THE UNWANTED

CHAPTER 9

------------------------------------THEN ONE DAY-------------------------------------------------

"Sahib, I would like to visit my village, just for a fortnight, as my wife is expecting and anytime the delivery of the child will be there," Ramu requested his employer with folded hands.

"Okay you may go, but make sure you'll be back in a couple of weeks, otherwise I'll have to appoint another person for your job," the employer said in a strict tone.

"I will, Sir and that's a promise," Ramu spoke in a soft tone.

Ramu had saved nearly Rupees thirty Thousand by now after deducting all his expenses of eating and sharing his accommodation with Badri, and that was a lot of money for him.

He was the happiest person who had never seen such big money in his village.

Next day he boarded the bus and left Delhi onto his journey to meet the newborn who was expected any day. After a hectic journey of another eighteen hours he reached home late evening and knocked the chain let of the door of his house. His mother opened the door and she gave a shriek of joy and surprise to see her son standing out waiting for someone to open it. She hugged and kissed him on the forehead, simultaneously calling out to Tara.

"Heyyyyyyyyyy!!! Tara look, who has come. Our Ramu has come back at the right time when we need him the most."

Tara with her pregnant stomach bulging out in full bloom and a big smile on her face came slowly to the door to receive him.

"Waiting for you to come back home to me is the hardest thing I've ever had to do," whispered Tara in his ears.

Ramu hugged her tight taking care not to give any pressure on her bulge. She took him to their room and brought some hot milk and the leftover rotis for him. His mother also sat by his side. Till late night he kept narrating his new life in the big city, telling everything from the high rises to the outlet he worked in and the self centered people who have no apathy for anyone in distress. He took out his savings and trinkets from his trunk.

"Ma, this whole is my savings of six months and you, Tara, here are the trinkets for you which you wanted for a long time," smiling he passed on the possessions to them both.

His mother was surprised to see the wads of the currency and Tara was the happiest woman to receive the gift which she had wanted for so long.

Next morning, Ramu went out of his house to meet his friends and other acquaintances. The next three days passed and there was nothing to do for Ramu.

On the fourth day, in the afternoon, suddenly Tara started getting the labor pains. A small boy came running to Ramu, who was sitting with his friends in the meadows.

"Hurry up Ramu, run home as fast as you can. Your Ma is waiting for you as Tara bhabhi is writhing with stomach pain," he called out stuttering.

On hearing Ramu jumped up in excitement and started running to his home with agility. As soon as he put his first step in the house his mother called out in a tone full of excitement, "Go, and get the midwife as soon as you can. Tara can deliver anytime. In the meanwhile I will boil some water on the stove."

Ramu rushed back like a breeze to fetch the midwife. All this while Tara was wailing in pain.

After a few minutes the midwife arrived panting hard as she was an asthmatic patient. She rested for a while sitting on the corner of the bed of Tara, holding her hand and patting her with love.

"Be bold Tara, nothing will happen to you. I'm here now," said the midwife in a soothing tone to her.

"Get me some hot water immediately, the child is expected to come out any moment," she called out to Ramu's mother.