A conversation betwee you and a masked stranger from Italy on a flight

“Excuse me,if you don’t mind could I tell you 

something,

”said the stranger sitting beside me.He 

looked almost 70 and had a polite smile on his face.

 “Yes”

,I replied,turning towards him and by raising 

my voice a little as he was sitting one seat away,near 

the passageway.I didn’t want to offend him.While 

taking care of elderly patients in my 10 years of service,

I thought talking loudly to him was better than going 

through the hassle of replying again.

“I see that you are quite ignorant,you should wear the 

mask more properly,you should understand that even 

a tiny droplet of the virus could be fatal for 

you.Perhaps you have good health,you do look healthy 

but it could still affect you.You might not die but the 

health effects are large and will stay with you 

forever,understand that , don’t just treat it like another 

common cold that you can just pass it without any 

consequences.”The old man ended, after giving this 

long lecture the very moment I had uttered “yes” to his 

previous question.

It seriously pissed me off,I was wearing the mask and it 

had become a little loose but I didn’t deserve such a 

long lecture after looking after patients all day and 

then taking a continuous flight for 8 hours. 

“Look sir,I am a doctor myself , it would be nice to keep 

your opinions to yourself”

,I blurted back. Perhaps it 

was a little rude but I did not care.I wanted some

peace .I didn’t even watch the television on the back of 

the seats .I was suddenly picked up from my hospital in 

India because I had a passport and so I was on my way 

to Italy , a really hard hit region from the 

coronavirus.The plane was full of doctors.

I was in no mood for any type of conversation.

A few moments before the plane landed,he said,

“Hi , I 

am doctor Doctor Roberto Stella,I just wanted to warn 

you since you might have already heard the situation 

down here in Italy,I just didn’t want a young person 

like you to get sick at this time and with this disease.

Also I am glad to hear that you are a doctor and 

please don’t let the virus get to you, be vigilant.”

 He said,with his voice a little low.I felt a little bad,

it was just like another senior doctor giving warning

to his junior ones,so that they make no mistake later.

I was just about to ask for forgiveness ,when 

there was heavy turbulence ,I looked outside the 

window .The turbulence lasted for a minute or two.

 I turned back towards him but I did not find 

him.I was just about to look for him when the captain 

announced ,“Yesterday,Dr. Roberto Stella, the 

president of The Italian Scientific Society For 

Continuing Medical Education OF General 

Practitioners, died from Covid -19.Young doctors going 

to Italy to help the nation in these times of crisis,please 

remember his last words , BE VIGILANT .”