Recovery

The steady beep-beep of the heart machine next to her bed is soothing. It's the sound of life coursing through her veins, predictable and reassuring that things would soon go back to normal. Last night, the little lines that zigzagged through its screen had almost stopped. She'd have a minor scar where they had to fix her up but she'll soon be up on her feet, the doctor had said.

The lights in the private hospital above her head were dimmed and flickered a few times before she woke up. Her vision was fuzzy and disoriented and her head felt as though it had received a good pounding. She glanced around to absorb her bearings.

The small white room, her bed, a curtain that was open around her and a small table to her right with a few items were some of the things she could see through her groggy peripherals. There wasn't anyone around but she remembers the faint echo of Lal's voice telling her that he was stepping out to grab some food. Her head continued to throb in tune with her pulse as an overwhelming sense of thirst washed over her. Her mouth felt like a dry sponge and her tongue clawed for some water. She eyed the flask that rested on the bed side table next to her and wondered whether she could reach out for it without dislodging any of the tubes that were stuck on to her arm. After a few strenuous efforts of twisting to the right and shifting to the left, the flask still seemed a thousand miles away. The urges to drink water and the overwhelming weight on her head that longed to rest back on the pillow were in tandem.


Just as all attempts of reaching out to the water seemed to fail her, a small figure appeared by the door. The figure belonged to a small, fair girl, aged maybe 12 or 13. She peered from the entrance and smiled at her, one of those shy but friendly smiles that serves as a polite gesture among strangers. Her floral dress came right up to her knees while the two plaits she wore on both sides swung when she gestured an inquisitive nod at her. Rashmi managed to produce a weak smile and motioned towards the plastic cup on her bed side table. The girl timidly made her way to her side, removed the piece of cardboard that covered the cup and handed it over to the patient who gulped it down. Rashmi smiled at her, a meek and grateful 'thank you' and slumped back into bed, closed her eyes and tried to sink back into the damp maze that was now the inside of her mind.


A nurse, who had been making her rounds, asked if she wanted any water as that's what patients want right after an operation since it leaves them quite thirsty. Rashmi mumbled that she already got some water thanks to the little girl, probably a visitor who had come to see another patient, just a few minutes ago.
The nurse nodded and checked if everything was alright and left the room. She met Rashmi's husband on her way out and explained to him what happened. The girl who had visited Rashmi is an apparition that is rarely seen in the hospital premises. Of course, the nurse didn't want to alarm Rashmi by telling her, but had told her husband about it.


The little girl in the floral frock and hair plaited in two, never speaks to anyone but gently smiles and was once even seen seated next to a patient's bed. She does not make her presence felt when there is more than one person in the room and since this was a private hospital, most of the rooms are usually occupied by one patient. This had been the first time that she had helped a patient with something. She is usually seen roaming in the halls, or around patients' beds. With her fair skin tone and hair that is more brown than black, she is assumed to be of Burgher origins and since this was the hill country, locals like to think she is someone from the olden days when the hill capital was riddled with foreigners.


Author's note - What I found strange about this apparition was that it was actually able to move the cup when it in fact, does not have a physical body. But apparently they can. The source I spoke to (who I will keep unnamed) did some research on the matter and he discovered that it is actually possible for energies to manipulate physical objects depending on its level of capability. Some entities have positive energies while others have negative energies. And it is possible for them to use it. However, this fact isn't 'scientifically proven inside a lab so I wouldn't be able to tell you for sure. But let your imagination run wild with the idea, no-the possibility of energies influencing physical bodies.

Original published in Ceylon Today September 14th