Love of a 2 year old
Being a medical representative is not an easy job, but then in between work you can see a lot of things that give you self motivation.
Maybe many people notice the goodness around but very few spread it by words of mouth or acts of kindness.
India is a developing nation. Though many people live in the middle class segment, and are the main driving force for the economy of India, healthcare is not up-to standard.
Only forty percent of the total population flock private hospitals and nursing homes for treatment, while the rest head to state run or centrally run hospitals by the government. Central govt hospital facilities are for people who work as central government employees. They have their health schemes, so for them meeting a physician and getting medication free, is not a big deal, if not, they do local purchase and the said amount is reimbursed by the government.
State run hospitals across India are not so medically equipped, or staff equipped, so the patients are referred to medical colleges. This story is related to one such incident in a state run hospital.
On a hot sultry summer, as I entered Sambunath Pandit Hospital, to meet a neurologist, something peculiar came into my sight.
Out patient department of such medical college cum hospitals have timings from 9 am to 2 pm.
There was a chaos outside. Some people were shouting. On a closer look a husband was grieving about how the system in the hospital is not good, to his wife, who seemed to be the patient in distress. He was stating that after standing in the medicine counter close to 2 hours in this weather of 42 degrees, he got only two medicines, the rest of the three, they have to get from the outside chemist. So saying he sat beside his wife and was constantly blabbering about his less income, how he has to run the family, why his wife is not getting well soon and all. At that time, a two year old girl, should be his daughter, came up to him and started the touch therapy. The father was talking with the mother, as to what to do next and how to proceed and when they will get back to their home. The child's constant waving of hands and a gentle actress was going unnoticed by both the parents.
I sat in the opposite bench, waiting for the doctor.
The baby girl, considering her to be a toddler, took out a ragged piece of cloth and wiped the father's face with it.
When her father, did not look up to her, too keen on sharing his own accomplishments for the day to his diseased wife, who was listening and nodding her head, the baby girl took out her feeding bottle containing water and rubbed it in her father's hand. The father took the bottle and inserted it in her mouth, the girl nodded her head on disagreement and popped it in her Father's mouth. The father was surprised and so was I. He smiled at his daughter and ruffled her curly hair. He took out an old worn out cold drinks plastic bottle and drank water and put the feeding bottle in the mouth of the toddler. She took out the bottle, from her mouth, closed the cover and clapped at her father.
Innocent bright eyes shining and smiling at her Dad.
I had eyes that were full of tears.
My nephrologist came and I did my call and left. But before leaving, looked at the family of three.
It's the love of the child towards her father, that made her realise her father's tiredness.
Maybe she noticed or maybe she had seen her mother give her father water whenever he returned home to them.
Children are keen observers.
Though money is an important factor in today's sustenance but love in varied forms, be it understanding, warmth, care, when shown in the right time, gets embedded within the heart. Though I was a mere spectator, her actions touched both her father and me.
Would really life be less meaningful without love?
I take your call, in the affirmative.
Yes the strength of love can relax and ease a tired soul.