Young Love

"Doctors... emergency, emergency....." screamed Eshwar carrying Punya in his arms like a small baby, as he rushed into the hospital. Narmada was already in tears running behind them. Punya pleaded grandpa to let her walk, but he ignored her. Staff of the hospital came to their rescue with a stretcher and helped Punya lie down.

"Ma'am, doctors will examine the patient… please calm down. Can you kindly help me fill in the details of the patient in the form?"... asked a young lady who was dressed modestly.

Watching staff drive away Punya inside examination room, Narmada turned towards this lady in skepticism while Rishi came and put his hands around her.

"Doctor, please treat my granddaughter immediately" said Eshwar to the doctor who then walked towards them. "Don't worry, she's in best hands, trust me" assured the doctor who walked away with a gentle handshake.

Nurse behind the doctor asked everyone to sit down and wait for 10 minutes. Gowri patted Narmada on her back consolingly and she sat down to answer the lady to fill in the details.

A few minutes later, doctor approached Eshwar...

"Hello Mr. ...."

"I'm Eshwar"

"Mr. Eshwar, Nothing to worry. Your granddaughter has a sprain in her right hand with a light bruise near her wrist. Resting the arm under a wrap for couple of days should be good."

"Do we have to admit her in the hospital?" asked Narmada.

"Ice pack treatment will reduce the swelling, Nammu... No need to admit her" answered Gowri instead of doctor.

"Granny knows better than studied doctors like me"... Laughed the doctor...as he continued "I have instructed the nurse for Ice compression, half an hour later you can take her home."

"Can we see her?" asked Narmada.

"Of course, she's in the OP ward.... Sister guide them through" doctor instructed the nurse standing next to him.

"Thank you Doctor, Thank you very much" said Eshwar holding the doctor's hand, "I have done my duty... take care" wished the doctor as he left to attend other patients.

Nurse guided everyone along the long lane which had different rooms with boards and turned right to enter the OP ward. On fourth bed, a nurse was treating Punya with an ice pack in her hand, when they walked in. Punya smiled looking at them, she seemed unaffected.

"See, that's my granddaughter, she's brave enough" said Granny as she embraced Punya from left side.

"Is it hurting akka?" asked Rishi looking at Punya.

"No dear, not that much. I'm Fine now" said Punya touching his cheeks.

"Thank God..." sighed Narmada.

"Thank GOD..." exclaimed Punya, "Amma, I'm in pain and you thank god...that's so rude. Wait I'll complain to Appa" in disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e.

"Oh, we haven't informed Varun about this accident at all" remembered Eshwar.

"Ajja, don't call him... he'll be tensed. Driving all the way from city in tension is not good" said Punya.

"Yeah, she's right, Varun can't handle this calmly. In such cases, he's just like you" teased Gowri.

"Oh....Whenever anyone in the family does good, they're like you. If something went wrong, they're like me...??" sulked Eshwar.

Everyone laughed.

"Elevate your arm above your heart while sleeping" instructed the nurse as she wrapped Punya's arm firmly.

"Ma'am continue compression every 2-3 hours for 20-30 minutes like I did, just now. Buy these medicines at the medical store before you leave." said the nurse as she handed the prescription slip to Narmada.

A few minutes later, everyone walked out of the hospital. Sky had turned red as sun set at west.

"Amma, I'm hungry. Let's eat something" Rishi reminded everyone of hunger as they had skipped their lunch due to this incident. "We'll go to a restaurant on the way home. Get in to the car dear" said Eshwar as he rubbed Rishi's hair.

Varun rang the bell at his house a couple of times. He wondered why?! when there was absolutely no answer from Inside. "Oh, they have been for a picnic, I forgot" said Varun as searched his bag for a spare key.

He rested himself on the sofa after he entered the house. He closed his eyes to relax.

His family had gone out without him for the first time as he had forced them. He was unable to join them due to his busy schedule.

"Kids must have missed me in this trip, let me give them a surprise dinner" thought Varun. Immediately he put his thought into action. He headed to the kitchen wearing an apron to prepare ingredients for his dishes after freshening up.

Varun realized that he had spent almost an hour at kitchen when clock rang for 8 times. He took his phone and called Narmada in anxiety...."Where are you? It's 8".....

"We're at the right turn of our lane, will reach in couple of minutes".....answered Narmada.

"OK"... he hung up though he had a few more questions.

"How was the Picnic?"

"Dad, I ate Ice cream while coming"

"Good. How was Beach?"

"Nice... but I couldn't get into water"

"Why?? Didn't Mom allow?"

"No, Akka got hurt, so we had been to hospital"

Varun made him sit on the sofa and turned to Punya who walked in with her right hand wrapped in an orange colored bandage...His heart sank, "What happened Darling?" he asked as he put his arm around her shoulders and brought her carefully to rest on the sofa.

"It's just a sprain, don't worry" answered Granny instead of Punya.

"You and your Dad make a mole into a mountain" sulked Gowri as she went to freshen up.

"U never stop blaming me...." said Eshwar in a high tone so that his wife could hear and he relaxed in his easy chair.

"Nammu, what did doctor say? Did you get an X-ray?..... Are there any fractures?" Varun asked Narmada in anxiety.

"It's a sprain at wrist. Doctor has advised ice compression and rest for a week. There are few painkillers for a couple of days. Nothing to worry" replied Narmada and walked into her room to freshen up.

"It's a simple sprain Appa, don't worry. I'm Fine....You know your daughter is a lioness, I'm not fragile, relax" said Punya placing her head against his shoulders.

He smiled and kissed on her forehead "You're hiding your pain so I won't panic. Right dear?"

"No Appa, I'll be completely fine within a week...."

"OK, how did this happen?" he asked.

"A guy ran into me suddenly and I lost balance and fell on the ground resting my whole bodyweight on this hand, I even scolded that guy" explained Punya.

"Oh that's an accident, why did you scold that boy?" asked Varun.

Punya had seen the boy trying to get closer which enraged her but she couldn't tell that to her father "Well, because…he should know his surroundings while playing, he can't be irresponsible" she tried to cover up.

"Varun..., you prepared dinner for us?" exclaimed Narmada holding a container with Bisibelebath in her hands.

"Yeah, I wanted to surprise kids as I couldn't join them for picnic" replied Varun

"Oh, is it only for Kids? Ok then I'll prepare something else for us" said Narmada in a sulky pout.

Her cute expression attracted him towards her. "No, it's for all of us sweetheart" said Varun as he approached Narmada to hug her. She pushed him and headed to Kitchen smiling.

Gowri called everyone to assemble at dining table.

"I'll help Punya to eat" said Varun as he sat on her right side and took her plate into his hands.

"Amma, see how much dad loves me, you don't love me at all" complained Punya.

"She too loves you baby. In fact she loves you more than me, why did you feel so?" asked Varun.

"Appa...., Amma said Thank God when she saw me on the hospital bed. I was suffering from pain and how can she say that?" smirked Punya.

"I said so as it was a small hurt, not a fracture or something big as I had imagined. It was an expression of relief dear" explained Narmada.

"Oh, I'm Sorry, I mistook." said Punya putting her head down.

"It's Ok baby, you know whole family loves you" said Narmada in a convincing tone.

"Varun, Bisibelebath is very good..." complimented Gowri interrupting them.

"You can enjoy food in any case scenario... Right?" Grandpa teased his wife.

"It's actually good, Thanks for a sweet surprise" added Narmada with a contempt smile.

"My P.l.e.a.s.u.r.e Darling" Varun stood up and bowed at her dramatically.

Narmada Blushed and everyone at the table laughed.