Chapter 1
"Ladies and Gentleman, Captain Katz here we have been cleared to Land at Chennai International Airport as we start our descent, please make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position..." Mirza wakes up- looks at his watch 1230 am - I have slept 8 hrs straight thanks to the luxury of first class - he thinks, brings his seat to upright position - stows away his gadgets - picks up his cell phone and begins to unlock it when the stewardess passes by and asks him to turn it off for landing - he waits for her to pass by and continues to unlock the phone and looks the screen saver image - a selfie of his wife, he smiles and thinks she must be fast asleep, that is if they let her sleep, a smug conceited smile curls his lip as he recalls the night before his trip to Canada -
Flashback: 10 pm at his residence : 4 days ago
Mirza walks into the bedroom sipping red wine, watches Jo reviewing files, and packing them in his briefcase - "there you go " she said - "all done - proof read and finalized - now your job is simplifed, one more signature, it will be a done deal" A visibly upset Mirza walks towards her saying " but I don't want to go, I don't want to leave you in this stage, I have asked Iqbal to complete the task" she slowly waddles towards him saying "but this is a security breach issue - we can't have others involved - just imagine if it leaks to the press, ... shaking her head she starts off with her explanation ... ending with "that's why"
Mirza is completely mesmerized by her, walks towards her thinking -Yeh Kudha, even after 3 years of marriage I still go crazy and weak every time I see her - he hugs her, "bas mere jaan, you are my boss, I can't say no to you. have l told you how cute you look when you are upset" kissing her neck and shoulders - his hands encircling her large belly - caressing her, pulling her tight against his chest - as his hands slowly wander up, passionately whispers in her ear " I love you jaan" turns her around, kisses her soft pouty lips stops holds her by her shoulder - looks deep into her eyes saying "what happened, why is my love tired today??" she leans her head on his chest - pouts saying "because of you I am in this state and your babies are just like you they become extra active at nights moving around all night" -she turns around grabs his hands and places them on her belly - he literally feels them move from left to right - his eyes gets teary with emotions -slowly sits down and places soft kisses on her rotund belly - saying "rest little ones, don't trouble my wife, your ammi blames me for all mischief you guys do...we are waiting for your arrival" then looking up at Razia, smirks and says "I am also having difficult time na, I can't sleep because she keeps tossing in bed, she gets really moody - wakes me up at 3 am saying she is hungry, makes me drive around town wanting to eat vada paav..." pushing him lightly says, " I am not talking to you" making a angry face starts walking away when grabs her in a tight hug, kissing her neck, slowly his lips start pushing her night gown down her shoulder, scoops her up and carries her to bed saying "stop fighting with me and give me love to carry me through the the next 4 days I have already started missing you"
... a sudden jerk forward and screeching tires bring him back to reality ... Landed safely-he feels a deep ache in his chest - I miss her terribly, I need to get back home, no more spontaneous travel till my babies are born -closing his eyes he continues to recall the passionate time spent with his pregnant wife.
Cleared customs quickly and looks around for his staff, no one was around, takes his phone to call Iqbal when he realized his phone was still on aeroplane mode. Switches it back - hears multiple pings- sounding like church bells - as his phone updated the texts/emails - about 20 texts that read "Critical emergency need of universal blood donor for two infant babies - please call - Apollo children's hospital -as soon as possible" his phone was bombarded with the same message over 20 times - he checks the time 0200 am - she will be sleeping - but that lqbal where the hell is he that idiot - -- he calls and texts lqbal and is unable to reach him, must be drunk and passed out thinks as he leaves a voice mail saying - "lqbal idiot, where in hell are you man, arrange for a jet to pick me up from Chennai International at 530am today"
A frustrated Mirza is stuck in Chennai at least till the morning he did not want to disturb any of his local staff, decides to go ahead to the hospital to donate blood. He calls the hospital and gives them a heads up, hails a taxi and leaves the airport - Mirza is a registered universal blood donor and has donated blood on multiple occasions - saved many lives - A facet of Mirza that no one except lqbal knows. Suddenly Mirza remembers his Ammijaan was in Chennai as well - she had come for her nephew's wedding - mirza hates his mother's brother and family as he had grown up witnessing the way they ill treated his mother and did not want to have anything to do with them - Ammijaan has a very kind forgiving heart , not me- thinks to himself "i should call her before I leave"
Reaches the hospital, walks towards the reception desk when a young doctor comes running toward him saying "thanks sir for coming at this unearthly hour - the babies are in dire need of blood - they were born prematurely" - They quickly walk towards the NICU - the doctor continues to explain " your blood type is in the system already and is a 100 % match - they are lucky babies" Nirza says " Lucky yes, my flight to Mumbai was cancelled last minute and in 15 minutes forced myself on the last flight of the day leaving for India, thus Chennai happened " he smirks and recall all the tactics he used to be able to get on the flight- the doctor agrees -
They walk towards the incubator - Mirza hears weak cries, looks and sees two tiny babies lying facing each in one incubator, amongst wires, - Mirza is surprised - the doctor explains, "they are twins almost 3 hrs old, the wires monitor their heart and breathing, we have them together as they start bonding in their mothers womb and rely on each other, we are trying to make a near womb experience for them" Mirza is humbled, he reaches into the incubator touching them, they stop crying - and one baby reaches out grabbing his pinky finger tightly - while the other baby opens his eyes and looks directly at Mirza - this stirs in Mirza a new emotion, he felt like he was looking into familiar eyes, slowly withdraws his hands, he had to use his other hand to unclasp the little baby's fingers" with tears in his eyes tells " quite strong for being this tiny" smiles and continues " my wife is pregnant with twins too, just completed her 7 month - we do not want to know their sex, we'll take what Allah gives, this is a touching experience, I am even more eager and am looking forward to my own"
The doctor continues saying "unfortunately, their mother was involved in a traumatic accident is unconscious and fighting for her life, your hands are the first non hospital hands to touch them, we don't have any information about their father or family, one nurse heard her say "Mohammed" so we call them the Mohammed twins -but one thing we know for sure, they do not share the same blood type with her..." the doctor continues talking, -Mirza goes blank he could not hear a word of what the doctor was -saying as his mind reflects back - Razia always addresses herself as Mrs Mohammed -- an eerie feelings shoots up his spine, he breaks into a sweat - doctor sees this, pats him on his shoulders saying - "Sir, its ok, your wife is in Mumbai and this is Chennai, there are over 20000 Mohammeds in Chennai alone". Masking his concerns Mirza quickly moves away and says - "Yeah, I spoke to her before my flight took off" lets get this blood thing going as quick as possible - it is almost 3, I have an early flight to catch, will have to leave by 430AM, I can't miss this flight , I need to get back to my wife" rolling up his sleeves - he lays on the hospital bed, closes his eyes ready to donate blood.
Mirza feels an unaccountable sense of fear as the car pulls out from the hospital - sitting in the back of the vehicle, breaks into a sweat again, his hands and feet get cold, looks at the watch showed 0500 am, attempts to reach lqbal again, is unable to - then decides to call the Executive Director for Chennai Division - Mr Satyam, explains the situation who assures him "Sir, you go ahead to the airport and all necessary arrangements will be made" - heaves a sigh of relief , decides to text Razia as it was not like lqbal to ignore his calls and thinks, if she is awake, she will call me- - he pulls up her name to text her when he notices the texts she had sent that he missed reading in the slew of emergency texts he received regarding the critical donor need - Razia's text got buried and he missed reading it ...
first text : @ 4pm Hon, Ammijaan just called from Chennai, there seems to be a lot of family drama going on there - I should have gone with her for moral support"
Second text: @ 545pm "Just got a call from her brother - Ammi collapsed and has been taken to Apollo Cardiac Center in Chennai, is admitted to ICU - she is having a heart attack, she is all alone -I am trying to get there - when you reach Chennai, please call me"
Third text: @630pm - I am leaving to the airport to catch the 8pm flight to Chennai Please call me when you reach chennai - no matter what time, I will be waiting for your call - luv you lots and missing you, your baby jaans missing you too"
Fourth text: @830pm, Flight delay - will reach Chennai by 930pm, I know you will be fuming mad - don't worry, Dr Sneha cleared me - she asked me to be extra careful - Hon, don't be upset, not good for health, I have no choice - poor Ammijaan is sick and all alone there -will meet you at Apollo Cardiac center - call me as soon as you land -XOXOXOXO Luv razia...
Mirza quickly calls Razia's cell - goes directly to voice mail- he prays quickly "Allah keep them safe" - he asks the taxi driver to take him to Apollo cardiac center - his mind is going crazy - he can't understand why Razia takes such risks on her own, attempts to call lqbal again, no answer, Mirza then realizes he has not checked his email since he landed, quickly opens he emails - over 100 emails in his inbox - lqbal had sent him one that read -Mirza, I have to leave for a family emergency - will explain when I get back, you know in the village, I don't get any cell coverage -will call as soon as possible" the email was sent around 2pm
comment:
p_commentcount