How Farheen was saved…

It was a regular day. Back from work and the students were already waiting. Freshened up, had something to eat and started teaching. Everything was as usual, giving lessons, checking homework, etc.

Suddenly in the hum of children’s voice came a shrill shrieking sound. I froze, the sound was full of terror!! I heard it again, this time calling my mom…”Bhaaabbbhiiiiiiiiii”

We rushed out, to the neighbour’s. She was holding her baby, little Farheen, almost lifeless, limp in her arms. “What happened?” my mom asked her. She talked incoherently. Tears flowing non-stop, looking at her child turning blue…..

He grabbed the baby from neighbour’s arms, my brother. Wrapped the baby in blanket, clutched her to his chest and ran down the staircase, barefeet.

Others were too stunned to react. After my brother was gone, some talked “too late”, “she won’t survive” and so on….

The lady, when she came back to her senses walked with my mom to the Doctor.

Farheen survived, brother said she gasped as he was running down the staircase, maybe all that hugging and running had opened up her lungs. “A little more delay and she wouldn’t have survived” were the doctor’s words.

She was playing in the washroom as her mother was doing the washing. Children are fascinated with water, almost always without exception. She was too, playing with her hands in the bucket full of water.

Suddenly, there was an eerie silence. Her mother sensed something and looked behind where Farheen was playing. She could see her two tiny legs pointing out of the bucket!! Bubbles rising up to the surface!!!

She hauled her out of the water with her legs, but she wasn’t conscious. Was already turning blue and hence the shriek……

Farheen had to be hospitalized for a week, to be kept under observation in case she developed any complications belatedly.

Quick thinking saved her life. The new lease of life has made her more livelier and she is growing up into a chatterbox.