Jai came to the Manipur Bhavan around 8 o'clock in the next morning. Both Akash and Jai boarded a bus from Malcha Marg until Dhaula Kuan and from there they caught another Ring Road Sewa bus to the AIIMS. At the gate of the Hospital Anil, another friend joined them. Then Akash took out from his pocket the address of Dr NK who was to help them out get admission in AIIMS. It was room no. 316 at RPC Hostel. They could locate the red building just in front of the Cardio-Vascular Department.

Someone back home had told these landmarks to Akash. The guard at the entrance of the Hostel allowed them after asking them several questions. Finally, they reached his room but found it locked and unlike RIMS in Imphal, it was a different situation. It was not just possible to trace Dr. NK in this big organization. Therefore, they were in a fix. Moreover, none of them had seen Dr.NK so they wondered how they could recognize him.

Therefore, they decided to hang on in front f the hostel and wait for him to return for lunch. Therefore, they sat down on the lawn and waited for a Manipuri looking doctor in apron returning to the hostel. The question was how they recognize him even if he came in front of them. They waited for anybody with the oriental look coming to the hostel. At the same time every now and then one of them would go up to the room to find out if by chance they had missed him and he had already reached the room. One hour passed and he was still nowhere to be seen. Akash had left a message at the door telling that they would be back by one o' clock.

Suddenly a man appeared from the CTVS side and all of them said in chorus, "Look, it could be him." But the problem was that he did not have an apron. Anyway, Jai rushed towards the man, stopped him, and talked to him. Akash and Anil saw them from far. Then Jai shook the man's hand and came back to them. "Oh it wasn't him but he was a Manipuri from Silchar. (A place in lower Assam where there was a small population of Manipuri inhabitants) he too came for his wife's treatment."

They waited for one more hour. Three of them were now hungry and they decided to go to the canteen at the corner by the side of the ring road. They had a burger each. Akash was restless inside thinking about the uncertainty of anything that could be happening to his mother. They would be helpless and would not be able to contact them in case of any emergency. They had asked his uncle to stay back until they come back. Otherwise, he was supposed to hunt for a cheaper accommodation at Yusuf Sarai area. The Manipur Bhavan accommodation was for a week only and they might not be given any further extension.

They then came back and went to Dr. NK's room and found that it was open. They all smiled and knocked at the door. "Yes, come in." the voice answered from inside. Dr.NK was Dr. RKL's friend. Akash knew the latter's family for many years now and Dr. RKL was a gem of a person and a real doctor if his temperament was concerned. He had written a letter to Dr.NK requesting him to send the detail procedure of attending Dr. Nandy's OPD. Somehow, they did not receive any reply. "So, you got my speed post. I had written everything in there. The OPD to be attended, the timing…."he began as soon as they enter the room.

"Tamo, we didn't get any speed post" Akash replied.

"What, Dr RK didn't give you any message, any letter. I went at night to post that letter at Safdarjung Airport." He went on. Akash was finding him and his philosophy very funny. Many things in life didn't just happen as one often wished. Moreover, how could anyone be so sure of the delivery of Speed post? He was so different from Dr. RKL. All of them, however listened to him and they noted down where they had to attend the OPD the coming Friday.

He then turned towards Anil and Jai and asked what they were studying at Delhi and the way he asked was very arrogant and carried the notion that you boys were here in Delhi wasting your father's money. This was the man whom they had all banked on -the only link to the big institute. They had heard that to even make a parcha in AIIMS they need to stand in the queue from 4 o' clock in the morning. And to be seen by the Consultant they needed to bypass many queues: one at the JR's level and then the SR's level. Many a patient would just be sent back with the advice to report back after 4 months.

Akash could not just do that and Dr.Nk was the only hope. Nevertheless, he did not like the way they were treated. Akash was struggling against all odds to make it until the finals of his MBBS carrier, become a doctor as soon as possible, and begin supporting the family. Jai and Anil were pursuing their studies with the minimal money their parents were sending and were unlike those students who would just while away their time and money striving to achieve many things in life. In addition, to be just clubbed together with any Tomba, Chaoba and Hongba (Tom, Dick and Harry) was not a good taste.

The three of them just came out in silence. "Anyway we got a lead." Jai was the first to break the silence. They then went back to Manipur Bhavan and reached there at around six in the evening. Akash's mom was all right. She in some strange way looked so settled. Was it the aura of the capital city or the hope rendered by the prestigious institute AIIMS or the unknown charisma of Dr. Nandy? Akash did not intend to know the answers.

It was just Tuesday and they had to wait until Friday for dr. Nandy's OPD. They do not see any patient at home. The Manipur Bhavan housed many laymen and non-official visitors in Delhi. One such man was Agangcha from Sekmai. He was such a pleasant man and had the gift of the gap. He would come to their room and tell interesting stories. He even had dreams with politics and was still hoping to become a Minister back home.

His talks were more of hawa than realistic issues. Nevertheless, the conversation did wonder to Akash's mom. She had started sleeping well and the most important of all she did not vomit out. However, the volcano inside Akash was still building inside. Were the burst vessels trying to pick up pressure to burst again? Would it be today or tomorrow; would it do so in their absence. These thoughts really bound him tight to the room; Akash could never go out for more than an hour.

After much wait, the Friday came and they all went to AIIMS. They could find out the small OPD room in the third floor of AIIMS OPD block. They submitted the referral from the Medical Board of Manipur Govt. to AIIMS along with the newly made OPD card. It turned out that Dr. Nandy himself saw mostly referred cases. But will he admit her not? Will they ask them to come after 6 months? Should they request Dr. NK to help them get admission?

These were the disturbing thoughts stirring in the minds of all of them waiting for the consultant. Suddenly the small frame of Dr.NK appeared and came near them. Akash greeted him and Dr.NK talked to his mother, "Ima, don't worry everything will be fine."

"Ibungo, (my son) will you help us get admission? Your brother Akash is too young to talk all these." "Don't worry, they will do that. I will come back again.

I have an emergency call," saying this he left, much to Akash and his mother's agony. If only he stayed with them until Dr.Nandy came. The wait was really long and tiring. Finally, a tall frame appeared from the lift door. He was a man in his forties and walked with a stoop and the apron hung from his left shoulder. He went inside the small OPD room and started seeing the cases: he was none other than the much-awaited Dr.Nandy.

To be continued....