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Devadasi
Chapter Listing
Chapter XXII
As Meena's date of confinement came nearer, pleasure and anticipation gave place
to a sense of anxiety. There was no hospital in that small town and in any case
in those days no one thought of going to a hospital for such an every day
occurrence as a child-birth. An old woman who acted as midwife by virtue of
long experience, came and examined Meena and gave her advice.
' You are small made and you may have difficult delivery,' she said. ' But
don't worry. I will look after you. Send for me as soon as the pains start.'
But when the pains started, there was no one in the house, as they were
somewhat premature. Udayar had gone to Achipatti and Muthu had gone for a bit
of gossip with her cronies at the temple. The servant girl rushed around to
fetch Muthu and then the midwife. By tie time the midwife came, the pains were
coming in a slow but regular motion. And they were gradually increasing in
intenslty.
' It will be a long time yet I am afraid,' the midwife announced. ' We just
have to wait.'
Meena moaned and groaned, but managed to smile at her mother, ' Have you sent
for him ? ' she asked.
' A man's presence is pointless at a time like this,' the midwife laughed. ' He
has done his part; now you must do yours.'
No one laughed at her crude humour.
But the midwife continued. ' Wnat you need is strengtn and will-power. He will
only be in the way.'
' Please send for him ' Meena implored. ' If he is here, it will give me
strength.' So Muthu despatched a servant to bring Udayar back from his village.
In the hot stufly room, Meena perspired and cried. Her mother fussed about
solicitously, but the midwife scolded sharply, 'Don't you fuss so much! Anyone
would think that having a baby was an unusual event by the way you go on. You
shouldn't worry about a bit of pain.'
' But don't you think it has been going on far too long ? ' Muthu asked
anxiously.
' Some take longer than others, particularly if they are small made,' replied
the midwife. ' I have known it go on for one and a half days before the baby
was delivered. There is really nothing to worry about.'
Evening fell; the little oil lamp was lit. Muthu stood by and held her
daughter's damp hand and wiped her forehead with a towel.
' It is still a long time yet' the midwife announced after a cursory
examination. ' We just have to wait.'
Udayar arrived at ten o'clock. He was not allowed to see Meena but she was told
about his arrival. She brightened visibly on hearing it and strength which was
ebbing seemed to return. ' I will be all right now,' she whispered.
Udayar could hear her groans and it made him wince. ' She is suffering
Ganapathy, and there is nothing I can do about it,' he told his faithful
servant.
' Women are born to suffer during child-birth sir,' Ganapathy philosophised.
' That is how God has ordained.'
But he was an older and a more experienced man than his master. He went and
asked Muthu how long the pains had been going on and how Meena was feeling. He
also questioned the midwife.
' With her body, naturally it will take a little more time and trouble,' the
midwife said.
' But is there any sign ? ' Ganapathy persisted.
'No', said the midwife.
Ganapathy was worried. He knew Meena was weak and wouldn't be able to stand the
strain for much long. He went to his master.
' I have a suggestion to make sir,' he said.
' What is it ? '
'In the outskirts of She town, there is a white man who gives medicines to
people. They call him a "doctor" and they say he is very good. ;May be we should
ask him to come and have a look at Meena.'
' Anything to stop this agony and ensure a safe delivery,' 8aid Udayar. ' Let's
go and bring him.'
' There is one problem sir,' said Ganapathy. ' They say that the people whom he
treats have to join his religion.'
Udayar paused. ' How can he do that ? ' he asked. ' We are born Hindus. We don't
want others to become Hindus. So why should he want us to become Christians ? '
' It seems their religion is like that sir.'
Muthu, who had been listening, spoke now. ' Please bring him,' she pleaded.
The midwife grumbled and said they were making a lot of needless fuss, but
Udayar and Ganapathy were off, in spite of her protests.
As they were on their way, Udayar remarked ' How can we have a man attending on
her, Ganapathy ? '
' At a time like this, saving her is the most important thing sir,' replied
Ganapathy. ' I don't trust that midwife. Meena has been in considerable pain
and there is still no sign of delivery. And all that the midwife can do is to
tell us to wait.'
' Yes, you are right.'
The doctor who came was a middle aged Englishman, a medical missionary who had
recently established himself there. He brought with him not only his bag of
instruments and medicines and an assistant, but also a bright kerosene lamp. He
examined Meena for a long time. By now, she was exhausted and only
semi-conscious. At last he came out.
' Are you the husband of the patient ? ' he asked Udayar in somewhat stilted
Tamil.
' Yes sir, I am the father of the baby.'
' I am sorry the baby is dead,' the doctor said. ' Perhaps, if I had been called
in earlier, I might have been able to save it. But now, it is too late. I will
however try and save the mother's life.'
Muthu started wailing and the midwife mumbled about these newfangled ideas and
that if only things had been left to her, everything would have been all right.
Udayar had never imagined for a moment that the baby would be lost. That now
Meena's life was also in danger, came as a great shock to him. He realised how
precious she was to him and prayed as he had never prayed before.
' Please do whatever is necessary to save her,' he pleaded with the doctor.
' It does not matter how much it costs.'
' It is not a matter of money, my friend,' said the doctor and went to work with
the help of his assistant. After what seemed ages, he came out.
' I am glad to tell you she is out of danger,' he said. ' But she has lost a lot
of blood and is very weak and needs careful nursing. It may be two or three
months before she recovers fully. I have given her some medicines and will come
again in the morning.'
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