Friends

She had HIV for the last 13 years.

She was a mother and active in the church.

But she did not tell anyone.

For the previous pregnancies she had gone away. Her in-laws did not know about her status.

This time she suddenly had pains. It was well before her due date, but her family rushed her to the hospital. After she was admitted a 'routine' HIV test was done. No counselling. No informing that the test was done. Just part and parcel of what it means to be admitted for anything these days in a private hospital.

The test came positive. She was asked to leave the hospital. Her in-laws were shocked. They tried in another place. Same story.

Finally they went to a government hospital. By this time she was stabilised. It turns out that the pains were false labour pains. The pregancy was not full term. But the damage has been done.

The whole church 'knows'. She has been teaching in the Sunday School. Everyone is shell-shocked.

She wants to leave. She says that she will go South for treatment. A dear friend of hers told her that treatment was available in Mumbai. "I can't deal with any more rejection".

This friend is a true friend. One that doesn't give up. Tomorrow her friend will go to meet the lady with HIV and hopefully bring her over to us for treatment. Love is not cheap. It means that we have to put ourselves in others shoes and move forward - come what may.

We hope to make friends with this dear woman tomorrow.