Epileptic Rithanya

The van screeched to a halt in front of the hospital, and Ms. Roopa, the teacher accompanying Rithanya, hurriedly called out, "Sister, please get a wheelchair for this girl." The sterile atmosphere of the school had given way to the chaotic and unfamiliar setting of the hospital. Cries of pain and distress reverberated through the corridors, creating an atmosphere of fear and unease. Somewhere in the distance, a child wailed at the top of her voice. As another girl emerged from the hospital, tears streaming down her face, Rithanya's anxiety intensified.

The hospital was crowded and in a state of utter disorder, which only heightened Rithanya's discomfort. Her palms grew clammy, and her heart raced as she took in the overwhelming sights and sounds. She felt a sheen of sweat break out on her forehead, and her entire body seemed to palpitate with anxiety.

The nurse, a tall and stout woman in a faded blue sari, dragged a screeching, rusted wheelchair toward Rithanya. Her v