Nightwatch“It’s time to take an ABG sample,” said Rahul. He went to fetch the things he needed. Then, feeling for the pulse at Vivek’s wrist with the fingers of his left hand, he deftly pushed the needle into the artery and withdrew it gently as the pressure of blood pushed the plunger back. Having obtained the sample, he quickly capped the needle with a rubber stopper as Zahi moved forward automatically to compress the artery with a cotton swab. Rahul rolled the small syringe between his palms in order to mix its contents uniformly with the anticoagulant that would prevent the blood from clotting before it was tested.
Dusk was falling as he returned with the printout, which he silently handed to her. Even as the shadows lengthened outside, he could see how wan her face looked, her eyes r
