January 28, 2009

"THANK GOD! IT WAS ONLY A DREAM, AFTER ALL"

I suppose everybody's had the experience at one time or another of waking up after a nightmare in which they were being chased by leopards or chewed by cannibals or some such thing and drawing a deep breath and saying to themselves: "THANK GOD!  IT WAS ONLY A DREAM, AFTER ALL".

That's how it was with me on the 27th Nov, 08; A day after Mumbai was jolted by the attacks. The commandos were still hard put to evacuate the hotels and wipe out the terrorists. I was on vacation with my four friends. We were staying in the Oberoi hotel. We were in our room when we heard the severe blasts. We were terrified; unable to think; choked. Room service came and told us to lock our rooms from inside. The first time we felt the dread of being in mortal danger.

One of my friends quipped, "abhi toh hum kunware hain" but seriously everyone of us was shuddered from stem to stern; desperate to move out of that place. Then we started praying to Almighty, beseeching to save our lives.

22 hours later two commandos came and rescued us from our despair, and at this point of time my nightmare was over. I was breathing stertorously, sweating profusely and I said "THANK GOD!  IT WAS ONLY A DREAM, AFTER ALL" and went back to sleep.

January 11, 2009

LOVE IS BLIND - AIN'T THAT MORE THAN JUST A CLICHE?

I remember vividly, that it was a month and a half back, that I was preparing for my semesters.


TIME: 11:05PM


The next morning I had my paper and I had still left two chapters untouched. I was a little stressed, but was confident enough to complete the syllabus. As I was frisking through my notes, I heard some noises. At first I tried to evade the disturbance, but after a while the cacophony became loud enough to distract me. I could hear "KHOL….KHOL….KHOL". I understood our neighbors were quarreling, which they usually do atleast two times in a week. So there was no point lending an ear to such conventionality.


TIME: 12:10AM


I heard a police horn and it blew louder and louder and went static at its peak. I could make out the police van was right in front of our house. It was enough to drive me crazy and I couldn't resist myself from peeking through my window. What I saw was two policemen had held the husband by his collar and put him in the jeep. What had happened was that the drunken husband came home and was back with his usual business. He began to beat her wife. But this time she was smart enough to dodge him and lock herself in one of the rooms and called the police. People came out of their homes. Imagine, amidst the night people are ready to sacrifice their sleeps just to get a glance of what is happening in others life. I thought this is it. Finally the Indian woman has broken the shackles of society and come out. Now, this time she won't spare him. I was back with my studies.


The next day my paper went on fine. I came back from college and what I see is the husband and wife are having tea and having a nice time together in the verandah. I was amazed how quickly the things settled and then I was reminded of the adage "LOVE IS BLIND."


After that day she called police on two more ocassions, but it is still was not enough for the husband to hit the tracks.

January 04, 2009

HOSPITAL VISIT

Exactly two and a half years ago, I was admitted to the hospital for my appendix operation. I used to get stomach aches at least once in a fortnight for the past 5 years, but the reports never showed anything. It was July 4,2006; I was dying of stomach pain. My father took me to the Sarvodya Hospital. This time the pain was so severe that it was screaming out loud "THE APPENDIX WILL KILL YOU" - and by chance, the doctors heard it too. They suggested a surgery, and my father took the date July 5. Next day, I was all set for the operation.
First of all, a male nurse removed all my hair (chest, stomach and also the ummm....). CLEAN SHAVE!!! I asked him why in the world did he have to do that for! But u know na, these doctors never empathize with the patients (they are trained like that only.) I was taken to the operation theatre at 9:00AM. After that I don't remember anything and 3 hrs later I woke up in my bed.
With syringes and glucose bottles continuously penetrating in my veins and no food, no water for the 1st day, there was hardly any respite for me. But there was one thing which kept me breathing - A nurse (female this time), as pretty as could be. She was on duty in my block only. As soon as I saw her, all my pain melted away (ain't that a perfect analgesic?) and she warmed the cockles of my heart. Whenever she used to pass by me, she threw me a cute smile. She would always ask me " DARD HO RAHA HAI??" and I would always answer " THODA SA". There was a certain warmth in her grip and her touch that had a personal feel.
After 2 days, I was discharged and was quite happy and I still remember that face………that face which brought a smile to me when I was suffering from severe pain.