The Ambulance kept waiting outside the hospital for a bed to be assigned to the patient. It was redirected to another hospital. The patient waited inside for the test results. Meanwhile the dearth of beds became insignificant enough a matter to be overlooked in comparison to the dearth of ambulances itself. So having an ambulance to oneself seemed like luxury!
Realisations flashed past rapidly in the mind’s eye of this person on the bed of an Intensive Care Unit on how the previous day had been nice enough in terms of symptoms indicating alarm, amidst cautious attempts of safe practices. Each count of heart beat now meant life ticking and hence it was important to breathe into a mask drawing oxygen from an external source.
Three vital days had determined the shift to a cabin yet the pricks and draws had continued. The bed however provided the assurance of a safer signal to life approved. On retrospect, the self- enlightened Mahatma spoke up to the awe-struck world around. The few days spent in this unique never-witnessed-earlier hospital scenario projected the scene in, around and, outside it.
Aliens dressed in white addressed issues of organ failures in bodies. People became priceless tags that needed to be saved as data in valuable registers. Statistics were compared through nations to mark the damage-recovery ratio. Human trials of vaccine monitoring possible side-effects were given green signals. Words like antigen and anti-bodies reverberated across streets and oceans alike. The world suddenly squeezed itself into a revolving sphere of seasonless dawns and dusks and people started counting their precious days down on countless occasions that seemed to be their last.
Living on, suddenly mattered the most. While life had been steady inside the hospital in terms of time-dependent recovery, he wondered how outside the walls of the hospital everything had changed. Lifestyle errors were put to check automatically. Honest and correct parameters of being healthy and happy were shared and followed by one and all. Whatever clicked was repeated without questioning.
He realised how sharing and caring came down to levels of giving and receiving by caregivers and survivors. Whosoever survived with whatever means to ends, twisted their needs and wants accordingly. Bank balances fluctuated every month with rapidly changing scenarios, not policies. Justice delayed and denied earlier erupted as volcanos oozing hot lava to destroy and remind people of what amends could be made. Survival of the fittest mattered as much as coexistence with enemies, if need be. Distance was respected. Spaces were granted. Knowledge became supreme while hard work followed. Dedication was valued. Good people got noticed. Simplicity reflected it’s worth in day-to-day living.
Life seemed to have turned full-circle for people of all ages and gender. Winding up to amass the various folds of knowledge towards a brighter future was now top priority. Professions had changed. New professions had emerged. Life’s purpose stood redefined. He had analysed too much for the day and he was determined to share his enlightenment with people once he was out of the hospital. His mind wasn’t at rest but his body demanded it.
The D-Day arrived. Relatives were rejoicing on his battle against the virus where he had stood victorious. He was transferred to the wheel-chair. While the Doctor gave a clear go and the discharge papers were on the counter, a sharp chilling pain ran through the chest demanding immediate attention. Doctors ran to duty again and in a spine chilling moment, he was declared gone. A valueable life was lost in transit. A noble soul now rested in peace!
Cultureplatter 