Akash rushed into his friend's house calling his name. His friend was still awake. "Arkay, my mother. Again, we have to take her now... hospital", Akash told panting. Both of them rushed out and they drove to Akash's house in their car in silence, both of them fearing and aware of what could have happened in these few minutes. When they reached Akash's home they found everybody in the neighborhood awake. It was decided that Akash's aunty and Bem would accompany his mother to the Hospital. So, once again they all set out for RIMS. The journey to RIMS was as usual taken through the Uripok-Kangchup road and not through the RIMS road. The elders say that one should not take a sick person to RIMS through that road. Why? Because they say there was the Nityananda Prabhu temple on that road and more than this Akash didn't know.

Once again they landed in the Casualty of RIMS. She was examined by the CMO and again by the Doctor-on-duty, Surgery and everything was quick because Akash and his mother could tell everything in such an expert way that it easily surpasses what the doctor needed to know for emergency admission. But today there was no bed vacant Dr. Amarjit's side and Akash's mother had to occupy a bed under Dr. NB Singh. "Be cautious, he might shout at you for occupying the bed," cautioned a nurse-on-duty about Dr. NB Singh. Akash waited in panic what could happen that night and the next day. Luckily Akash's mother did not vomit that night. Arkay stayed over that night with him in the Hospital. Akash became more and more terrified in life. On one hand it was his mother and on the other hand it was his attendance, which was lacking now. At 8:00 the next morning, he went to attend his Anatomy classes. Dr. Arun took the class and during the questioning session Akash could not answer some questions and he got the usual scolding. Akash who was still lost in his mother's thought and dazed because of staying awake the whole night did say anything but kept quiet. As soon as the classes were over he ran towards the Hospital; it was time for the rounds in his mother's ward. "What would he say? Would Dr. NB Singh shout at us or my mom for occupying his bed?" these thoughts raced in his mind as he raced towards the Hospital's Surgery ward.

He waited near his mother's cabin. The team of doctors came for the round one after the other. Finally Dr. NB Singh's huge frame appeared in the corridor followed by his team and Akash's fear plummeted. One bed after the other the team near their bed. Then he asked, "Who is in that Cabin?" "New admission, a case of Hematemesis with splenomegaly-possibly variceal bleed. But it is an old case of Dr. Amarjit. They could not get a bed that side…. so." Then he looked at them and saw Akash standing so timidly in the corner. "Aren't you our student?" It was unusual for a clinical teacher to recognize a first year student. It was Akash's performance near and on stage that made Dr. NB recognize him. Akash nodded, "Yes, Sir. She is my mother." Dr. NB then ordered for the file and called Akash also into the cubicle." This looks like a case of portal hypertension and we need to do shunting operation. Can you go to AIIMS?" Akash could not believe his ears and he said, "Yes, Sir." Finally Akash could see a ray of Hope.

To be continued....