Sometimes bad news catches us unexpectedly. At
other times it so happens that we know about the impending doom for months. We
are scared initially but then begin to live with it, even practically forget
about it until one fateful morning, when disaster strikes and we become
dumbfounded even after knowing the inevitable for months. It seems as if, just
because it got delayed and we were granted a few more months of peace, we had
assumed that the disaster will never happen.
As the entire college prepares for ECSTASY 2k23,
a grey shroud hangs over all of us. An unexpected, unwanted separation makes
our hearts heavy. Today when I see “Embrace the explosion” written on the
ECSTASY posters, I am reminded of that quiet, shy girl who disliked explosions
or loud noises of any kind for that matter. She was the one who used to make diligent
notes even in the most boring lectures while we softly bantered in the last
bench oblivious of whatever was being taught in class. I remember being envious
and asking her the secret to her long, black lustrous hair. I remember our peaceful
conversations during breakfast at our hostel canteen, where we discussed our
views on studies, music and the world even though they varied grossly between
the two of us.
When I first heard of her illness, I remember stepping
into the CCU for the first time in my life to visit her. She had asked us to
pray for her speedy recovery. While most of us actually prayed for our beloved friend,
all our prayers combined were not enough to thwart destiny. This leads us to wonder,
why is destiny so cruel? The one who could have been an expert and
compassionate doctor had to suffer so much and meet such an untimely death while
many people whose demise would actually serve the society and mankind in
general continue to thrive. The answer to this question is not easily
determined by common people like us. Thus, we continue on our journey to meet
our destiny while simultaneously cursing destiny itself throughout the way. It’s
a weird paradox.
I do not know whether Heaven exists or not, but
if it does and if my life is honest and fruitful enough then I surely hope to meet
her there someday- my quiet, kind, unselfish friend. Till then it is essential
that all of us, as future doctors, remember her life and death. So that, we are
careful about the tests we perform, the diagnoses we make and the medicines we
prescribe, because the test reports and prescriptions are not just sheets of
paper with medical mumbo-jumbo scribbled on them. They are keys to correct
diagnosis and treatment respectively. We must never lose empathy and compassion
towards those helpless people lying in our ancient, foul-smelling wards,
because their lives depend on our decisions. Delay or mistakes in our treatment
can kill them, thus we must tread with caution.
Most importantly we must remember to be
thankful for this life and this opportunity to fulfill our dreams. An extremely
brilliant and deserving student among us was brutally robbed of the opportunity
to fulfill her dreams, by her ill fate. On the days we feel desperate enough to
end our lives or give up, we must remember that we are getting to live what one
of us could not. We should try to make the most of this opportunity while it
lasts.
Adieu my dear friend. May your soul rest in
peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment