Abhirohi ff: Roohdaariyan | ✔️

Chapter 15: Suspicious Circumstances

Sunlight peeked through the blinds as I closed them. I sat back in my chair and checked my schedule. There was a knock on the door. A young couple entered the room with a baby in the woman's arms.

I smiled and said, "Please have a seat." They both smiled and sat down.

I looked at the screen, reading the description. "So you're here for her six-month vaccination?"

"Yes."

I quickly washed my hands properly opened the drawer, put on latex gloves, and took out the vaccines. Since Deepika is six months old, she'll get the Pentavalent vaccine (DTaP/DTwP, Hib, Hepatitis B, and IPV), the Rotavirus vaccine, and the Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV). Additionally, she'll get the Influenza vaccine.

I rolled my swivel chair beside Deepika's Mom.

"Hello baby, here is a toy for you to play with."

Deepika looked at me with wide eyes and took the toy.

I make sure my patients are comfortable first.

I drew the medication into a syringe and vaccinated the baby one vaccination after another.

Deepika was a crying mess and her parents tried to calm her down controlling their tears that were brimming.

I sighed. All parents get so senti (emotional) when their toddlers cry, but this is their love. Maa must've felt the same way. My eyes went back to the screen. I wrinkled my nose. I knew I shouldn't be asking this, but I couldn't help myself.

"Why are you at this hospital? Birla Hospital is the best in the city, no?"

"We didn't have a good experience there. They charged the insurance company way more than they should have. Meera was healthy and her pregnancy had no complications. But we had to go the c-section route because the doctors kept on delaying the delivery."

Oh. "Okay. I hope you have a good experience here."

"We have," Deepika's father said.

Before they leave, I give Deepika a toy for being such a good patient and move to my next patient.

.

.

.

It was lunchtime—technically, it's not lunch since it's two a.m. I sat on one of the canteen's seat and unzipped my lunch box. Taking out the container, I opened the lid, making the scent of bhindi ki sabzi waft around the canteen. I quickly warmed it up in the microwave and had it with roti, with a side of baked tofu strips as my protein source.

As I cut the tofu strips and forked them, I heard someone say, "Have you heard that a lot of babies are born stillborn at the Birla Hospital?"

"Yeah. I didn't like that workplace so I moved here.

My hands froze. "So many stillborn babies?" I have heard many cases where the doctors illegally don't take care of the newborn babies and they eventually end up dying. Was the same happening at Birla Hospital?

I need to inform Abhimnayu about this.

I woke up in the evening after my night shift. I barely was able to finish my breakfast. After I brushed my teeth and washed my face, I headed to the living room. Maa and Neil were watching a film.

It was the classic movie: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

Anjali was sitting on a prayer mat, praying for her father's friend's marriage to not happen.

I shook my head and ambled to the kitchen.

"Khanna baar rakha hai and roti's casserole main hai," Maa shouted.

"Got it, Maa."

I plated my food and moved to the living room. I sat in between them and set the plate on my lap.

When I finished, I set the plate on the coffee table and continued watching the movie.

Once the movie was over, the utensils were washed and I headed to my room to change into my gym clothes. As I picked up the strap of my gym bag, I screamed.

"Mummy, Yaha aao jaldi."

Mumma entered my room with a rolling pin and Neil came with a slipper in his hand.

"Kon hai," she says fiercely.

I point at the disgusting creature on the wall -- a spider.

"Seriously?" Neil face palmed.

Mumma slapped me. "You're a grown-up man and you're scared of a spider."

"Ab agar daar lagtai hai toh lagtai hai. Main rok toh nahi sakta na."

Mumma bravely captured the creature and set it out onto the balcony while Neil laughed at my expense.

The doorbell rang. I walked over to the foyer and answered the door. It was Aarohi.

"Hi."

"Hey."

I opened the door and let her come in. We sat on the sofas and soon Maa and Neil joined us as well.

"Um, I wanted to discuss something with you," she said, clearing her voice.

"Go ahead."

She looked at my brother and mom. They realized her discomfort and went to another room.

"One of my patients was at the Birla Hospital and their experience wasn't great. They said the doctor billed them way more than they should have. The couple could've had a normal delivery but they had to have a C-section because of the staff's carelessness. Last night, I overheard a group of doctors say that a lot of babies are stillborn at the Birla Hospital and this isn't normal. I'm telling you this as a pediatrician. I think something's going on at your hospital. Because there have been a lot of cases coming out in the public that doctors sell organs and kill the babies mercilessly and make a lot of money from it."

She does have a point. "Look I understand you're concerned but I think you're mistaken. We have well-qualified people in Birla hospital."

"So do we Abhimanyu," she exasperated. "I understand it might be difficult for you to believe this and I may be wrong here but I don't think you'll waste your time if you look into this matter.

"Yes, you're right. I'll talk to my dad about this and then we can go further."

"Thanks."

"Please don't thank me. I'm glad you informed me about this."

Word count: 1000+

A/N:

My dad's back home! And the surgery was successful!