GURUGRAM: In the crowded emergency ward of Civil Hospital, Gurgaon, a corner bed is occupied by a frail woman struggling with tuberculosis. Even though she is just 25 years old, she looks aged beyond her years, partially due to her illness but also due to the struggles in her life.
Anita, originally from Assam, has been admitted to Civil Hospital since her eight-year-old brother brought her over, two months ago. "I almost fainted due to my condition on the day my brother brought me here. He borrowed money from someone and brought me here in an auto," said Anita who hails from Bihubar in Assam. She recounts that the auto driver being a nice man, did not charge any money from them. For a week after that, she remained under a tree outside the hospital premises, until the authorities spotted her and moved her to the emergency ward.
She moved to Gurgaon six years ago and worked as a house help in Sector 90. Nearly four years ago, she got married and had a daughter the very next year. A year after that, her husband abandoned her. She continued to live in the rented house in Sector 90. She also started showing symptoms of TB two-and-a-half months ago.
"The people I lived with threw me out saying if I died, they did not want anything to do with it," said Anita with an indifferent look.
She says she has a lot of acquaintances from her home town in Assam living in Gurgaon, and two brothers-in-law as well, but no one helped her in time of need.
Her struggles are not rooted in her illness alone. When asked about her daughter, Rachna, she says she doesn't know where she is. She hopes someone from her village has taken her back to Assam. Saddened by the apathy of her own relatives and acquaintances, she has no love left for Millennium City.
"I have a house there (in Assam) and utensils, and uncles to look after me. There is employment opportunity in the tea gardens all year round," said Anita.
For the last two months, Anita and Ajay have been living in the emergency ward and being looked after by the hospital staff. "We have written to the deputy commissioner and approached the women police station to help her go back to Assam. She will be accompanied by a woman cop to ensure her safety," said an official of Civil Hospital. The team will further report her to the local police station in her home town and admit her for treatment in the hospital there. Now, Anita is counting the days till her train journey back home.
Anita, originally from Assam, has been admitted to Civil Hospital since her eight-year-old brother brought her over, two months ago. "I almost fainted due to my condition on the day my brother brought me here. He borrowed money from someone and brought me here in an auto," said Anita who hails from Bihubar in Assam. She recounts that the auto driver being a nice man, did not charge any money from them. For a week after that, she remained under a tree outside the hospital premises, until the authorities spotted her and moved her to the emergency ward.
She moved to Gurgaon six years ago and worked as a house help in Sector 90. Nearly four years ago, she got married and had a daughter the very next year. A year after that, her husband abandoned her. She continued to live in the rented house in Sector 90. She also started showing symptoms of TB two-and-a-half months ago.
"The people I lived with threw me out saying if I died, they did not want anything to do with it," said Anita with an indifferent look.
She says she has a lot of acquaintances from her home town in Assam living in Gurgaon, and two brothers-in-law as well, but no one helped her in time of need.
Her struggles are not rooted in her illness alone. When asked about her daughter, Rachna, she says she doesn't know where she is. She hopes someone from her village has taken her back to Assam. Saddened by the apathy of her own relatives and acquaintances, she has no love left for Millennium City.
"I have a house there (in Assam) and utensils, and uncles to look after me. There is employment opportunity in the tea gardens all year round," said Anita.
For the last two months, Anita and Ajay have been living in the emergency ward and being looked after by the hospital staff. "We have written to the deputy commissioner and approached the women police station to help her go back to Assam. She will be accompanied by a woman cop to ensure her safety," said an official of Civil Hospital. The team will further report her to the local police station in her home town and admit her for treatment in the hospital there. Now, Anita is counting the days till her train journey back home.
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