Prologue

Lying in the hospital bed, my vision seemed blurred. I could

make out figures scurrying around me in white coats. I looked

up at the ceiling with great difficulty, my eyes burning. The

pain was unbearable as I turned my head left and saw the bag

of blood. My eyes slowly scanned to the end of the bag’s tube

where it met the veins in my own wrist. What had happened?

Why was I here?

I could hear voices now.

“Will she live?”

“Shhh!”

“She is totally out, Doctor!”

“She will come around in a while.”

“Has it been removed?”

“Yes, but her pulse rate is falling steadily.”

Suddenly, I felt out of air. I started to suffocate. Something

was covering my nose and mouth. A ventilator!

The suffocation intensified as the doctors started to panic

around me.

“The machine… fast.”

“Doctor, she still. . . ”

“No, bring it now.”

I saw something huge and silver brought near me and felt

something cold on my chest.

“1 . . . 2 . . .3.” BOOM!

Mom!!

My chest heaved, along with my whole body.

A shock went through me like I’d been hit by lightning.

“Another one.”

“1 . . . 2 . . . 3.” BOOM!

Sheetal!!!