Tuesday, September 26, 2006

red ice

"It's a diffusive injury to the brain".

"Doctor, could you be more specific?"

"Look, in plain words, your brother has had a minor concussion. There's a blood clot. We've to take a CT scan and then decide whether or not to operate on him".

"Is it..is it serious?"

"It is."

******

The blood oozes out of his left ear. We've run out of cotton. The nurse hands out another wad, with a casual wave of her hand.

The smell of antiseptic, mixed with the iron smell of deep dark blood can send waves of nausea through even the most stoic of digestive systems.

We wait. 2, 3, 4... hours.

The effect of the pain-killer's beginning to wear off. The groans have begun.

Outside, an ambulance screeches to a halt and then, like a scene straight out of ER, paramedics wheel in another accident victim.

Time stands still in a casualty ward. Because everybody hopes that in that momentarily suspended strand of time, we might see recovery. Some recover. For some, time remains still. Just like the victims.

All that mind thinks at this time: thus far, and no more.

For the mechanics of the human workshop, shop opens mostly at night.

******

11 comments:

Harsha said...

beautifully written...

Have to say, its most painful to be in the hospital, more so in an emergency ward, knots form in the stomach, there is feeling of helplessness and perhaps a bit of realisation that somewhere we ignore death and pain as a part of life.

phatichar said...

harsha: true, my friend...and believe me, even in that morbid environment, life goes on unhindered, and feels surreal. But I guess, we can't get too attached to life emotionally, cause after all, for these guys, there's a job at hand. Life's funny.

Sudipta Chatterjee said...

Ahh... back to blood and gore, eh?

But this post was good: because it is almost like Buddha asking the lady to get a bag of rice from a house which hasn't seen death to breathe life back into her son. But I guess for the mechanics of the human workshop, there isn't anything called day or night.

manuscrypts said...

yup, in that workshop, life begins when normal lives begin to end, and in more ways than one..

phatichar said...

sudipta: right..

manu: couldn't agree more...good to see u after long..

P said...

Beautifully put..

KJ said...

welcome back u were missed....

how are anu n aayu?

hope all ok at ur end.

hugsss

KJ

Arunima said...

Thank God!! I have never been to a hospital for any of my dear and near ones.

phatichar said...

perspective: thanx.. :)

K: heyyy...welcome back. They're fine :) thanx..

arunima: Amen!

enigma said...

hey there,
interesting blog u have here..gonna take some time to read your spooky stories.. keep writing!

phatichar said...

smiles: God Bless you! :)

SilenceKilled: True
enigma: Thanx..you're most welcome. :)