The streets weren’t safe after dawn.
“I cannot Amma. I cannot bear it anymore.”
Usha’s mother rushed towards the window and peeked through the curtains. It was twilight.
“Oh no Narayana,” she said anxiously.
Ravi had been pacing the room all this while and said,” come on Usha, let us go to the hospital immediately.”
Usha let out another scream.
Their five year old son Nishant ran to her side. “Amma, why are you crying, is it hurting?”
“yes”, she whispered.
“Tell the baby not to trouble you till evening.” he said innocently
Usha weakly smiled, “it is not in my hands Kanna.”
Just then the sun started appearing over the horizon. There was pin-drop silence.
Then came a soft cracking sound. It was the earth outside. Slowly the land outside looked parched and cracks started appearing as if it was struck by a great famine.
Usha’s mother looked outside the window. ‘’They have started. See those cracks?” whispered Usha’s mother.
Thankfully the buildings never shook as their foundation rested very deep below. But the open spaces like gardens, roads, grasslands split open every morning.
“The chimneys!” cried Usha’s mother.
Ravi grabbed the long bamboo pole resting against the wall and dashed outside. Some of the neighbours too dashed out with their poles with a broad iron cover fixed at the far end to cover the top opening of the chimney lest snakes drop down chimneys seeking refuge from the burning earth. The option of using the chimney during daytime was ruled out completely.
“Faster!” someone shouted. “They are coming up.” Ravi sealed the kitchen chimney swiftly. Sweat trickled down his forehead although he had been outside only for a couple of seconds.
As he stepped into the house and bolted the door behind him, the ground outside was slowly swarming with all types of crawling and creeping creatures. He quickly placed a kettle of water and clean cloth beside Usha before wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Usha cried out again. The midwife Ammaniamma examined her again and exclaimed, “the baby will arrive within a few hours. I am staying here to help you. Calm down Usha and do not panic.”
Within minutes the city corporation‘s warning siren could be heard. It was to warn the residents to remain indoors till sunset. It was a scary sight for outsiders but for the older residents it was just another morning. From sunrise to sunset the vacant lands, gardens, parks, streets and lanes belonged to the reptiles, rodents and insects.
Nishant asked, “Patti, why do hospitals not open in the day?” His grandmother smiled and said, “they do function for patients who were already admitted before the sunrise. New admissions into the hospital begin after sunset just like your school and your Appa’s office.”
Nishant was listening as he watched his Amma scream with another contraction.
Ravi knelt beside Usha and said, ‘’I am sorry, I know it is tough but we have no choice and I cannot take you to the hospital now.’’
She looked at him through tears,” sorry for what? I feel safe with you beside me. With Ammaniamma around I know I am in safe hands.
Ammaniamma told Ravi, “Take Nishant upstairs. I will call you soon.’’
They could hear the scratching sound against the outside walls. Soon a strange smell drifted into the room.
The old neem tree outside had started releasing an unbearable smell of rotten eggs. Every tree in the neighbourhood did the same as the altered sunlight triggered the release of sulphur compounds.
They all covered their noses with masks.
Nishant asked, ’’Appa why don’t we cut all the trees down?”
Ravi remarked, “Nishant, the same trees will give us fruits, vegetables and flowers between sunset to sunrise.”
“What a funny world it is now. During my great grandmother’s time people went out during daytime and this place was normal as the other parts of the world,” Nishant’s grandmother sighed.
While inside, everyone had a prayer on their lips, the midwife boiled water and prepared for the delivery.
Outside, the city slept behind closed and locked doors. Schools waited for dusk. Banks, offices, hospitals, hotels and restaurants would open after sunset. Markets would open for night shopping.
As Usha’s contractions kept coming, the midwife was heard saying, ‘’push Usha, push, just one more push.” Usha screamed. And then came the cry of a newborn. There was silence. The midwife smiled and announced, “it is a girl.”
Tears rolled down Usha’s face. The midwife called for the father and brother and as Ravi took their tiny bundle of joy into his arms, he too had tears rolling down his face. ‘’We will call her Pratyusha.“
Usha smiled,’’ a child named after dawn?’’ Ravi nodded.
Nishant was mesmerised with the tiny baby, ‘’She is so tiny,’’ he said softly and kissed her forehead.
Outside under the blazing sun the streets crawled with reptiles, rodents and insects.
Inside the little house wrapped safely in her mother’s arms Pratyusha slept unaware that she had been born at the most dangerous hour of the day.
GLOSSARY
Amma: Mother
Appa: Father
Patti: Grandmother
Kanna: loving nickname in Tamil
Narayana: Lord Vishnu
