S was nicknamed by her colleagues in her ward as the "tube light". The name was partly deserved, because she did have spells of confusion and disoriented speech. And apparently as a nursing staff personnel, you were never supposed to have those. The residents who were perennially in the ward, never missed her small mistakes and soon the name got popular. It did not help that she was cute, as people used the opportunity to pull her leg, hit on her, get friendly with her etc. She did not really mind it, but rarely it did get to her. And she doubted really whether she was inferior to others and unfit for her job.
It was another such day, when S missed something at work. Although it was a trivial oversight, because of her reputation, her colleagues created a hungama, and she was again the laughing stock. So she purposefully missed her tea break and volunteered to stay back, managing the ward while the others had tea.
It was then the old lady walked in. S was sure she had seen her somewhere, but just couldn't place where. She was smiling broadly and came near her. "What can I do for you, Mata?", S asked? The lady just kept on smiling, without replying anything, gaze shifting to all directions, as if searching for something. She went inside the nursing station and sat inside. S got perplexed. Something was wrong. This lady didn't look like she had any clue where she was, although she was smiling. "Who do you want to see, how can I help you??, S persisted. The lady just kept smiling and looking here and there, confused but smiling. S got both worried and irritated. She went near the lady, kept both her hands on the lady's shoulder and asked, a little loudly, "Who are you, what happened?" The smile vanished, fear showed in her eyes which was staring at hers. "K______", said the mother in a trembling and broken soft voice, the only word she has uttered after entering the room. That name struck S. Dr. K was the Resident whose wife was admitted for her delivery around 4 years back when she had just joined. This smiling lady was Dr. Ks mother, who was very friendly with all the nursing staff at the time of their admission. What has happened to her in these years, S wondered. But that's for later she decided and jumped into action. She dialled the Ortho resident in charge of the ward, got Dr. Ks number and dialled him up. She told him his mother has wandered to the ward. She could feel the relief in Dr. Ks voice. Apparently in the last couple of years his mother had been diagnosed as Alzheimiers and almost totally lost her memory. Today Dr. K. brought her to the Neuro OPd from where she went missing in the morning. 6 hours later and from about 1 km away finally somebody called him with some positive news. K profusely thanked her and rushed to the ward. Meanwhile the other sisters had come and the Matha was back to her ever smiling self, still looking around but happy and chirpy.
Dr. K rushed in 5 minutes later. " where were you Maa, how did you get here.... There is no place in PGI left to look for you.....", Dr. K asked, his voice cracking. All the tension, sadness and emotions that had built up over the last 6 hours finally getting released in a wave of relief. He went near his mom, brought his forehead onto hers and closed his eyes, hands on her cheeks. S could see tears overflowing from his eyes. The mother, stopped smiling, closed her eyes and shared the emotion, a couple of tears escaping her eyes. Maybe for a moment she realised her helplessness, for a moment realised both the pain and happiness and the love his son felt at that moment. Not an eye in the ward was dry when he lifted his forehead from him mothers from what seemed like eternity.
S was never teased for anything related to her working from that day onwards. Even if she was, S couldn't care any less. She finally realised that there is more to life than the stupid things people think/say about you. Life's all about the short time you get to love the people around you.
Life's all about memories.
Sweet! :)
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