Agartala, Dec 21, 2024, By Our Correspondent
(representative pic from internet)
It was an ordinary Thursday morning when Narayan Biswas, an ambulance driver, set out on his routine duty. Little did he know that he was about to become a hero. The sky was clear, the breeze light, but fate had something extraordinary in store on the winding roads of Baramura Hills.
Puja Roy Majumder, a 24-year-old woman from Kamalnagar in Moharchhara, was already fighting through waves of pain. The previous day, her family had rushed her to Teliamura Sub-Divisional Hospital when the labor pains began. But by morning, the situation had worsened. The doctors, concerned for her safety, decided to send her to GBP Hospital in Agartala for more advanced care.
Narayan took charge of the ambulance, the engine humming steadily as they left the hospital. Puja lay in the back, her mother by her side, offering comfort as best she could. The road twisted and climbed through the rugged landscape of Baramura Hill, the trees whispering stories of old journeys.
But this journey would be different. Halfway through the forested stretch, Puja's cries of pain sharpened. Her labor had progressed faster than anyone expected. The winding road ahead blurred into a haze of urgency. It was clear — they wouldn't make it to the hospital in time.
Narayan's heart pounded. The ambulance rocked gently as he pulled it to a stop, the tires crunching on gravel. There was no hesitation in his movements. His hands, usually steady on the wheel, now prepared to welcome new life.
With the support of Puja’s mother, Narayan sprang into action. The cramped space of the ambulance became a makeshift delivery room. Beads of sweat lined his brow as he coached Puja through her labor. Each breath, each cry, each second stretched on, until finally, a newborn's wail filled the air. A baby girl, fragile yet strong, took her first breath surrounded by the forest’s silence and a driver’s unwavering courage.
A sigh of relief passed through the vehicle. Puja’s exhausted eyes shone with joy as she held her daughter for the first time. Narayan's shoulders eased, a smile tugging at his lips. But there was no time to linger. With mother and child safe in his care, he revved the engine and continued the journey to GBP Hospital, the road now a little smoother, the air a little lighter.
When they arrived, doctors confirmed that both mother and baby were stable. What could have been a tragedy was a miracle, thanks to Narayan's quick thinking. Puja's family wept tears of gratitude, calling him a hero — a man who didn't just drive an ambulance but delivered hope and life.
On that Thursday, amidst the hills and shadows, courage had steered the wheel, and a new story had begun.