Libre Magazine

The nurse drew the lacy curtains to block the afternoon sunlight pouring into the room. The newborn babies’ ward was a sight of serenity. Most of the babies had gone into deep slumber snoring softly; the remaining ones were sighing contently in their cribs. The nurse adjusted the blankets onto the babies before leaving the ward. These little bundles of joy were quite a sight for the wide –eyed parents peering through the windows. Little did they realize that at what level did these newborns’ brain functioned!

At the corner of the room, a baby was intently staring at the nurse; as soon as she left the ward, he turned his head towards the crib next to him. The baby wrapped in a pale pink blanket with white daisies painted all over was fidgeting. Her big blue eyes were eyeing the room with dissatisfaction. Aye, she’s an angel! He lingered over her patch of scarce blond hair and blue eyes.

‘Psst..Psst…Hey angel! What’s your name? He mouthed out to her.

‘Humph, buzz off’, the baby glared at him disapprovingly.

‘Aye, an angel with sassiness too, honey I’m the best thing happening here. He gave a toothless grin.

‘You are so conceited and stuck up’, she pressed her light feathery brows into a frown.

‘And I’m in love’, he looked up heavenwards.

‘Your just a baby, you need to come out of diapers first’! She snorted.

‘Love is ageless, timeless and limitless,’ a voice boomed over them.

‘What…who said that?’ he jerked his head around.

‘I did’, a curly dark -haired baby in the next row gargled. ‘Love is a river that flows in every direction without any barriers’.

‘Uh….whatever….Homer’, the baby girl snorted furthermore.

‘Listen to him angel, he’s the man….and experienced since he’s a week older to us!’

‘One must have respect for each other when in love!’ the curly baby continued.

‘Shut up Homer….! She wriggled her nose in disgust, ‘and you stop calling me an angel’.

‘Awww, tell me your name then angel,’ he cooed loudly.

‘This place sucks and I’m hungry’, she let out a fussy whimper that awakened other babies as well.

‘Oh shut up you morons’! Another baby yawned loudly. “I’m extremely tired after a laborious 48 hours journey from the womb to the ward and all I want to do is sleep, which I can’t due to your gagging!’

‘I want to stretch myself after being cooped up inside for 9 months! This crib is too small for me! A 10lbs baby boy waved his fists angrily in the air.

‘Atleast this place has clean air to breathe after smelling bad breaths of never ending relatives who comes to see me!’ one of the babies from the group pitched in.

‘What sucks more, they want to hold you when they can’t even carry you! My 5 yr old sister almost dropped me!

‘My grandparents smothered me with wet, slimy kisses and now I’ve come down with a rash. There should be a legal penalty for touching us’!

‘You think that’s worse, my old man insists on calling me Bally! How can I succeed in life with a name like that? ‘

Just then, a nurse entered the ward with two adults trailing behind her. They went to the crib near the door and picked up the baby.

‘Ooooh there’s my lil princess, ready to go home. Won’t you miss this place sugar plum’? The mother cooed in sugary tone.

The baby stared at her wide eyed and made muffled sounds. The mother mistook that as a yes, ‘Awww u poor darling. Say goodbye to your lil mates. Bye bye little pies’, she waved the baby’s tiny fists in the air as a gesture. And they all left the ward.
There was an embarrassing silence in the ward for a few moments.

‘This place sucks! I wish I was born at home’, the baby nicknamed ‘angel’ fussed again.

‘I totally agree’!

‘One must adjust and mould themselves according to their surroundings. This is what life will teach you, to be prepared.’

‘Take a hike….Homer’.

‘Awwww come on angel, tell me your name’

‘Yawwwwwnn, not interested’.

The baby bickering started altogether and the plight of the babies in the ward world continued!