T+1 Day, Post Operative Room.
The nurse came in by 6:30 pm, Ma'am, you'll need to walk a little and then
we can wheelchair you to your room. Pfft, wheelchair. I am not that
unwell. I've endured kidney stones 4 times, how tough can this be?
My in-laws and parents were in my room already, chirpy, enjoying their best
and latest promotion to grandparents. My mom was nursing her own leg fracture
and yet, hopping around playing the perfect host as usual. My dad I'm sure
would be reading the newspaper, my father in law, asking the doc when I can
have some fresh juice and my mum in law super excited at the little dude.
Thrilling, exciting times. The husband had gone to visit a colleague at another
ward, and my loyal sister, by my side. (Mom wasn't allowed. She has a tendency
to faint on seeing me in pain.. er.. tried and tested). Ah, the good life. So
pampered, so special.
Let's go! Okay, I'm just going to get up from the bed like this and...! Oh
my GOD! Labour pains, I miss you. What the hell? Wasn't the worse over? Them
stitches. I wouldn't even wish this for Joffrey Baratheon (no, correction, I
would). I couldn't get up. I looked at my sister in disbelief, is this me? I didn't realise how much we need our abdomen for
basic body movement. My sister, looking like she saw alien invasion on the planet,
tried her level best to be brave and helped me sit up. The maid was amazingly
patient given that this happens often. You know, this is what they should
tell women about pregnancy, the aftermath. The shitty stuff. I couldn't
muster the strength to talk. I took what seemed like hours to get my tush,
tubes and drips ET AL, off the bed and on the wheelchair.
Onward! Here's a suggestion. One should make shock absorbing wheelchairs.
That's a market waiting to boom. I could tell the slightest of bump on the nearly
perfect floor while being wheeled. The stitches inside mapped their extent in
pain. Excruciating pain. I entered my room among loud cheers and Yays from my
darling Punjabi family and they stopped midway on seeing my piss-off
expression. Why so happy y'all?! My mom rushed to my side as soon as she could
manage with her leg in a cast and I was parked as close to the bed as possible.
Even in my half-dead half-pain-rage state I noticed my husband wasn't around. I
slowly tried to get up. Hunched, like the hunchback from Notre-Dame, and bloated
thanks to all the drips.
I took one step.
Satnam Waheguru.
Another
ant-like-step.
Please, God, I'll be good. Make it easier.
One more tiny
step.
Slugs move faster than this.
And I hear my Dad say, 'Doll, whats
wrong baccha, stand straight, walk properly.' I stopped, moved my head (that
part didn't hurt), shot him a sarcastic angered look and continued my
art-movie-slow-paced movement towards the bed. With every bit of strength
squeezed out of my bones I managed to get up the big, M.H. special beds and sit.
The nurses entered. 'Good ma'am you've reached your room! Great, now you
can feed your baby'. Ya right, PLEASE get me a painkiller shot. My family now
in stunned, awkward silence didn't know how to react. Mom had that look where
she is half crying half trying to be her bravest best. Dad finding this way too
unfair, why does MY daughter have to go through this, not fair, not good, get
the doc. My sister (unmarried at that time) I'm sure, scarred for
life.
Military Hospital and Moms' hospitality |
Calmly, casually enters my husband like he just took a nice stroll in the
garden, 'hi sweety, what happened? You look a bit tensed?'
Oh this feeling... oh the wheelchair ride back to the room... oh the first suckling... oh the dad's first reaction...
ReplyDeleteI know right! One wants to be able to enjoy all the firsts, but the body won't have it!
DeleteAnd Dads are the most uncomfortable in this situation I feel. Their baby is in pain and they can't do anything about it!
Hey i didnt know you write Doll!! Way to go
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteThis makes me want to dig up my Wren and Martin :)
Thank you.
DeleteThis makes me want to dig up my Wren and Martin :)
Omg!!! Mine was normal delivery ...I didn't went thru all this ...bravo gal !!!!
DeleteOmg!!! Mine was normal delivery ...I didn't went thru all this ...bravo gal !!!!
DeleteLol child birth isn't a piece of cake. Period!!
DeleteI was imagining everything the way you wrote!! Kudos!!' Very well written Hasrat! Way to go!
ReplyDeleteThanks Aarti!!! <3
Delete