Into Life Again

Community Health Centre Bilha, Bilaspur. Its 4:30 pm. The incharge of the Community Health Centre is thinking of signing off from the centre, suddenly comes the jeep of police, followed by an ambulance. “Sir, there’s a case of PM to be performed, ASAP!” said the Inquiry Officer, Sub-Inspector Javed Maliq. “Umm... Ha... May I have the Report please...;” the doc inquired. While the day was going down, and mosquitoes started actively their buzzing and pricking chores; the doc was standing near his desk analysing, the reports of the dead body, who was a live patient some hours ago. “What about the Cooling off period? No details..., Mr. Cop...!” the doc interrogated, furiously. “But sir...,” the inquiry officer was nearly dumbfounded and turned his head towards his colleague, SI Jaishankar Tripathi. “Sir, the Madam at the Primary Health Centre Examined the Patient and told us that she was almost sure the patient is dead. So she referred the body to you...” explained Tripathi to the doc. “Don’t you know about the ‘Cooling off period’?” the doc was growing furious. But somehow he managed to cope up with his own language. “Okay... Let me examine the body...” the doc rushed immediately towards the so called dead body. “Ward Boy, bring the stretcher to the trauma unit...” the ward boy follows the doc’s words. The doc examines the body, checks for vitals and takes the temperature readings. His face expresses his worry as well as his dedication towards human life. Tripathi and Maliq are in fix. They are not able to perceive what this furious doc is up to. But they keep standing still; maybe the doc is not mad, and sane like them. But inside their brains they are almost in agreement that this white suited man is crazy. “Sister, come up with epinephrine..., fast...” the doc seemed excited. The Nurse, who is wearing a white saree, rushes with an injection syringe in her hand. “Here, sir...,” are the words of the sister, so polite and sweet, yet swift. The doc injected it into the outer thigh, and not straight into the heart of the dead body; not expected by the cops. “Let’s try out the CPR again...” now the doc seems hopeful about life of the patient, who is still a body yet. He gives the dead patient an artificial respiration. Nothing happens. He tries again. Nothing happens. Silence still prevails among the cops and the other hospital staff present there. “Sister, this time 2.5ml..., quick...” The Nurse rushes towards the freezer and returns, with a comparatively larger injection syringe this time. The doc, with all the sincere hopes, and all his knowledge and virtues gained till his present day of life, injects the epinephrine on the other thigh of the patient still dead. Chilly winds blow outside the hospital campus, and the light of nature is going to be off soon. The street hath become deserted, not a single running vehicle visible. Tree leaves rustle with the air as if they are raising their hands up towards the sky to beg for the life of an unknown human, lying dead yet.

“Sir, I notice him breathe.....!” exclaims the Nurse, almost jumping on her toes. It is not that she is driven by emotions... she has till date never seen such a miraculous case in her career. “Yes he is alive, Sister...” softly declares the doc. He was assured about the life of the ‘dead body’, long since it was brought to CHC. He observes the patient. Slowly, the patient revives. His feeble breathing now became visible, most appreciable of all other vitals. The doc’s job achieved success. He just saved a living human from being cut open by scalpel... “Admit it to the trauma unit only. Let me make the papers get signed. Mr. Javed, Please inform the patients relatives...” “Han... Han... they are waiting outside...” Tripathi states... and suddenly becomes silent as soon as he learns that his words are an interruption. “...and get signed the consent and hand over other papers to them as well.” completes the doc, staring straight into the eyes of Tripathi. Tripathi feels ashamed, and Javed threw a smile upon his face, till now stern. “Sister, My Duty timing is over. I shall leave now. Call me in case of any emergency.” states the doc, packing his belongings and his apron into a small back pack. “Sure Sir, You may...” Smilingly replies the Nurse.

The cops and the doc leave the CHC simultaneously. Left behind is the sheer silence of a hospital, which is broken in between by the rustle of leaves, of the trees standing on both inside and outside of the campus of the CHC.