Escape

It was a sunny day. Clouds moving away quickly, and the warm breeze passing, stroking the leave slowly. The sensitive petals withered while the buds stood thirsty, waiting for drops of water, to be shed on them.

The sound of the lawn mower woke the little babies in the gynecology department, making them all cry and shriek. The mothers panicked whike trying to feed them and put them back to sleep. Meanwhile the hospital staff began to shut all the windows and doors tight.

A few days had passed already. And Inaya was in search of peace. Inaya had no ability to share her worries and past. All the sessions continously failed as opening up turned out to be difficult. Inaya's pregnancy was a news to everyone in the hospital. People pitited her. Especially when she goes around for a walk or to eat when she gets bored accompanied by her nurse. That added more to her anxiety.

The panic attacks did not stop yet she could not utter a word to her doctor. Dr Maya brought the police to her. The police had filed a case but it was futile as she had given the word that she does not know the person who did this to her nor remember any detail except waking up on the river banks.

"I really cannot recall who it was.. all I remember is something happened to my family but I don't seem to remember what exactly happened either. I remember I cried watching them," she stopped with this.

"We do not practice abortion in this hospital, the law is also strictly against abortion. I don't think there is any other way Inaya. We cannot abort the child. You have to give birth, and look after the baby," Dr Maya told her, with the hospital authorities standing along with her.

Inaya cried. "I'm only 18 years old. Why are you forcing me to become someone I don't want to.. I will not even be able to feed the child. I don't have a house, food to eat three times a day, a bed, a piece of cloth, how can you expect me to bring up this child then," Inaya asked back.

But Inaya was sure she has to escape.

"We will find a way for you," Dr Bow assured. His kindness were just words though.

Inaya sat down in the cafeteria, looking out some the glass walls. The people walking outside looked so dull just like her. Unwell and going through a lot of pain.

"Shifting Inaya to an orphanage would be better," she heard the discussions of the police and hospital authorities. "Any convents. So sisters and mothers would take care of her." Inaya knew nothing about convents.

"What are convents?" She asked a janitor. "They are run my Christian missionaries, they serve good and help people who are I need. They are very strict though. They will watch your every moment," Inaya was told.

"No, I cannot go there," Inaya decided "And I don't want this child."

That night, when Dr Maya and Dr Bow who are in charge of Inaya went home after their duty, she waited for the rounds to get over by the duty doctors. The nurses appeared to be busy with other patients. Inaya's fruits were kept covered in a bowl. She took them with her and a bottle of water. She tiptoed and stepped out the general award. She avoided the elevator and took the stairs. She walked all the way down to the ground floor from the fifth floor. "Inaya be careful," she kept telling herself. She had no money was wearing only the pajamas hospital provided her with.

Inaya used the face mask to not get identified and she ran through the front door when the receptionist was looking away. She ran to the main gate. There were many cabs waiting outside the gates but Inaya knowing well she doesn't have a penny with her chose to walk than hail a cab.

Inaya walked and walked till it was dawn. She was tried. The flip flops in her feet was fully dirty. Inaya tied her hair up and sat in front of a grocery store. A man walked out.

"These expired yesterday and some of them will exprie today, no body is going to buy them. Have if you want," he said and handed out some gimbamps and veg rolls. Inaya devoured it in few minutes. She was that hungry.

"Can I get some water?" She asked the old man. He handed her a bottle of water and asked her to leave before people begin to come.

"Thank you, thank you," Inaya kept thanking him and left. She wondered where to go. She cried again. "Why do I feel like this? Why do I have to go through all this ?" She kept asking to God.