We both came to the hospital for a regular check-up. Then we realized that Nirmala's BP has got higher, as per the doctor's suggestion we have admitted her at the hospital.
We had already lost two children. I couldn’t help but wonder if we were going to lose one more.


Naresh and Nirmala have been married for 7 years now. While their marriage has mostly been a happy one, there has always been an underlying current of sadness. For years, the young couple has been trying to have children of their own. As a welder, Naresh couldn’t afford any fertility treatments, so they’ve had to rely on prayers and blessings. Nirmala has gotten pregnant twice before this but both the times she miscarried.

We thought we were getting back the two children we had lost
“We had gone for some routine test during her fourth month; that’s when we found out. The doctor told us the baby is healthy, and it was... the happiest day of our lives."

"Because of the BP fluctuations, the Doctor said that we have to go for premature labour, otherwise there would be a problem for both the child and the mother. That’s why when Nirmala went into labour prematurely, it felt like the world was crashing down on us. Our future was no longer certain.”

While one of the babies has recovered, the other’s life is hanging by a thread
The baby was born severely underweight and with multiple medical complications. The child is still suffering from severe respiratory distress, and patent ducts arteriosus.

The poor baby needs to stay in the ICU for another month or two but...
“...I just can’t afford it. I’ve been taking care of my wife and mother all by myself. What I make as a welder is always just enough to tide us for a month. I have no savings. Now, I’ve already spent lakhs of rupees by borrowing money from our relatives. But she needs another 13.3 lakhs! What am I going to do?!