CHAPTER 67
Summary
- In Madras, 1971, the protagonist named Mariamma who works in Labour and Delivery at Gosha Hospital struggles with the fear that she might be pregnant. She continues her heartbreak over Lenin whom she believes she'll never meet again, and she hides her emotions as it could be dangerous to show them.
- Gosha Hospital is tailored for conservative high-caste Hindu and Muslim women who prefer a hospital that respects their need for privacy.
- Mariamma imagines an alternate life where another version of her lives freely, married to a non-rebellious Lenin.
- Every day at the hospital involves labor and delivery with countless women, and Mariamma's male classmates feel like outcasts as women dominate the profession.
- Mariamma's morning routine involves seeing a pregnant woman pacing who appears familiar, leading her to consider her own potential pregnancy.
- Akila, the senior staff nurse, creates a lively and humorous atmosphere and provides guidance and confidence to the anxious Mariamma.
- Despite handling multiple childbirths, Mariamma finds herself in a troubling situation when a baby's heart rate falls drastically. Akila comes to the rescue and helps deliver the baby, but Mariamma continues to worry over her unnoticed symptoms of potential pregnancy.
- Finally, as her shift ends, Mariamma decides to share her fear with Akila who laughs it off, stating it's a common worry among medical students. However, upon learning that Mariamma isn't a virgin, Akila reassures her that she doesn't show physical signs of pregnancy but suggests a test for confirmation. She advises Mariamma to be more careful in the future.