Traumatic Wait...

  •   Wed, Nov 30 2011
  •   By Tauseef Ahmed M

December 1, 2011

In the little wisdom that I believe I have gathered in all these 24 years of my life I have always believed that every incident that happens in our life happens for a reason and are probably somehow connected to one another, at least distantly.

Take for an example a hospital, a place from where we begin the journey of our life also someday becomes the place where we end our journey too…Birth, death are not new to any hospital but in between whenever we go to this place the only thing we do is curse the place for probably making us to wait or parking problems and most importantly for the not so tasty food in the hospital canteen. Little do we realize that in the other corner building there are so many people battling for their lives, willingly or unwillingly. Not just a few but almost all of us crib and curse for things that we could not get in life without even thinking (or probably thanking) of all the beautiful things God almighty has blessed us without even asking for. Good health being one of those special things. Still wondering why I am dragging you all to this dark side of our lives…? I promise you the next few lines will be something that most of us might have already gone through in life and wishing never ever to go through again….

Desperation mingles with hope. Faces writ with anxiety. A white coat brings news of a loved one inside. He has the power to convert hope into desolation or to bring a ray of sunshine into grey skies. Tears, sometimes of joy, sometimes from the depths of sadness. Nameless strangers bound together by a single emotion….fear.

Fear for the one inside. Fear of the unknown. Fear of what will become of the ones they leave behind. Fear of the most feared-Death. Helplessness….the discovery that all the money in the world will not change fate. Cannot do anything but pray. Pray to that unknown entity who holds all the strings. God in his own wisdom decides who can “live” and who should “leave” whether to gift life or death. In fact when writing the above lines about money suddenly reminds me of the dreadful day when my best friend’s dad had undergone a critical surgery and a sentence which he uttered in I.C.U which I had heard a million times before but only realized its actual meaning in that painful moment when he said “No matter how much money one may have made in life but without good health everything is a mere waste”

Patients being wheeled in and out, some given release from a life of pain and some released from the pain of life. Death does not have any favorites, the rich and poor are treated alike, not a single soul can escape. If a poor man dies on the street without a proper square meal, on the other hand a rich man eats a nutritious food and sleeps in his soft, cozy bed never to wake up the next morning…what God has given, he will take away. But how does he decide, does he have a lucky card for the unlucky one?

Sirens, doctors, ambulances. The one thing that no one should ever have to witness .Imagine the person who was until yesterday laughing is at the crossroads of life and death. A single moment in life can change laughter into tears. It is the biggest nightmare to see a loved one suffer and knowing there is nothing you can do that would help, nothing at all. It is a feeling of frustration like no other. Along with the frustration, slowly a depression creeps in from being with so many other people who are going through the same emotions.

The conversation centres around around what happened and since how long have they been there waiting. Sometimes it would be better just to let them die instead of watching them die a million deaths every day. But even allowing that thought creep in is a sin…Isn’t it???What if it came true, guilt would follow you for a lifetime.

Some lucky ones get away, fit and hopefully thankful for the gift of life which they have received again. A place of hope, desperation, prayer, frustration, depression, and sometimes happiness. A hospital, the place which can give life, is a place which you cannot wish for your worst enemy too, the punishment is too much even for someone you hate.

 

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By Tauseef Ahmed M
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Comment on this article

  • Vicky, Mangalore

    Sun, Dec 04 2011

    Very well written...I dont think Mr.Tauseef has anywhere mentioned that its his own work..and if you compare the 2 articles I feel its not a verbitam copy at all...Infact I would like to thank Tauseef for bringing this article to our notice...Keep up the good work

  • geoffrey, hathill

    Sun, Dec 04 2011

    This article is a verbatim copy of the original with same title authored by Ms Bina Shaji Kurup was published in Deccan Herald on Aug 11, 2003.

  • Tony, Mangalore/Sydney

    Fri, Dec 02 2011

    Nice article by Tauseef Ahmed which describes vivid scenario when someone is admitted to a hospital, and the thoughts and feelings going through his/her mind when facing the possibility of death. Of course, death is inevitable, as everyone has to die one day, sooner or later, yet, everyone is fearful of it because of the uncertainty that lies ahead, and try to avoid it at any cost. Even if we believe in life after death as Prajapathi Bhat has put it, there will always be some fear of death, for, there is an universal belief that if you have led a clean and good life, doing good to others, and not harming to anyone,etc., he/she may, perhaps, need not fear or worry about the death, but if you have been a crook, done wrong things and not led a clean and good life, (majority of the people will sadly fall in this category), such people will always worry and be fearful of the death, irrespective of the fact there is life after death or not. Of course, I also tend to believe in the theory there will be some sort of incarnation or life after death, which will be depending upon how you have lived this life - for example, you will come out as a butterfly or a bird in the next life if you have led a good life, or come out as a dog, tiger, or snake, if you were bad or a crook.

  • Irene, Bejai

    Fri, Dec 02 2011

    Very good article. The truth we realize only when we are in the situation and then we forget even forgetting our health caught up in rat race of making money. Thanks for the article keep writing more, all the best.

  • Dr. Zita Lobo, Mangalore/Dubai

    Fri, Dec 02 2011

    The poignant situations in hospitals of both birth and death. So young and so much depth in thought. keep going.keep writing.

  • Prajapathi Bhat, udupi

    Thu, Dec 01 2011

    Well written and nice thought. Just to add up when we believe in life after death, the fear of death in this life will seldom disturb us :)

  • joyce, Moodbidri/Kuwait

    Thu, Dec 01 2011

    Good one Tauseef!!! the greatest reality of life..keep writing :-)


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