Intercepted

2

Sarah and her team landed on the army's airport, on a hot and windy day. They realized that there was on one to receive them there. The aircraft left after dropping there in the middle of nowhere.

After waiting for an hour, some army men came and picked them up.

Their accommodation was near an old school, which was converted into an army hospital.

The facilities were really negligible, with limited electricity, no clean water, the food items were scarce and limited, there was no air- conditioning or heating system. Thankfully they constructed proper washrooms before their arrival.

They came prepared for the Internet connection as it was, after all a lifeline for everyone. 

The arrangement was that of shared accommodation with at least 2 in each room, the washrooms, although attached, were just enough for basic needs. 

They sighed and got busy settling themselves as that's where they will be staying for the next 6 months. 

**************

Although they came prepared mentally for what's waiting for them nothing could have prepared them for what they experienced. 

Despite the government's promises, the infrastructure there was non-existent, medical supplies were very limited, electricity was a luxury, they had to travel by foot, however far the distance was...if something urgent comes up, the army might be of some use.

Sarah and her team were shocked to see the conditions of the local people there. 

People were dying due to common avoidable diseases, the infection rates were high ...it could all have been prevented only if they were provided with clean water supply. 

The pure water supply was under the control of rebels...hence the citizens were suffering. 

The previous hospitals and clinics were targeted specifically by the rebels, in an attempt to bring the government on its knees, but the government was equally callous. 

They made it quite clear, whatever the situation is, they will never give in to the rebels. The common man was at the receiving end of all the chaos going on. 

Schools were shut...there were no jobs ...no money...no food. 

The ones most suffering in this mayhem were the small children. 

It was disheartening to see such a waste of human lives.

The team had a little town in their care, although the people were somewhat educated because they were doing well before the war started. However, the poverty and lack of facilities pushed them back into stone ages.

The rebels were fighting the government for power.

The rebels mostly hid among the civilians and carried out their tasks from inside, as it was safer for them that way. 

They wanted to topple the current government, which was cruel and corrupt.

But the current dictator's family ruled the country for the past 3 decades and it was not as easy as they believed to dethrone it, they had a military, navy and other forces in their control. So the country was thrown into a civil war and the ones suffering were the civilians. 

The government bombed their own people and killed civilians, whenever they find any evidence or the slightest idea of rebels being hidden in a locality, or civilians supporting them. It has taken a zero-tolerance policy towards rebels and their supporters. 

Sarah found it impossible to believe how low human beings can stoop, for the power-hunger. The mounting bodies every week were taking a toll on her sanity. 

Her team got sick repeatedly due to poor water quality and limited food supply. She herself was losing weight quite rapidly. But that didn't stop them from doing their duty.

Eventually, they realized that however badly they want, they cannot change the fate of these people. But what they can do is, to help in whatever best possible way they can. 

So they decided to educate people about the importance of clean water and how to clean the water at home. 

They also taught the basic first aid to people who visited the camp and also advised them to spread this knowledge to their family and friends. 

Sarah's day started at 7 in the morning and continued up to even 12 in the night. She spent her days in conducting surgeries, educating people and helping her colleagues. 

3 months passed like this.

Her knowledge and compassion created a remarkable place for her among the locals and her team. Her nonstop energy to help others also inspired her team.

They were left in awe when they saw her dedication towards her profession. 

She quickly made a name for herself and she got quite popular among them. 

But she was repeatedly warned by the army and other locals to be careful from any rebels which might be hidden in the disguise and helping the rebels in any way could prove very dangerous for herself and the team. 

The government was only becoming stricter and unforgiving where the rebels were concerned. 

But Sarah's profession hasn't taught her to differentiate people based on their beliefs and ideologies. 

**************

One night Sarah got delayed in surgery and she was left alone in the facility. 

All her colleagues had already left the premises, so she eventually decided to walk alone to her accommodation.

The path was dark and muddy, although she was carrying a night lamp it wasn't much of a help.

Suddenly, she was surrounded by a few people dressed in black. They were carrying guns and motioned her to follow them. 

She was alone and didn't carry anything for her self defence, that put her in a very vulnerable position. 

Sarah wasn't expecting this, as this was her first encounter of such type. 

Despite being terrified and s**t scared, she decided to reason with them.

' Please, I am a doctor here, I am not related to the government or rebels. I am here just to help the local people ..I don't even have money. Please let me go. '

'We know you are a doctor, we need your help in treating one of our men ', one of them said. 

Their faces were covered, the only thing she was able to see were their eyes.

'Please, bring him to the hospital, I have very limited instruments with me right now, I can treat him better in the hospital ', she offered.

'Listen Dr, if you want to stay alive, follow us and treat him with whatever you have available. ' They blindfolded her and pushed her. 

After walking like forever, they removed the black cloth from her eyes and she found herself, standing in front of an abandoned building engulfed in darkness. 

She was shaking out of fear for her life.

After some time she was taken to the supposed patient, he was lying unconscious in a pool of blood. They bound his stomach to avoid anymore bleeding, Sarah was glad to see that. He had multiple bullet wounds on his stomach.

When she examined him, she found the all the vital organs were safe and bullets were in non-vital space, although his intestines were injured. 

She sterilized her instruments with the help of fire and boiling water and began operating him. She removed the bullets carefully and sutured his abdomen. 

After, finishing it she advised him bed rest for a few days to avoid breaking the sutures.

'Doctor, he better survives, otherwise, you also won't be able to live any longer ', their head warned her.

'I have done my best, his chances of survival are good, provided he avoids infecting his wound ', Sarah replied tiredly, after the night-long surgery.

'Listen, Sir, I really need to return, its almost morning. The army will start searching for me if I go missing for long. And moreover, you can call me if he develops any complications. ' she tried all her cards at the same time. 

She was desperate to leave from here, her gut's intuition was screaming danger !!

'You must not tell a soul about this night, otherwise, the consequences would not be good for you, doctor. We will hunt you down and kill you very painfully ', they threatened her. 

'Ok... I...I understand', Sarah said. 

'Please let me go now '.

She was desperate to return back to the safety of her dormitory and company of her roommate. 

They nodded to each other and blindfolded her again and left her near where they picked her. 

After some time, she removed the cloth from her eyes and found herself in front of the hospital. 

She thanked her gods and headed for her room. 

Her roommate was worried sick about her and when she saw Sarah drenched in blood, she imagined that she must be busy with a patient and didn't bother her much with details. 

Sarah was unusually silent. This incident had shaken her. She was afraid of the locals after this episode. 

She had served and helped them for the past many months and today's incident made her aware of the ungrateful nature of humans and fragility of their lives.

Sarah had operated the whole night in that abandoned place, that left her tired, mentally and physically. She knew she cannot afford a day's off here. The patients' line would have already started in the hospital and they would be waiting for her. 

She got ready again and left for the hospital.

When she reached, It was unusually busy outside the hospital. Upon entering, she found it was full of the injured army men. 

She heard someone mentioning rebels attack on the army base, while she was examining a soldier. 

That attack had left multiple casualties and numerous wounded soldiers. 

That left her paralysed with shock.

So the person whom I operated yesterday, was injured in this attack and he was a rebel! 

She had helped the rebels! 

She began sweating on an air-conditioned room.

She wanted to tell the army superiors about her accident, but their threats were still fresh in her mind.

She was too afraid to do or say anything.

Eventually, she decided to let it go and dismissed the idea of telling anyone about the last night's events. 

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