Birthday

Radha and her husband Mohan were going out for dinner. They had many reasons to celebrate, It was Radha’s birthday, also New Year’s Eve and they were going to welcome their first child anytime now. Radha was always a cherubic person brimming with energy, which was unaffected by the pregnancy. This thought brought a smile on Mohan’s face. He loved and adored his wife. As Radha got into the front passenger seat, Mohan locked the doors of the house and sat in the driver’s seat and started the car. She did not put the seat belt as it made her uncomfortable. Anyway, the restaurant was not too far off, it was about 20 minutes' drive. The road was not well lit but it would join a bigger and double lane road, few meters away.

As he was driving lost in his thoughts, he missed to see a pickup van coming from opposite. He applied sudden brakes and the car stopped with a sudden jolt. It was a very powerful jolt and Radha’s body shook up dangerously. Mohan asked her,” are you alright Radha” there was no response. He shook her and repeatedly asked the same thing over and over “are you OK?” and she did not respond. He got very anxious and rushed to a near by hospital. He regained his calm only after she was wheeled into the emergency room.

The ER which was till then quiet, was suddenly abuzz with activity, doctors were moving in and out. Finally, Mohan was informed that Radha’s condition was critical due to an injury to a sensitive part of the spine at the neck region and they were planning to put her on ventilator and get the baby delivered by C-section, to save him in case Radha’s condition further deteriorated. They took signatures of Mohan for undertaking the delivery. Everything was done very quickly and carefully. Mohan’s family rushed to his side and by late night Radha delivered a boy. There was no hope of her survival, yet they decided to keep her on ventilator for couple of days more.

Mohan’s mother was sitting on a bench outside ICU with the newborn baby in her lap lost in thoughts. Mohan sat besides her and said, “ so fat luck had been on our side mom, though we did not have children for five years after marriage, Radha conceived by artificial insemination without much difficulty.

In spite of all the complications the delivery went on well and here is the boy, whose birth was no less than a miracle. I believe we are going to be lucky with Radha and she will survive. My faith tells me”. She held his hand, quietly giving him strength.

By next day afternoon Radha’s condition had improved and stabilized and finally she opened her eyes in the evening. She was in the ICU for more than 36 hours. It was no less than a miracle. In due course she was discharged and came home with the little baby boy.

Next year there was a grand celebration of just not one but three birthdays, on the New Year’s Eve. Radha was grateful that she had a new lease of life as a gift along with a baby boy. She was grateful to God for the blessings. Mohan and Radha decided to celebrate her and their son’s birthday in a different way. They decided to include, in the celebrations, a child from the orphanage nearby who happened to have his birthday on the same. day They would do the same every year. This was their unique way of thanking the God for his Grace .