Episode 10

Harish was having a very hard time driving the car with almost no visibility. The rain was pouring on mercilessly. He wanted to drop Jeeva soon and reach home before the condition gets even worse. But he was helpless now. The wipers were furiously moving its arms to and fro to help him but in vain. Finally he called it quits. There was a construction going on nearby and they sought refuge in what appeared to be a partially built parking lot.

"We will just stay in the car for a while and start once the rain stops a bit. I am not able to see." Harish said. Jeeva nodded. She badly wanted to get back home and get out of the mess she was in. She simply went back to her thoughts. She still could not get over the motherly feeling after holding Nisha's baby.

"Nisha's baby would have slept now right? or will it still be wailing?" Jeeva turned at the voice of Harish. "Hey I was just thinking about that. "Jeeva answered happily. "I am eagerly waiting for tomorrow to go back and see him again. "He is such a sweet heart." Harish smiled. "I will come and pick you even tomorrow. With the rains splashing, you won't be getting any transportation."

"Hey don't trouble yourself. I can manage." Jeeva said. "No problem at all. Jeeva just tell me are you sure you can help me in adopting a baby. I am actually fed up with all the process." Jeeva looked at him proudly. She has never seen a young man get full involvement with such a commitment.

"Of course" , She started. "See I am a volunteer at an orphanage nearby. There are many kids and transgender kids there waiting for support. The kids get adopted now and then but the transgender kids are always left behind. maybe you can adopt one. I have contacts there and i will definitely vouch for you."

Harish looked satisfied. "Thanks a lot Jeeva. It really means a lot to me." Jeeva just hushed him and started staring outside. The rain was still on its reign. "My limbs are just too cold. Can we just get down and stretch a bit? We won't get drenched atleast." Jeeva asked.

"Fine." Said Harish and got down. Jeeva followed. It was so chill outside and Jeeva started shivering. "I would give anything for a hot cup of tea now." She said as her teeth rattled. Harish just smiled back. She was rubbing her palms and tried to bring a little warmth as she leaned on the wet car when she spotted something at the far end of the parking lot. It seemed like a bundle but something was poking out.

 Something told her very badly to check that out. She started moving towards the bundle. "Hey where are you going?" Harish asked. "Can you see that bundle?"Jeeva pointed. "There is something poking from it. Come. Lets check."

Harish joined her. They came near the bundle and the something that poked out happened to be a tiny fist. Jeeva gasped and hurried to rummage the bundle.

"Ah", both of them gasped. There was an infant barely days old breathing coarsely and fully cold in an almost unconscious state. Jeeva took the baby out immediately. It was a baby girl wrapped with a few rugs. Obviously it was an unwanted baby just dumped about. Jeeva took the baby and rushed to the car. "Do you have any dry towel or a cloth?"  

Harish took out his gym bag and there was a big towel inside it. She almost dragged it and carefully drapped the baby. She sat in the car carefully. Harish looked so pale."Is it going to live?"

Jeeva was at loss for words. "Come we will make it warm". She took its tiny palms and started blowing hot air and rubbed very gently. Harish did the same with the tiny feet. The baby was almost warm now. The breathing got little fast now. As the tiny chest heaved back and forth, Jeeva felt her heartbeat reducing slowly. "Please live. God please let her live." The thoughts were racing on her.

Slowly the baby opened its eyes. It was a great sight. The baby looked at Jeeva and fluttered its eyes once and shivered. Jeeva brought the baby close to her and hugged to give it warmth. The baby cooed gently. She brought it close to her chest now and again started rubbing the baby gently. The baby went close to her breast in a reflex action and started sucking.

Jeeva lost it all now. She started to cry uncontrollably. The baby was hungry and it looked at her as if she is a mother waiting to nurse her. Harish immediately started the car. Driving through all odds they reached a pharmacy. He rushed out and got a bottle of baby formula and a feeding bottle. He got a water bottle too and boiled in the mini kettle he had in the car. He poured it carefully in the feeding bottle and handed it to Jeeva.

She was about to feed the baby when the baby suddenly threw up. Maybe all the hours of hunger caused it. Jeeva was a full mess now. Harish suggested her to go and dry and change into his gym clothes for the time now. She accepted and got his clothes and went to the pharmacy restroom to change. Harish held the baby gently and started feeding the baby.

It initially was reluctant to start sucking the hard rubber. Harish squeezed a little milk into its mouth. The baby gulped it down and now it realized it was the food it was yearning so far and started to suck the milk. Slowly the baby started having the milk by ounces and took a break between a couple of gulps. When the bottle was almost 3/4th empty, the baby decided it could have no more. She started pushing away the bottle.

Harish decided to stop and closed the bottle. "Once you feed the baby you have to keep it upright for the baby to burp. Do not keep it lying." The pharmacist advised. Harish took the baby , carried on his shoulders and stroked gently on its back. He could almost feel the baby's heartbeats now. The tiny fingers clutched his shirt and the feet kicked his chest. He started walking now.

Jeeva came out and looked more composed now. She smiled on seeing the almost empty bottle and came near him to take the baby. She tried to hold the baby but couldn't. The baby was clutching him too tightly and it had gone to sleep. She slowly tried to pry the fingers away and got the baby when the baby started crying. Harish immediately took it back and started stroking it. The baby went to sleep peacefully.

Jeeva again tried to take the baby when it  repeated the same thing. It was at peace with Harish. The pharmacist laughed. "Whose baby is that?" He asked. Jeeva was about to answer the gentleman when Harish interrupted and said in a very hushed voiced so as not to wake the baby, "It is mine."