They had spent the rest of that week doing the little things on her list that she could do there and alone. He worked most of it just so he could get some more money before they went across America. They spent the rest of the month fulfilling those things on her list. One of the things was to donate to a charity anonymously. She knew exactly which charity she'd do. She donated money to the Make-a-Wish foundation. She loved to help little children.
They were riding the Trans-Siberian across Asia now. They were about to get off in India so they could ride some camels. Dave had set it up with a few hikers and tour guides and stuff. They would escort them on camels into a little village that was in the desert.
The train stopped and they took their rucksacks and got off. Their guide was waiting there for them, with camels tied up. He helped them on their camels and got on his own, and led their way into the desert.
"This is so fantastic." Carmen said, adrenaline pumping through her.
"I know. This is so enchanting, so majestic." Dave agreed.
"I love it."
"You're still as adventurous as ever."
"I know. I've always wanted to do this. I went to India once and I loved it."
"Why'd you go?" he asked.
"To help the less-fortunate. Remember before we met I was a charity worker?"
"Oh, yeah." he nodded, "That was how we met."
"I remember exactly when we met." she smiled.
They met when Dave was doing some political things. He was working in politics and he was doing a charity drive for publicity. He met Carmen at one of them. It was one of the Food for Life things for third-world countries. For the children who needed it most. They saw each other again at several others, and they really connected well. He finally asked her out, very confident with himself, on the last day of charity work he did. She accepted without hesitation. They went out for a few months, fell in love and were soon in an apartment together and engaged. He had quit political work and went to the BAU. They married and for years they tried to have a baby, then only recently succeeded. And that was where they were now. In love, with limited time.
A few hours later, after chatting about the good times in the past, they arrived in a small village in Uttarakhand. Many people came to greet them. They led them to a fire and Rossi and Carmen told them why they were there. About the list, the pregnancy and about Carmen dying.
"They said I would die whether I got a Cesarean Section or if I did natural birth. They said I would die no matter what they did. So I made this list and we're doing all the things I wanna do before I leave the earth." Carmen explained.
They were all fascinated by here medical condition. One woman said that she might be able to cure her.
"Really?" Carmen asked excited.
"Yes," the woman called Nayla said in a heavily accented tone, "I have ceremony that can cure you and baby. Is religious and is only used in special occasion."
"We'll do anything!" Carmen and Dave said desperately.
"We will begin it in morning. For now, you need sleep. Come to hut, sleep here." Nayla led them to a small wooden hut. It had white painted wooden walls and a straw-looking roof.
"You stay here the night."
"Thank you so much for your hospitality." Dave smiled thankfully.
They fell asleep right away on the straw-stuffed mattress.
They were beat from the day's activities. A scratchy wool blanket lay over them. However, despite the uncomfortable sleeping conditions, they had the best sleep that night that they felt in a long time.
They woke at dawn and got ready. They bathed in the nearby river, and it happened to be incredibly refreshing. Then they got dressed into light clothes, since the sun was beating heavily down on the village. After they got dressed, they went to the center of the village to eat. They had a good breakfast of meats, cheeses and breads. Nayla told Carmen to eat a very good breakfast before the ceremony. After the meal, she took them into another small hut. It was all straw though. Carmen laid down on another straw mattress that was covered in colorful silk. People from around the village crammed into the hut and circled around her. Dave was by her side, holding her hand while Nayla was off to the side.
"Okay, pull shirt up and show belly." Nayla said. Carmen did so, pulling her white t-shirt up to show her expanded stomach. Nayla first lit a plant, and waved it around. She chanted things in Indian. The room was then smokey and cloudy. Things could still be seen though. It smelled good, like burning flowers. Once the plant was all burnt out, she gave Carmen a few things to drink. Carmen drank them, though they were slightly fowl tasting. While she did this, Nayla lit a scentless beeswax candle. She put some oil on Carmen's stomach and proceeded to massage it. She again chanted in Indian. After a few hours of burning candles, plants, wood and other things, having Carmen eat and drink strange things, Nayla using oils and massaging Carmen's stomach, and Nayla using steaming technique, clay, mud and other things, the ceremony was finally done. Carmen wasn't sure what had happened. She didn't know what was going on. She knew, though, that her life was saved. And she was extremely grateful for that. She had a future now. She was going to be able to spend time with her daughters. She would live.
Nayla took a wet cotton cloth and wiped Carmen's stomach off with warm water. Then she put Carmen's shirt back down and blew out the candles. "Now your baby is safe. Your life is safe. You can live now."
"Dave, I'm gonna live!" Carmen said, crying. Dave was as well. "I know. Now we'll have a good life. Me, you, Veronica and Christi."
"Veronica and Christi?" Nayla asked, confused.
"The babies' names." Carmen explained.
"Babies?" Nayla asked, shocked, "Two?"
The coupled nodded, "Twins."
"Oh, my…"
"What's wrong?" Dave asked.
"Treatment works only on single babies."
"What!" Carmen shrieked, angry, sad tears replacing the joyous ones.
"I've only done the ceremony on single babies. It always worked. I'm not sure if it will work on two babies."
"Well, what if it doesn't work?" Dave asked.
"Then… Is not good." Nayla said lowly. Dave exploded.
"How the hell could you let this happen! I thought you knew there were twins!" he screamed, "You ignorant, terrible person! Freak!"
"Dave!" Carmen snapped, "She didn't know. It was a mistake. We just got our hopes up for nothing. No harm done."
"You're right." Dave sighed.
"Apologize."
Dave looked at Nayla, who had a wounded animal look on her face. Dave said, "I'm sorry for reacting like that. I guess I just snapped."
"It's fine. Now, am very sorry for my mistake."
"We understand. We just got our hopes up is all." Carmen sighed, "But now we can go back to the way we were, traveling the world. We can be adventurous."
"Yeah. Can someone drive us to the city? We need to take a helicopter to Australia." Dave said. Carmen smiled; glad to get her mind off of the future.