in the labour room. You can go now. The same goes for others as well. I will be taking care of this now."

At this point, Sneha understood that he wasn't interested in helping that woman. She stood clenching her fist as she stood facing Dr Vikram. Just like others in the hospital, he worked only for money and fame.

'Dr Vikram no matter what you say, I will not let go of this incident.' thought Sneha.

"Okay Sir, I won't intervene in this but please let me know in case you need me." Said Sneha slowly.

"I don't think there is a need for that. You can go to the labour room. Others also must go to their assigned places." Said Dr Vikram, sharply.

Sneha walked towards the door and opened it. Although she said she was going to the labour room, there was another place she would be going first. She somehow needed to meet that woman. She was now going back to the elevator along with Ayesha and  Shankar silently. They all stood outside waiting for the elevator.

"Goodness! Sex determination test for fetus! That is banned and how could she do it!" Said Ayesha, shocked.

Sneha frowned. Even though the government declared that it was illegal, a reputed hospital like Lakshmi Narayan still followed it.

"Even more shocking is how this was done. If she was a patient of this hospital, she must have done it here." Said Shankar, raising his eyebrows.

"Do you mean that?" Asked Ayesha.

"Of course, how else then? She cannot go to another place and then come here with that test. Will that place allow her to leave like that? That is very suspicious." Said Shankar.

"Shankar, I want to once speak with her. Maybe she going for an abortion, I want to stop her." Said Sneha with furrowed eyebrows.

"Dr Vikram does not want anyone to interfere." Reminded Ayesha.

"I know but when she was having a panic attack, I think there was a point she realized something. I need to make her realize that she can fight for her injustice. I don't know why she is threatening this doctor but maybe I can reach her out and change her decision."

"Sneha, I understand your concern but how will you reach her out if she is not willing to meet anyone?" Asked Shankar.

"Cellphones!" Shouted Ayesha suddenly.

Both Shankar and Sneha looked at her curiously. In this situation, there was one way where they could connect without being seen by anyone and that was by calling on cellphones. Ayesha suddenly pulled Sneha and turned left.

"Where are you taking her?" Asked Shankar, completely confused.

"We can't talk this here. Come with me." Said Ayesha as she dragged Sneha along with her. They soon reached a white door, leading them to a staircase.

"We can take the patient's number from the hospital's system and call the patient." Said Ayesha.

"There is one problem. I do not know her name ." Said Sneha, nervously.

Both Shankar and Ayesha looked at each other in silence for a minute. Sneha now lost hope of even trying her best.

"If we ask the administration, we can find out who had an appointment with Dr Meenal at this time." Said Shankar slowly.

"Do one thing. Sneha just go to the labour room now. Get the wifi on and wait for Shankar's message on WhatsApp. If you don't go there it will be too suspicious."

"Then what about that lady?" Asked Sneha, frowning.

"Listen, you need to trust me on this. Shankar, you can go to the reception and check who was  supposed to meet Dr Meenal." 

"I don't understand. What should I say at the reception?" Asked Shankar, with his nose and forehead scrunched.

"Anything Dude, you can make things up like the patient did not come and the doctor is waiting. She asked you to check with her and blah blah blah." Replied Ayesha.

"Okay." He said, unsure.

"Look if you both do as I say it will all go well. Shankar, once you get the number just send it to Sneha and she can call. Then it's done."

"What if she doesn't agree with me? She is under pressure from her in-laws already."

"If it is like that then also we can help her but call her first and let me know about it." Said Ayesha, trying her best to assure Sneha and Shankar.

"Alright then, I will go now. I hope things will work out for us." Said Sneha before she sighed.

Shankar too turned and walked out along with her. Ayesha silently followed them. They walked together now to the elevator silently. They didn't have to wait this time. They rushed inside along with other doctors. However. once inside they looked at each other worried. It seemed like they all wanted to help that woman and hoped that they would help her.