Medical Musings
Dr. Khuroo's Medical Clinic is a quite place in the narrow bylanes of Qamarwari, Srinagar with no familiar landmark around it.The clinic is not very roomy but at this cramped place, people from all the corners of the Valley start queueing up from early hours of the day. Dr. Khuroo is a world renowned Gastroenterologist and has done enormous research work in the field of Medicine. The man does not need any introduction though as he has already earned himself a name of being an extremely disciplined expert of abdomonal disorders. The best in his field he is a ray of hope to millions of local and foreign patients suffering from various gastroenteronomic ailments but as the way of this world is, he too has been a target of unnecessary wrath in his native land. Inspite of cynicism he continues to do the good work and earn the blessings in return.Nonetheless,I often visit the clinic accompanying my father for his routine check ups. Today I was there for the same but surprisingly, this time somehow my mind was not at rest. It was constantly at work just like the exhaust fan in the waiting room of the clinic. I seriously have not seen this exhaust fan ever in the off mode. It reminds me of the fact of life that no matter what might happen,life goes on. On entering the waiting room,this exhaust fan is the first thing that catches my eye on my every visit but this time it put my brain in action too.
After the fan the second thing that caught my attention was a couch on my right on which an old couple,a very old couple rather was sitting quietly. Dressed and accessorized as middle class city people,they were sitting peacefully but frequently whispering something to each other in a subtle tone. Their eyes were full of melancholy and they could move a million hearts. In front of them on another couch was sitting another couple. Old but not as old as the first one. These guys looked rural but prosperous. I am sure they were some "khwajas" (rich people) in their village owning orchards and acres of agricultural land.The high Krakul wore by the man was enough proof to their money and affluence.The lady was chirpy and in command of the affairs of the couple.Her chirpiness was infectious and I loved the zing she oozed even at this age Anyway, the two couples differed in class and visibly so but the wrinkled faces and the lackdaisical eyes narrated the same story. They either had no children or had children who grew up and abandoned their parents . I hope the former is correct. Because all I know is that even if he has to go for a minute thing like an injection I can never leave my Dad alone. He has worked as a Lecturer in English for 39 long years and I am sure he can manage himself well wherever he goes but I cannot think of a situation where he starts feeling lonely. Even a thought like that gives me goose-bumps. Come what may,I have to accompany him. I couldnot thus think of people insensitive enough to leave their old parents like this.The emptiness in their eyes was craving for attention and massively disturbing.I am an emotional slob and as a matter of self-defense cannot robustly get involved in a situation like this and thus started looking for a distraction.
A boy,hardly in his 20s was called in by the nurses.After a long wait, it was finally his turn. He went inside and came out after almost fifteen minutes alongwith his file, a nasty looking file exposing all the interiors of a human body. The nurse accompanying him led him to the ultra-sonography room as Dr. Khuroo wanted to see the film of his entire abdomen now. After the USG he would be called in again by the doctor and told whatever The Providence had kept in store for him. Tapping my feet in anxiety, I looked at this bespectacled boy,crossed my fingers and prayed for his welfare. A deep sigh and I had to move outside the room and take a break as none of the distractions was helping. The room was full of patients ; patients of every age,both the genders,holding the files of their medical reports and praying for their well-being rather cheerfully. I had to breathe in some fresh air so took a stroll around the clinic.
After waiting for more than 2 hours,we were told that the Doctor is back after lunch and will therefore start with the afternoon batch of his patients. I took my seat again and a beautiful girl,apparently married, entered the waiting room. Well-dressed, carrying a branded hand bag and for a change she was someone who smelt too good for a medical clinic. My olefactory perception can miss anything but a good fragrance, she thus couldn't walk across unnoticed. Constantly on phone,she kind of became a centre of attraction in the otherwise dull space. Finally we all had a good distraction but as it is, like my heart and my mind,my eyes too are never at rest. I have a knack of observing things from every corner. Blame it on my sun-sign, on being an inquisitive Piscean . A man on my left was continuously staring at her and his eyes were full of lust. An idiot of first order he shamelessly kept ogling. The girl too noticed him, kept tolerating him quietly but at the same time she could not cover the pink blush on her cheeks and she looked embarrased. Lo and behold! The feminist in me woke up and woke up quite ferociously. Seething with anger,I had to act and act now. Nothing could stop me,not even Dad so I turned left,fixed my eyes on him and Boy! My gaze could kill! The moron thankfully got the hint quickly and so did the girl. The man ran outside the room and we, the two girls exchanged a womanly smile and her eyes shared her gesture with a dash of gratefulness. I smiled again and we both got busy with our smart phones.
A call 'Zargar Ghulam Ahmad' disturbed my thought traffic and I and Dad got up excitingly to see the doctor.Dr. Khuroo checked Dad's medical reports and told him not to harbour any kind of anxiety as he was doing absolutely fine. Satisfied and happy,I recollected all his reports and walked towards the Pharmacy to buy his medicines. Before leaving the clinic,I once again looked at the exhaust fan. As usual it was at work, moving and quietly witnessing every other story being yarned inside the waiting room. Stories which never end,stories which keep us going!
After the fan the second thing that caught my attention was a couch on my right on which an old couple,a very old couple rather was sitting quietly. Dressed and accessorized as middle class city people,they were sitting peacefully but frequently whispering something to each other in a subtle tone. Their eyes were full of melancholy and they could move a million hearts. In front of them on another couch was sitting another couple. Old but not as old as the first one. These guys looked rural but prosperous. I am sure they were some "khwajas" (rich people) in their village owning orchards and acres of agricultural land.The high Krakul wore by the man was enough proof to their money and affluence.The lady was chirpy and in command of the affairs of the couple.Her chirpiness was infectious and I loved the zing she oozed even at this age Anyway, the two couples differed in class and visibly so but the wrinkled faces and the lackdaisical eyes narrated the same story. They either had no children or had children who grew up and abandoned their parents . I hope the former is correct. Because all I know is that even if he has to go for a minute thing like an injection I can never leave my Dad alone. He has worked as a Lecturer in English for 39 long years and I am sure he can manage himself well wherever he goes but I cannot think of a situation where he starts feeling lonely. Even a thought like that gives me goose-bumps. Come what may,I have to accompany him. I couldnot thus think of people insensitive enough to leave their old parents like this.The emptiness in their eyes was craving for attention and massively disturbing.I am an emotional slob and as a matter of self-defense cannot robustly get involved in a situation like this and thus started looking for a distraction.
A boy,hardly in his 20s was called in by the nurses.After a long wait, it was finally his turn. He went inside and came out after almost fifteen minutes alongwith his file, a nasty looking file exposing all the interiors of a human body. The nurse accompanying him led him to the ultra-sonography room as Dr. Khuroo wanted to see the film of his entire abdomen now. After the USG he would be called in again by the doctor and told whatever The Providence had kept in store for him. Tapping my feet in anxiety, I looked at this bespectacled boy,crossed my fingers and prayed for his welfare. A deep sigh and I had to move outside the room and take a break as none of the distractions was helping. The room was full of patients ; patients of every age,both the genders,holding the files of their medical reports and praying for their well-being rather cheerfully. I had to breathe in some fresh air so took a stroll around the clinic.
After waiting for more than 2 hours,we were told that the Doctor is back after lunch and will therefore start with the afternoon batch of his patients. I took my seat again and a beautiful girl,apparently married, entered the waiting room. Well-dressed, carrying a branded hand bag and for a change she was someone who smelt too good for a medical clinic. My olefactory perception can miss anything but a good fragrance, she thus couldn't walk across unnoticed. Constantly on phone,she kind of became a centre of attraction in the otherwise dull space. Finally we all had a good distraction but as it is, like my heart and my mind,my eyes too are never at rest. I have a knack of observing things from every corner. Blame it on my sun-sign, on being an inquisitive Piscean . A man on my left was continuously staring at her and his eyes were full of lust. An idiot of first order he shamelessly kept ogling. The girl too noticed him, kept tolerating him quietly but at the same time she could not cover the pink blush on her cheeks and she looked embarrased. Lo and behold! The feminist in me woke up and woke up quite ferociously. Seething with anger,I had to act and act now. Nothing could stop me,not even Dad so I turned left,fixed my eyes on him and Boy! My gaze could kill! The moron thankfully got the hint quickly and so did the girl. The man ran outside the room and we, the two girls exchanged a womanly smile and her eyes shared her gesture with a dash of gratefulness. I smiled again and we both got busy with our smart phones.
A call 'Zargar Ghulam Ahmad' disturbed my thought traffic and I and Dad got up excitingly to see the doctor.Dr. Khuroo checked Dad's medical reports and told him not to harbour any kind of anxiety as he was doing absolutely fine. Satisfied and happy,I recollected all his reports and walked towards the Pharmacy to buy his medicines. Before leaving the clinic,I once again looked at the exhaust fan. As usual it was at work, moving and quietly witnessing every other story being yarned inside the waiting room. Stories which never end,stories which keep us going!
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