As he entered the kids’ bedroom, he was pleasantly surprised to find both kids dressed in their uniforms. Nitin was struggling to tie his shoe laces while Nithya was stuffing her backpack with the books that she left out the night before after her homework.
“Nitin, you are almost eight years old. You need to learn how to tie your shoe laces. Otherwise, your friends will make fun of you,” Prashanth advised, while looping the laces. Turning to Nitya, he added, “You, young lady, you need to keep your back pack ready the night before. Anyway, run along now to the kitchen. Satyamma must have kept everything ready. We will leave in fifteen minutes,” said Prashanth.
As the kids bounded out of the bedroom, he quickly grabbed their sweaters from their closet and ran after them. He checked his watch quickly as he dashed down the stairs. If they followed the schedule, then they should reach the railway station on time. Smiling to himself for being on time so far, he sat down at the dining table with the kids on either side. Satyamma served them their breakfast. Soon they were on their way to the railway station.
“Is the doctor pretty, Daddy?” asked Nithya after a while.
Stunned at her question, Prashanth tried to remember the doctor’s face from the picture on the application form. He went through a lot of applications before zeroing on three doctors. Of the three, Dr. Mittur was the only one who agreed to join right away.
“I don’t seem to remember her face, Nithya,” said Prashanth still trying to recollect. “One thing I’m afraid is that she could be a very strict one because she served in the military,” added Prashanth.
“What is military, Daddy?” asked Nitin from behind.
Glancing in the rearview mirror quickly, he explained. “Military means a group of people who help and protect our country from bad people from other countries. They are made up of Army, Navy and Air Force.”
“You mean they are like police,” asked Nitin.
“Yes, but they are bigger than police. They help protect the whole country.”
Nithya suddenly remembered something. She turned to face her brother, “Nitin, do you remember when we went to Aunty Asha’s wedding anniversary party last year, there was a family there. You played with a boy…can’t remember his name. Anyway, you said that you liked that boy very much and wished he would be your best friend for life. You see… his Dad works in Indian Navy. He is a soldier in the military.” She felt proud that she remembered and was able to explain to her little brother.
“Yes, I remember. His name is Vikram. He was a nice kid. We had lots of fun,” said Nitin, smiling that he remembered that kid’s name after a year.
They drove in silence for a while, the kids looking out through the window and Prashanth looking at the road.
“How will you recognize her at the railway station, Daddy?” asked Nitin from behind.
“Oh dear! I completely forgot to look at her picture. I should have written a placard with her name. I guess we will figure out once we get there,” assured Prashanth. ‘How could he be so careless’, he scolded himself.
Soon they arrived at the railway station. At this hour, the railway station is a cacophonic center with workers arriving from nearby hamlets to the town and blue collared workers leaving town to Visakhapatnam for their jobs. With the morning fog still lingering, the air a bit chilly, people were awaiting their respective trains huddled around coffee and tea shops and some eating breakfast.
Prashanth purchased three platform tickets at the counter before entering the main platform. He walked over to the ticket collector at the gate who was an acquaintance while holding both kids’ hands.
“Good Morning, Ramesh,” greeted Prashanth.
“Good Morning, Prashanth. What brings you to the station so early in the morning with kids? Are you expecting relatives?” asked the ticket collector, punching tickets of the passengers and shoving them back into their hands.
“No… no relatives yet. I am expecting a doctor for our hospital. She must have arrived by the morning train from Vizag. Has the train arrived or is it delayed?” asked Prashanth, checking his watch.
“You mean the 8.15 one?” questioned Ramesh, waving to one of his colleagues.
“Yes. Is it on time?”
“Of course, it is on time. It just pulled in. People are still alighting. Don’t worry. It will be here for another ten minutes. Plenty of time to find your passenger. Do you know the compartment number?”
“I think it is S-9,” said Prashanth, pulling out the paper he scribbled on in a hurry the night before.
“Head over to the right side and you should find the compartment across from the book store,” guided Ramesh.
“Let us go, kids, to fetch our doctor,” said Prashanth, pulling at his kids’ hands.
“Daddy, can you let go of my hand, please? It is embarrassing,” said Nithya, trying to pull away from her father’s grasp.
“It will be embarrassing when I will have to announce your name over the speakers. Do you see how many people there are here? You can get lost in the rush. So, don’t act smart with me, young lady,” said Prashanth, tightening his grip.
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