Song of the Firebird

Thirteen

There were too many women in the waiting area. They were all accompanied by their mothers, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends and children. Since the out-patient ward was closed for the weekends, unless for emergency cases, the waiting room seemed packed. True that there were many doctors on duty, it looked like Natasha's turn might take a while.

The four-counter registration desk was bustling up with people. There were constant cross-checks and rustling papers interjected by non-stop tapping on the keyboards. The nurses were moving from one section to the other with documents and test results. They would have closed the Move ring in an iWatch Activity App triple times judging by the commitment they held to their jobs since that morning. Pricks of sweat on their skin were evident in the air conditioned hall. They didn't get breaks until the crowd subdued.

The women were lucky that day to find empty seats next to a vending machine with a hot chocolate on it's menu. While Natasha went to the preliminary booth to give her biological samples, pressure readings and weight measurements, Ivy took claim of the seats. She placed her and Natasha's bags on the seats and went in for the hunt. Hot chocolate and hot tea. At the beginning, she was overjoyed when she realized that she would not have to pay for the drinks. Few moments into the newly formed joy, she began to realize the truth behind it. Unable to spill the bitter, watery drink out of her mouth, since the restroom was located in the farthest corner, she gulped it. hard. Too much for the free drink, she thought. She moved to the vending machine and checked the other available drinks. Milk. Underneath every option, she looked strenuously at her recently discovered options - with and without sugar. She facepalmed herself when she learned that the default ones came without the sugar. She ordered her drink that time, again, clicking on the option with the sugar. She breathed out a relieved sigh and began to boost her glucose-craving bloodstream.

After finishing the last sip with content, she threw out both her cups in the trash and began to study her surroundings. She looked at how the women were being pampered by their loved ones. She looked at the delight-filled faces around them. She saw the anticipation and excitement flowing in those people. She looked at the glowing pregnant women. She looked at the nurses being able to move faster with their signature confidence to face anything. She admired the feel that her current environment offered. She was also thankful that Natasha decided to keep the baby.

While Ivy was busy looking around, Natasha came from the hall, eventually taking her seat next to Ivy. The latter handed her the tea cup. The former took a sip and said, 'This is way better than the store-bought ones. Remind me later to ask about the brand of the tea the hospital uses from one of the nurses.'

Ivy's eyes zeroed on her friend. 'Sure', she said. She then resumed her past-time and continued, 'Will do.'

Since that was a private hospital, even if you're a sibling of one of the famous doctors, you had to follow the protocol. You could not skip the line. Ivy wondered for how long for she had to sit idly. Her eyelids began to droop. Slowly, she began to doze off, leaving her friend to enjoy her morning tea and her share of breaking news from the television in their section of the hall.

Natasha was patiently waiting for her number to be called over the microphone. However, her insides told a different story. She had to register her mind then and there that she had to proceed with care.

Being her first time in such a health condition, her mind was struggling to put pieces together in her vulnerable state. Sure, she was excited, but she was more anxious. The next string of events might turn her tables the other way around. And, this bothered her.

Twenty minutes passed since Ivy started sleeping and Natasha was busy keeping her sanity at bay. In that period, three rows of people before their seats went in and out of the rooms and labs; the nurses immersed in their footsteps and heated arguments; two kids were not distracted from their parents' phones; Natasha's third paper tea cup flew straight for the bin, that was two feet away. Said woman, cheered happily on her throwing skills. Oh my hormones.