The Scorpish g**g

Chapter 4

In an enjoyable mood they all came here. But Fate has some other plans. The call that came is not something interesting at all. It is from the hospital. Peter’s grandma has suddenly fainted in the kitchen. She lives two blocks away from Peter’s house. And she lives alone, a maid works there 6 hours per day. She came to the house and discovered her on the floor. Immediately she called an ambulance and got her admitted in a hospital. Now she called at Peter’s number from his grandmother’s cellphone and Peter received it.

Unfortunately Peter’s mother and father is out of the city now due to some business works. Peter could have gone with them but rather chose to stay here and enjoy with his friends. The maid takes his foods from his grandmother’s house and delivers here or he goes there often to have breakfast, lunch and dinner. So when Peter got the call he started to panic. The other three boys are standing beside the telephone and waiting to hear from him what happened.

Peter says, “We need to go to the hospital as soon as possible." 

Ross says, “What happened?”

Peter says, “Granny was found senseless at the kitchen. Ms. Catherine found her in this noon and took her to the Central Hospital.”

Elliott says, “When your mom and dad will be back?”

Peter says, “They’ll be back two days later.”

Jonas says, “We shouldn’t waste any time and get going now.”

Peter says, “Yes let’s go.”

Elliott says, “We’re going out to see if there’s any taxi. You lock the house first and then come. Ok?”

Peter says, “Ok, I’m coming.”

They are waiting at the main road for taxi. But unfortunately there is not a single taxi on the road. It is like a rule of the nature that when you will be in a hurry and you need a vehicle more than any other time, you will not find any. Such thing happened with them too.

Peter suddenly runs and knocks their neighbor. Erik opens the door. Peter says and elaborates everything swiftly. Erik does not make any delay to bring out his father’s car and picks up everyone to go to the hospital. Erik is in the high schools and lives the next door of Peter’s. He is a sensible boy in all regards. They reach at the hospital in 15 minutes.

Peter asks at the reception for cardiac ward. Then they go to the first floor and find his grandmother’s bed. His uncle, Mr. Ronald is standing beside her bed and she seems to be asleep. Looks like Ms. Catherine called him first. It was a good decision as an adult was needed to handle the situation perfectly. Mr. Ronald is turning the pages of a report file.

Mr. Ronald says, "Doctor said that it was a mild cardiac arrest and nothing more to worry about. But mom was quite good wasn’t she?"

Ms. Catherine says, "She looked all right to me too. Don't know how it happened."

Mr. Ronald says, "Doctor said that recently she went through heavy works and high mental pressure. Did she do anything heavy in the house?"

Peter says, "Yes she did. Last day she called me after the school to help her in the kitchen. She wanted me to set up her new boxes in the high shelves. The boxes were kept on the roof to get some sun. When I reached there, half of the works were done! I told her who did all these. Then she said that she was feeling bored so she did them herself slowly."

Mr. Ronald says, "Oh, mom! She hasn’t changed a bit. She could've called me either."

Ms. Catherine says, "I told her that I'd help her with those the next day. And now this happened! " 

Peter says, "When will she be able to go home?"

Mr. Ronald says, "Doctor said that she needs to stay the minimum length of three days. Then she will have to pass some tests and then go to home."

Peter and all others feel relieved after hearing these. This is not anything major or alarming.

Peter says, "When will we be able to talk with her?"

Mr. Ronald says, "Minimum 24 hours of bed rest is mandatory for her. Then doctor will come and check whether she's alright or not. After that we'll talk with her."

Peter says, "Ok, uncle."

Mr. Ronald says, "When will your parents arrive in the town?"

Peter says, "The day after tomorrow."

Mr. Ronald says, "Ok, listen up. You don't need to tell them about her now. They are far away and if they hear about mom's accident they'll freak out and do unnecessary tensions. So let them come, I'll tell them about all of these face to face. Then we all will be here when mom will get discharged. You got it my boy?"

Peter says, "As you say uncle. I won't tell them anything now."

Mr. Ronald says, "All of us can go to home now."

Peter says, "Ok. Is Ms. Catherine gonna stay here at night?"

Ms. Catherine says, "Yes, dear I will. You guys don’t worry. Everything will be okay very soon."

Peter says, "That's fine. We also hope so that she'll be back very soon."

Elliott says, "We may leave now. It's not good to talk much in this ward."

Mr. Ronald says, "That's the thing. Goodbye lads."

Peter says, "How longer will you be staying here?"

Mr. Ronald says, "Just till the visiting hours. And then I'll be heading home. I'll come here tomorrow morning again with breakfast. And Ms. Catherine was saying that your breakfast used to come from mom's home. So I'm gonna bring yours too and send it at your house."

Peter says, "Okay, please make a call at my home. I wanna come too. So I can take my breakfast from here."

Erik says, "You guys don’t need to bother. Peter will eat at my house. We're just the next door of Peter's."

Mr. Ronald says, "You must be Erik then. I heard about you from his parents. Never mind, what do you want Peter?"

Peter says, "I'd better have my meals with Erik."

Mr. Ronald says, "That's okay too. See you tomorrow Peter."

Peter says, "Goodbye uncle."

Peter along with his friends and Erik leaves the hospital at about 4.45 pm. Erik is still there if they don’t find any vehicles to return home. Although Mr. Ronald could drop them back but seeing Erik he was relieved too.

Peter says, "Very very thanks Erik for coming with us and staying. I'm sorry to disturb you."

Erik says, "C'mon man. Don't mention it. Besides neighbors are always there to help. Now let's get going." Erik drops them at Peter's home.

Four of them are having conversations in a low voice. Peter is pretty upset with whatever has happened. Especially she was totally fine and full of jolly just the previous day. He has a very close relationship with his grandma. She supports and motivates him a lot. From the very childhood, he is familiar with his grandmother's touch in every sphere of his life. If anything goes wrong, it is his grandma who figures a way out always. And today he cannot even have a talk with her.

Elliott says, "Hey bruh! She'll be fine. There are doctors, uncle and Ms. Catherine."

Ross says, "Don't be more upset man!"

Peter says, "I'm fine. It's good now that school is off. I'll get to visit her anytime."

Jonas says, "There you go. Now let's get the UNO cards out."

Elliott says, "Yes let's have a match. The losers will have to make coffee for all of us. And Peter will get some time to cheer up too."

Ross says, "Challenge accepted my dear. You better know the perfect recipe for a fresh coffee kid."

Peter says, "Ok, bring it on then."

At first Peter was really in a bad and low mood. But cordially he is cheering up with others and having a good time. They are gossiping between the UNO match. Almost all of us have felt our life in this way. If something bad happens, it is the friends who come forward like magic, they don’t even to anything planned. It just happens on the flow. Children often start for school with a disturbed mind, maybe food was not good or mother scolded or anything else, whenever they reach school they feel fresh among friends. It’s like a natural instinct for all. Same thing is noticed here.

Ross says, "What are you gonna do tomorrow morning?"

Peter says, "I have to visit the hospital."

Jonas says, "The visiting hour is in the afternoon I read."

Peter says, "What the heck! Now I have to wait till the afternoon!"

Elliott says, "C'mon don't be impatient. Rules should be followed and it’s good for your granny after all!"

Peter says, "Ok, I'd better wait."

Jonas says, "Let's get a visit at the school and checkout what kind of renovation is going on. Should we?"

Ross says, "Not a bad idea. Besides if our classroom is open we can fix our backseats then. What do ya' say?"

Elliott says, "There you go. Still thinking about new desks. You're not gonna change, being such a jerk."

Ross says, "Whatever you say, sitting behind those desks will create a different vibe."

Peter says, "Ok, fine. We can go there. We'll spend a good time roaming the back sides of the school."

Elliott says, "Ok if Peter says so. We're going to school without uniform guys. And Mr. Arnold won't be there to shout."

Everyone laughs at this. They stick to this plan for tomorrow morning. The play continues for a long while and at the very last Peter and Jonas wins. Ross and Elliott are set to make coffee now. Elliott is more frustrated because Ross is a very lazy kind of boy and he is sure that Ross does not know how to make coffee.

Peter says, “The coffee jar is at the top right shelf and the pot is just beside the oven. C’mon Jonas pass me the remote. Let’s chill a bit.”

Jonas says, “Catch it bruh!”

Peter and Jonas start to watch TV and on the contrary Elliott and Ross are in the kitchen with a view to making coffee. It does not need any saying that Elliott did most of the job and Ross did nothing but sniffing around. Then the coffee is served. Everyone enjoys enough. This was a complicated day for this g**g. But together they have faced all of it.

Peter is not that much upset now. He has been able to cope with the situation. Now it is time for farewell and prayer for a better day ahead.

Jonas says, “Goodbye Peter. Take care and don’t hustle around.”

Ross says, “See you tomorrow pal!”

Elliott says, “So same time same spot?”

Peter says, “Better be it. Same time and same spot.”

Elliott says, “And don’t be late to have your dinner at Erik’s”

Peter says, “You guys don’t worry. I’ll be just fine.”

Ross says, “Bring your camera tomorrow, will ya? We can get some nice shots in the woods.”

The back side of the school is totally full of green. It was a forest once. But now deforestation and urbanization has crushed almost 50% of the tress and 90% of the beauty. There were thousands of birds in this forest. When Peter got admitted into the kinder gardens, he saw deer in this forest.

Many people used to earn their livings depending on this particular forest. But days have changed. People don’t see this forest like once they used to see. The soil which was once under shade 24/7 are now heated by the sun in the day time. The forest was dark, like it had its own privacy. But now it looks like a torn bed sheet which is brush fired. Like holes everywhere. Sun shines are reaching the ground. It is really a matter of irony that people yet do not understand the value of trees.

The conditions of this place is ironic. But what the Scorpish g**g is going to face the next day is way more ironic. They cannot even imagine about the scenario that will happen in a few hours.