The Writer in Me: Everlasting Smile

A Short Story By G.S.Vasukumar

Rohit rushed to the hospital as fast as get as he could as got the sad news. He found his wife Aparna seated outside the ICU ward. She looked too depressed. She hugged him and burst into tears. He tried to console her by patting on her back.

“Where is she?” He asked her.

“Inside ICU!” She said.

The doctor rushed from ICU looking quite tensed.

“Mr.Rohit, She has lost lot of her blood in that accident. We need blood within next two hours if she has to survive. Unfortunately, we don’t have that blood group in the blood bank of our hospital.” The doctor told him.

“I will try with other blood banks. Meantime, you guys to try your luck elsewhere.” He added before leaving.

“Ok, doctor.” Rohit said.

Rohit started dialing all the phone numbers in his mobile. Aparna too did the same. They informed all their friends and relatives about the same. Time was running out.

“I’m sorry…I couldn’t get it. Any luck from your side?” The doctor asked coming back.

“No!” Rohit said sadly. “We have informed all those whom we both know.”

“We’re running out of time! Let’s just hope and pray that we will get it soon.” The doctor said going into

ICU.

“God…please…” Aparna prayed closing her eyes.

Meantime, Sanjay was rushing towards the Jaidev Hospital. He had received an email requesting for blood. Fortunately, it was the same blood group as his. He had tried calling that mobile number given in the email, but it was engaged every time he tried.

Now, he was stuck in the evening rush hour traffic jam. He had seen the cute smiling face of the little girl in the email. He couldn’t forget the smiling face….he was becoming impatient as he glanced at his wrist watch.

“Dame it!” He cried, looking at the side mirror of his car. He found an ambulance rushing forward through the hectic traffic.

“Ramu, you come to Jaidev hospital.” He said getting down his car.

“All right, sir.” The driver replied.

He rushed towards the ambulance which was heading towards Jaidev hospital. He blocked it, spoke to the driver and got into the ambulance.

***

“Well?” The doctor asked coming out.

Rohit shook his head.

“If we don’t get the blood in next twenty mintues..” The doctor said looking at his wrist watch, “then it would be too late!”

Rohit remained silent, as Aparna started crying. He again tried to console her.

***

Sanjay rushed into the hospital and checked in the reception.

“I’m sorry, sir. There is no such case..” The receptionist replied him.

“Please for heaven’s sake check with your doctors!” Sanjay cried.

She called some number and then “Well, its ICU ward No.202 on the fourth floor to the left side.” She said.

“Thanks…” Sanjay said, rushing as fast as he could towards the lift, but the lift wasn’t available. He rushed upstairs.

“Mr.Rohit…I’ve come to give…” Sanjay cried seeing the couple.

“Come with me please!” Rohit said, leading him to ICU ward.

Sometime later, the doctor came out of the ICU ward with a smile on his face.

“Thank God, he reached in the nick of time. Mr.and Mrs.Rohit, your daughter is safe now. She is sleeping…you can go and see her.” He said.

“Thank you, doctor” They said together.

“Thank him. He saved her” The doctor said, walking away.

They went inside the ICU ward.

“You have a beautiful little daughter” Sanjay said, smiling at them.

“Thank you very much for saving her life!” Aparna said smiling at him.

“Thanks a lot!” Rohit said, hugging Sanjay and patting him on his back.

“Please let me know what can I do for you in return?” He added.

“Nothing, my friend” Sanjay said “We don’t help others with expectations in our silly minds, do we?”

They both exchanged their mobile numbers before Sanjay left the ward.

Rohit’s daughter Archana wanted to thank Sanjay in person. So Rohit called him on his mobile and told him this. Sanjay invited them to his house that weekend.

“Uncle, thank you very much!” Archana said with gratitude in her eyes.

“It’s all right, my dear. You are like my daughter Swomya!” He said smiling at her.

Sanjay introduced them to his wife Poornima and his daughter Swomya, who was Archana’s age.

Swomya took Archana to her room. They started chatting like long lost friends found again.

“I think your daughter has found a new friend!” Poornima said, bring them snacks and coffee.

“That’s nice!” Aparna said smiling, “You should be proud of your husband.”

“Well, he is like that.He never gives a second thought when someone needs help. He does it for something in return.” Poornima said.

“Something in return? But, he never asked me anything?” Rohit said surprised.

“Actually, I got it from you guys!” Sanjay said “The happiness I saw in your faces was what I was looking for!”

“Yes, he helps others for smiles in return.” Poornima said smiling.

“That’s really wonderful!” Rohit and Aparna said together.

“Whatever goes out from you comes back to you in some way or the other. Maybe you may not get it back, but your kids might just get it when they really need it!” Sanjay said.

“Yeah, it’s true!” Rohit said.

“So how many smiles have you collected so far?” Aparna asked Sanjay.

“Well, I have left counting long back” Sanjay said “However, I do recall all those smiling faces whenever I am low and depressed. They bring back the smile on my face.”

“Nice!” Aparna said.

“Well, helping others for smiles is a different concept.” Rohit said.

“Thinking to adopt it?” Aparna asked.

“Why not? I have to give back what I have received from him. If not to Sanjay then to someone else whom I might not even know.” Rohit said.

“Swomya is very much like her dad!” Poornima said

“Is it?” Aparna asked.

“Yes, everyday she carries three packets of biscuits with her on the way to her school. She distributes them

among the poor kids on the streets.” Poornima said.

“That’s so sweet of her!” Aparna said.

“Mom, started blowing my trumpet, is it?” Swomya asked coming.

“Dad, can you take a snap of Archana and me together?” She asked giving the camera to her father.

“Sure, are your girls ready?” Sanjay asked focusing the camera lens on the two cute girls,.