A New Voice in the Quarters - Ammini & Ramchandra - Part 7 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child
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'AHH AHHH AHHH ', the pain had started to get very intense and Ammini woke up her husband after she really couldn't bear the pain anymore. The entire night she had felt the onset of the contractions, but being the woman she was, she had known that the pain would be intense and her body was prepared for it. The doctor at the Military hospital who had examined her in her eighth month had explained to her when her contractions would be real and when the ideal time to come to the hospital would be. The grounds where the soldier's quarters were located were a few hundred meters away from the hospital, so Ammini knew that she wouldn't have to travel a long distance when the baby-to-come decided to arrive.
Ammini was not used to staying idle and had worked as usual during the day. She had cooked all the meals for the house while her husband's sister Subhadra had swept and mopped the tiny quarters. Her mother-in-law Devaki had cut the vegetables and had tried to get the heavily pregnant Ammini to sit down. Just at the end of the day, Ammini had lain down and in a minute or two she felt the first sharp and painful contraction. She had managed her pregnancy so far without spending too much time around doctors and she only wanted to get to the hospital, give birth and get out with her baby. She didn't like hospitals one bit. Everyone she'd known who had entered one, had died in there. So, she had plans to spend any longer than necessary in a hospital. She waited till she couldn't wait anymore to wake up her husband Ramchandra.
They were expecting their first baby. They had joyfully announced it to Devaki Amma and Subhadra and the rest of the extended family many months ago. Having studied basic animal husbandry, Subhadra had proudly predicted the exact day of birth of the baby based on the date of Ammini’s last periods. Ammini of course hadn’t really believed her. The young girl however was absolutely sure and asked Ammini to place a bet on the date. Ammini was certain that there was no way that this could be an exact science and so without blinking an eyelid, she bet her only gold ring. Ammini was equally sure that the chances that the birth would happen on the day Subhadra predicted, was highly unlikely.
Right now, Ammini had no time to think of what today’s date was, as she and Ramchandra woke Devaki Amma up to tell them they would walk slowly towards the hospital. Devaki Amma quickly got ready and joined them. They locked the door from outside, letting young Subhadra continue to sleep undisturbed. Once outside, they spotted some movement in the neighbour’s home and informed them that they were headed to the hospital. As they walked to the hospital passing the grounds, Ramchandra held Ammini's hand. They stopped whenever Ammini was in discomfort and Devaki Amma started to pray. They made their way past the wall that separated the living quarters and the medical facilities and entered the hospital lobby. Ammini was quickly wheeled away on a wheelchair and Ramchandra and Devaki Amma found a place to sit in the waiting room. Not very long after a nurse came out to inform them that the baby was born. It was a boy and both Ammini and he were doing very well. Devaki Amma walked behind her son and they entered the room in which Ammini was resting. Right next to her chest was a baby who had the cutest face and lots of black hair. His skin was milk like and he was fast asleep. Ammini smiled as Ramchandra held the baby in his arms and then he passed him to his mother. Rajshekhar was the name Ramchandra had proudly chosen for his first born.
The next morning when Subhadra woke up, she was more than surprised to find the house empty but for her, and locked from the outside as well. The neighbours spotted her from the shared wall of the quarters and yelled out to her that the family was in the hospital for the delivery. Not very long after, Ramchandra returned home beaming with the joy of being a new father. As soon as Subhadra heard that a little boy had been born past midnight, she could not contain her delight. “It’s the 18th of August” she exclaimed! “I knew it! I knew it! Now Chettathi owes me her ring!”
Ramchandra looked at her pleadingly, “Subhadra, as it is your Chettathi has hardly any jewellery. She only has one ring. Let her keep it, please. You have so many things. And you'll have your own ring someday soon". Subhadra smiled and decided that her brother was right. And anyway, the most important thing was that her prediction had been right.
Devaki Amma was cradling the little boy when Ramchandra and Subhadra reached the hospital a few hours later. “To think that we have this little gift just three weeks after Shreedevi and Appukuttan had their first baby,” she commented, referring to Ammini’s and Ramchandra’s siblings who had got married at the same time and place as they had. “First Vineeta, now Rajshekhar.” Devaki Amma took the names of her grandchildren with great pride and thanked the Gods for her growing family.
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You can also read the first 6 chapters here
The day they met
How my Daddy met my Mummy - Ramchandra & Ammini - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child
Read the second story of their wedding day here
My parent's Guruvayoor wedding - Ramchandra & Ammini - Part 2- The Chronicles of the Youngest Child
Read about how Ammini settles in
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