Medicines and Miracles
In life, there are instances which go beyond the framework of logic and science.
Stepping into the gigantic lobby, the ringing of prayer bells confused Mehr. She had been to many health care facilities in the past, in the public and private sectors combined, but nothing came close to the establishment she had just set foot in. Located at the heart of the city, the City Centre Metro Healthcare was a ginormous facility, and proudly stood as one of the largest in the nation. The wafting smell of lemongrass oil in the lobby was surprisingly pleasant, unlike the standard sterile smell of freshly poured phenyl, staple to any medical facility.
Mehr paced towards the reception in hurried steps, to find her way to the hiring manager's office, it was her first day on the job. As much as she liked her new role, the possibility of running into doctors and patients made her nervous. Sterile corridors of the hospital, and doctors in white garb, reminded her of a loss she hadn't fully accepted even after all these years.
Settling in with the joining formalities, Mehr was introduced to her team mates on the clinical trial and transparency board. She was going to be assisting with this very team. Mehr was elated to be part of a firm of such repute. What followed was a lengthy series of endless first time meetings with the team members, also called induction as Mehr learnt. The entire work system and hierarchy setup was new to her.
"Welcome to the City Centre Metro Healthcare team Ms Mehr." Beamed Satya, her regional HR with a smile. "And always remember, our core values and patient care is top priority, everything else comes secondary to it." The man had a firm mannerism draped in gentle words.
"I believe you shall be learning about the facility more in the coming weeks, as we get in touch with our extended teams and department officials, we're all like a family and now you're one of us too." chimed in Dr. Vaibhavi from the senior administration as she rushed through introductions before leaving for another meeting. A rather jolly person, responsible for half of the floors administration and credited for whole of the congenial environment around it. The floor was rather busy, and everyone seemed to be multi tasking with a thousand urgent matters at once. It was fascinating to see the calm in the chaos around her, as everyone did their part to make sure the system ran smoothly.
Mehr simply nodded, she had been in the facility since early morning, and trying her best to soak in on all the information being passed onto her. The sudden change of weather had been rather harsh on her, and she desperately needed her lunch break and some rehydration, but was timid to ask for one. Much like a saviour, Satya offered to take a break and guided her to the staff cafeteria on the fifth floor of the otherwise eleven floor facility spread over a massive 1.2 acre of space in the heart of the city. Mehr walked around the floor holding onto her ORS tetra pack as she gawked at the massive structure and giant facility. Unknowingly, she fumbled onto the patient wards side of the building across the neurology department. The corridors were rather empty, and no rush was there unlike the OPD floors she had crossed earlier. Taking the scenic route on her two hour break from sessions, she was out exploring the space to observe the works first hand, what unfolded shortly was not even close to anything she could have imagined.
Strolling in a wheelchair, with an attendant at her side and a nursing staff in tow was an elderly lady seemingly in her mid-nineties. By the stupor on her face and general droop in body, one could easily make out she was either tired or under heavy medication. Keeping her gaze lowered, Mehr tried to avoid eye contact with any of the trio, and tried to be as unnoticeable as a lizard on a wall. She kept walking and the two parties, almost crossed paths, when all of a sudden, the elderly patient reached out to hold Mehrs hand and called out to her claiming she was her mother. Mehr was dumbfounded, and froze in shock, it was hard enough for her to face an elderly female patient who reminded her of her late grandmother, let alone being called out. The nursing staff held onto the old lady and the her caregiver tried his best to convince the old lady otherwise. Mehr didn't know what to do, but she reckoned being on the neurology floor, the patient condition could be of neurological anamoly and the words from her induction session regarding emotional intelligence rang in her head. Instead of panicking she patted the elderly patient gently and let her talk her heart out. In the meanwhile, the nursing staff called upon the doctor in-charge who was beyond shocked with the situation.
"Maa, mujhe achha nahi lag raha. Tu mujhe saath kyu ni le jati?" The lady questioned in a child-like manner holding onto Mehr.
"Meri Chanda, pareshaan na ho. Abhi araam karle,. . . . . phir hum ghar chalenge.. . . . Saachi bolu". Mehr could not believe her own voice as these words left her mouth, in a feeble attempt to pacify the excited patient.
The attendant simple stared at Mehr's face in disbelief as all color left his face.
Escorting the patient to her ward, Mehr was introduced to Dr. Saivini, and Dr. Sana who had been handling the case. Apparently the patient was going through dementia and had been unresponsive for days at length untill now, that is.
"Mehr, did you learn Reiki?" Dr Sana asked, she was the holistic healing expert on the campus. Apparently the facility recognised their patients affiliation to alternative medicine and had in house consultants even for Reiki.
"Ma'am, i do not know reiki, i have only heard about it. I have joined the clinical trial and transparency board only today, and i have no clue who that lady was in the corridor or why she chose to call out on me" Mehr fumbled in her response, not sure if she should divulge onto details of her own sense of curiosity around the topic.
"Well, i can tell by the meagre touch of your hands that you have a very strong aura, and a powerful heart chakra. Possibly the reason it invoked that kind of response in that lady." Dr. Sana added, she had been trained in molecular medicine and completed seven years in Reiki healing.
"I have a what........... of a .................what?" Mehr was dumbfounded, if the endless information influx wasn't enough to numb her brain, this short adventure sure wrecked her into questioning reality.
"It is a gift, i would say. I could teach you more about it of you wish to learn. You may take the booklet with you if it interests you. Since you're going to be a staff member now, i guess we can take this up some other time. Dr. Saivini and I needed to get back to our patients as of now." Both the ladies smiled and reassured Mehr, before taking her leave.
Heading towards the elevator, Mehr decided not to wander onto patient wards side of the space and paced hurriedly, just as she was about to step into the elevator, the same person who had been attending the elderly patient, reached out to her.
"Madam, suniye!"
"Hanji"
"Aap, aap meri mother ko kaise janti ho?"
" Sorry sir, main aaj pehli baar is facility mei aayi hu. Mujhe nahi pata unhone aise kyu react Kiya. I am really sorry" Mehr did not know what to say, she was at a loss of words herself and curious to look for answers. She was holding onto the booklet Dr. Sana and Dr. Saivini had handed out to her.
" Madam, main islye puchh ra hu kyu ki aapne unko Chanda kaha." The man fumbled, before adding " meri Nani unko Chanda bulati thi, asli naam unka Kamleshwari hai. Ye naam koi nahi janta, siwaye ghar walo k" the man looked at Mehr expectanty hoping for an answer. Partially glad, as this stranger had invoked a physical response in their ailing mother.
"Sir mujhe bhi nahi pata mere muh se wo shabd kyu nikle. Par khushi hai ki apke patient ne respond Kiya. I suggest aap doctor ko puchho k aisa kyun hua and aagey treatment kaisa jayega. Main doctor bhi nahi hu. " Mehr was getting uncomfortable with the discussion more and more. She took her leave and they both were left with big question marks on their faces, not being able to make any sense of what just transpired. The rest of the day went by with more induction and Orientation sessions with the team, and Mehr came back home tired.
Back home after a tiring day, Mehr took out the holistic health and modality treatment booklet which she had received from Dr. Sana. Tossing it across her bed, she laid her head on her pillow, hugging her mickey mouse stuff toy close to her chest. Laying in bed, she could not help, but replay the incident in her mind again and again. Why did the patient hold onto her, why did she respond to seeing her even when medical treatment had been going on for days? Was the aura and energy feild concept really in play? And the caregiver talking about the words of endearment, which came to her out of nowhere. She didn't know the lady, then why or rather how could she guess so accurately? Mehr wrote down her thoughts on her journal before going to bed.
Continued . . . . .Part2
Amazingly written as always 🙂
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