MING LAN

Chapter Fifteen: Our First Baby

   “Keong. I think it is time.” My wife waits until I am done having breakfast before telling me. “I have to get prepared.” She goes upstairs, bathes, shampoo and cleans herself thoroughly. I wait for her in the room. I help her put on her pregnant dress and take out her bags to take along. “Bring our jackets along.” She reminds me.

    I walk Ming Lan down the stairs and tell Appa that I am taking my wife to the hospital. He touches her head and face, smiling at her, nodding his head. He calls the housekeeper telling her to be ready for the baby. We laugh hearing that.

    “Not so fast, Appa. Maybe afternoon, evening or night. Be patient, ok, Appa?” I said to him, he stands at the door watching us leaving the house, with the housekeeper standing behind him waving a little, smiling at us.

    It is cold at night in the hospital. I stayed with Ming Lan, making her eat her dinner. An hour later, her contraction begins again. It is time, the nurse said. She is pushed into the delivery room. I am always by her side, caressing her hand with my thumb, calming myself too.

    Half an hour later, everyone is busy by her side. The nurse coaxed her pushing and breathing properly, encouraging her, getting the right timing. I watch her push and push. Her face is all red, sweating. With her last push, she delivers a baby boy. Crying loudly in the nurse’s hand. I feel light and relief seeing that both of them are safe.

     Ming Lan just stares at her baby, breathing heavily, catching her own breath, sweating all over her face and body. Searching for my hand. She gripped it and kissed it. Putting it on her chest, sighing. “Thank you, Lord.” That moment really touched my heart. Both my wife and baby are safe. I am a father now.

    Ming Lan is tired after a day enduring the labour pain, remembering her leaving our house in the morning. I wipe off the sweat on her, comforting her, thanking and congratulating her for her safe delivery. I have to stand aside. The nurse is attending to her and another attending to the baby.

    I leave the labour room and take the chance to call home. Appa picks up his phone immediately. He must have been waiting anxiously since I last called home, after telling him that Ming Lan is already in the labour room.

    I told him the latest news slowly. I heard him shouts happily in the house, not sounding like his usual self. Reminding me to take care of his daughter at the hospital.

    “Appa! She’s my wife. I love her. I will look after her well.” He laughs hearing me say that. “Appa. Baby is fine. A healthy boy.” I continue telling him. My father seldom laughs. I heard him laughing again on the phone. A long laugh. I hope to hear him laugh more when I bring my family home.

    He reminds me to make sure Ming Lan is not hungry. “Let her eat something if she is not sleeping at night.” I can feel that he really loves his daughter, not showing it much to us earlier, and I love her too. Now I can see how my father cares for his daughter.

    Most of the mother and babies are sleeping, the place is quiet with nurses on duty at their place doing reports. Ming Lan is not sleeping yet. I pat her shoulder to sleep like before, with me sitting on the chair beside her. Remembering she had slept earlier as soon as she was wheeled out of the labour room on a wheelchair.

    I told her that I am going to buy some food for both of us. She asks for some porridge.

    The night is still young and restaurants are still open. I quickly buy our food and drive back to the hospital.

    Ming Lan is sleeping when I walk in. So is the baby. He is fair like my father, looking a little like his grandpa, chubby baby. I look at both of them sleeping with a feeling I could not describe. My tears roll down my cheek remembering all we have gone through in the labour room and in life.

    My mind goes on and on, back to the few years knowing each other, and now having a baby together. Oh, how I love you Ming Lan, my dear wife and baby. I am a father now and a proud happy husband. I have a son!

    Back home, with my wife and baby upstairs, Appa is in Ming Lan’s room practically every day. That was her room before we were married. Seeing Ming Lan and the baby with the nanny’s help. He asked me to place a chair there for him to sit and watch the baby by the cot.

    He hires the nanny through an old friend of his. The lady has agreed to take care of the baby and the mother for as long as she is healthy. It makes my father a very happy man that his daughter and grandson are in good hands.

    He regularly pats me on my back, to be a responsible father. I nod my head, understanding what he meant. I love my family too, not just you, Appa.

    I suggest a name for my son. Appa and Ming Lan agreed with me, naming our first child Ong Teck Huat.

    My son is a happy boy but cris at the top of his voice when he is not comfortable. His grandpa loves him very much. The nanny always hands over the baby in his arms after his bath, smelling nice and clean. He loves to hold the baby, patting him to sleep almost everyday in the room. Talking to his daughter and the nanny when the baby sleeps. He is indeed a happy man passing his days that way for a few months.