By Nami Jain
It happened to be a Saturday Night. And my Aunt's phone rang. An unknown number, late night, a thoughtful mind. Aunty received the call. On the other side.
"Hey Sejju, Mayu here, how are you?" Aunty hesitantly, yet thinking who might it be, replied in a cracking voice.
"I'm Fine. But who are you? The voice on the call was unfamiliar. I'm Mayuri, your dorm mate. Listening those words, Aunties' face enlightened with the joys of spring.
This was a call from an old lost friend of 90's. They planned to meet soon & the call ended. Again, there was no contact from her side in this socializing world of Facebook and Whatsapp.
Almost a month passed, again on a Saturday night the phone buzzed. It was a call from Mayuri. She had planned late evening flight to Dubai from Mumbai. Thus, aunty invited her for a lunch & she could even freshen up after a long drive. Finally, they were meeting after long twenty years. Aunty received her at Dadar platform. They were home. The memories were refreshed.
Suddenly, I happened to ask how she perceived her qualification. She was married and leaved alone with her Children in India. She had craving desire to become a MD.
According to the rule, she can pursue her studies in MD in 2 years if she was a practicing Doctor for past 10 years. But Alas! The rule was changed.
She couldn't spend one more extra year. Thus, within a small interval, she registered herself for the entrance exam. Burning the midnight oil, she started preparing for the exam. Many subjects to be prepared within a short period of 7 days. This task seemed out like a squashing water. But for her becoming a MD this year was like "One Life; One Chance". So she started preparing herself for the exams by standing on one leg. Finally, the D-Day arrived. Her examination Centre was Hyderabad.
She packed her bags, carried food for her 11 month old son. While she was about to leave for station; the school supervisor arrived with her five year old daughter complaining about her having high fever.
It was impossible for her to leave for Hyderabad, leaving her daughter alone. But somehow, her husband convinced her to leave & then the daughter was taken to Hospital. Her daughter was suffering from Chicken Guinea. Being everything at the last moment, she did not have a reservation & was travelling with her 11 month old son. Her Husband unable to drop her, her brother-in-law accompanied her to Hyderabad. Sitting in the train, after few stations; her body started aching, becoming stiff.
It was not possible for her to move and her body started becoming hot. Being a doctor, according to the symptoms, she could detect that she too was suffering from Chicken Guinea. The destination arrived, she was unable to move. Asking help from passengers besides, she was dropped on the platform.
There were no mobile phones then, which could connect her to her family. The taxi drivers being aware about the situation, started seeking for triple the rates then what the actual hire rates were. They tried to loot. Again, asking for passengers help, she was placed into the bus. With all those sufferings, public's help, & her brother-in-laws' seeking for help she arrived at her relatives place. Her uncle and aunty both being doctors, she could take dose of injections.
The injections were injected, she was feeling better and alive. Feeding her 11 month old son with food, she again started preparing herself for exam. Next day, while she was leaving for examination hall, she asked her aunt to give back the doses of injection. She left from home after taking doses of injections and 11 month old son to her aunt's place. She reached the examination center & the exam began. It was a MCQ based entrance exam. While she arrived on the last question, her hands stopped moving, her body again started pain.
She was 100% sure about the answer but unable to move her hand. Asking for invigilators' help, prior the invigilator denied to help her, saying that she could apply for a helping hand. But being a genuine reason, at last the invigilator helped marking the answer & the examination ended. After months, the results were announced. She cleared her entrance examination by passing on point. It might be that last question, the sure right answer which made her clear.
She applied for admission in Medical College, Bead. The three merit List were announced yet her name was not in the list. She visited the college many times, but the officers denied to give admission. She wrote a letter to the managing authority. The letter was sent yet no response. The Ray of Hope, was lost. Almost after a month she received a call from the college and asked her to pay the fees. And now presently, she is a successful practicing MD, a mother of two children and last but not the least A Brave & Wonderful Women.
By Nami Jain
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