" Call Subhadra Hegde from Oncology. She is the only one who might help us. "

Dr Hiranmay Ganguly declared.

Subhadra reached the OT complex of General Surgery.
Dawning in aprons and sandals, she stepped in.

" Was I summoned sir? "

" Dr. Subhadra, we have got a problem. We are terminating this renal cell carcinoma surgery for the day, because of unavailability of Bombay Blood Group.
There's a scarcity and we had arranged for three units. But it's seeming she'll require much more of it.

We called the bank, they said they cannot arrange for any by tomorrow. We cannot call off this surgery for long but. "

Subhadra listened to him carefully. And then looked at the head nurse.

" I'm ready to donate. Right now. "

The entire crew heaved a sigh of relief as Subhadra lay down on the table..

" Subhadra, your weight's alright. But your hemoglobin? "

" You just draw in blood, sister!! "

Head nurse nodded, and looked at Hiranmay.
" Just few days back she walked in for a donation of the rare blood group she's got, herself.

Her Hb was 9.5 then. I sent her back forcefully. "

" Goodness!! 9.5 won't allow blood donation. "

Subhadra almost shouted,
" What's wrong with you guys? If I, being a doctor care about myself first, this world is surely in for a doom."

" But if you suffer after this, we will be doomed much more.

Sir, I say, we postpone this surgery till day after tomorrow. I'm sure we will get two units by then. " , head nurse suggested.

The crew looked each other's face.

Subhadra got up and stared coldly at head nurse.
" What are you afraid of? Don't register that a blood transfusion as this has been done. You won't be doomed anyway even if I 'die' after blood donation. "

Head nurse stared sadly at her. She knew she had to do this now. This stubborn woman could otherwise prove harmful.

The woman, the patient's mother who got her blood, was clinging onto Subhadra for a long time now . Subhadra couldn't get rid of her at all. Someone had let the woman know that her daughter was alive only because of the blood she donated.

Subhadra's head was still swinging and she felt giddy. She had rested for almost an hour. Head nurse had constantly checked on her blood pressure and fed her plenty of water. Subhadra could only smile.

" Mad lady!! Why do you keep doing these to yourself? The entire hospital knows now, any adverse situation, Subhadra Hegde will be there for help. One day you'll fall devastatingly ill, and you'll get no one on your bedside. "

" Who told you all these mother? I donated just two units, the rest were already arranged. Don't worry ma! She'll be fine! " , Subhadra just wanted to leave now, her hands and feet were terribly shaking within.

" Subhadra didi, you are real god! Who does so much for us without a second thought? "

Even in the condition, Subhadra couldn't help her surprise. " How do you know my name?? "

" Who doesn't???
Everyone in this hospital does, almost.
You go around paying bills, you go around donating bloods, you go around villages in calamities, stay with them, eat with and feed them, you reach upto the government to give medical justice and help to us, you go to schools and check every child for free, you go to animal welfares and treat animals even, you feed every single beggar on the streets outside the hospital, you..... "

" It's alright, I feel like fainting. I don't know who all told so much to you about me. I mean it amazes me that we've never met yet someone cared to talk to you about me.

But I tell you, I'm no god. And that's way more than true. "

Subhadra left the place, almost stumbling.

' I maybe on the side of the angels but don't think for a second that I'm one of them. '

--

Naresh Tripathi had summoned the entire Oncology department for a lecture. Subhadra just wanted to puke on everyone's face. She knew she'd get all these after donating blood with that hemoglobin, but did she have an option? Could she just help a girl lie for days and ultimately die, just because blood of her group wasn't available?
Most importantly, when she wanted to live?

" Subhadra, you alright? "
Naresh Tripathi's voice hit her eardrum.

Though, at the moment, she knew she was seeing absolutely nothing..

Her body terribly shook, and her head twirled as if in a whirlpool.

Subhadra Hegde collapsed on the floor within seconds.

And blurted out one name before loosing herself completely.
The name that reigned her subconscious, even after so many years...

" Maanav..... "

--

Subhadra Hegde was kept under observation, with IV channels set. She was still unconscious.

Standing beside her bed, Kunal Verma observed Ravi from the corner of his eyes.

And then whispered after a cough,
" I thought you disliked her, brother! "

Ravi looked at him, quite sternly.
" And what made you change the notion? "

" The way you picked her up and carried her in your arms. "

" Anyone with a tinge bit of humanity would have done that. "

Kunal shoved, " Seems you were the only human in the room. "

Ravi Sanyal grew extremely serious after this.

A word rang through his brain though.

Maanav?

' Saudade : a deep emotional state of nostalgic longing for an absent something or someone that one loves. It often carries a repressed knowlege that the object of longing will never return... '

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