Chelsea Played Well

"And those who were seen dancing were thought insane by those who couldn't hear the music."

Hey, my name is Aditya Ghosh, working in the Standford hospital for five years. Last night I got fired because I refused to operate Iqbal.

IQBAL, he is fighting cancer since he was five. After his parents transfer ,he was moved to Standford hospital and I was the doctor appointed to him. At first he seems to me just like other patients, depressed about their disease. Because of his health issues he was home schooled and you can easily find lack of socialism when you see him. It was like a 80 year soul is trapped in a young body. He didn't laugh much, at least till we knew each other.

As doctors we have two choices, either to make a relation with the patient or to treat him like a part of service. Apparently I practice the first one. Earlier he used to come for a monthly checkup but since last summer his conditions had become more serious, so he was admitted in the hospital.

31.12.2017

It was new year time, half of the staff was gone. I had a fight with my girlfriend last night, so I came just to take my mind off. My first appointment was of Iqbal. He was lying in the bed, I went to him but he ignored me. I made a joke just to make him feel any better, the joke was so bad that it was good. He smirked a little at the joke. I injected him morphine for further treatment and the rest you all should know exactly what he said.

IQBAL: dream of millions, sleep all day then take drugs to sleep some more.

ME: oh, so you can make jokes, well its true many people will die just to get this quality of morphine.

IQBAL: exactly, that's what a 18 year needs desperately.

ME: hey, I saw you wearing the Chelsea jersey last week, you know they had their best days now they are just fighting to qualify.

IQBAL: they are going through a rough time but believe me they are highly skilled and my long and prosper life is a tribute to them.

ME: yeah if you say so. Next month they have a match in near town, you should go and support them.

IQBAL: HA, its funny. You know I can't go to the stadium.

ME: why not? medical facility is available there, doctors will be there, seats will be pre-booked and I can arrange some best seats. I know some people there.

IQBAL: I don't know, my parents will not agree

ME: just think about it, live football is cool! I can talk to your parents if you need me to.

(my phone rang for the fifth time, then I put it on silent mode)

IQBAL: you should take it, it seems important.

ME: yeah, she is my girlfriend. We had a fight last night. So I am trying to give her space.

IQBAL: you know what, you should introduce us. She needs space, I need time we both can come together and make quantum physics. We might really hit it off.

ME: Man, highly educated joke. Good for a dying person.

IQBAL: yeah, pain transforms into sarcasm and in my case highly intelligent sarcasm.

So he can laugh, make jokes better than me, he is sarcastic and more than anything he is weird. I finally met the real Iqbal.

We met frequently after that night. We watched movies, late night matches in the common room hiding from the staff. We hangout even after my shift. You know people tell that dying person can give life lessons, well he is just weirdly sarcastic.

One night after the checkup we were just talking

IQBAL: does this hospital have medical weed? ? You know marijuana, pot?

ME: WOooooo, the man wants to touch the sky, he wants to be high. I don't know about that but I know someone who can arrange that.

( I know this seems pretty unprofessional but you should know that we are friends now, and refusing a dying person wish is a sin)

IQBAL: I was just wondering that I got cancer even though I didn't do anything, no drugs no smoke. So life is pretty unfair to me but weed might make it balance.

ME: meet me in the common room after 12 tomorrow. I might arrange something.

IQBAL: yes, pilot!

Next day

IQBAL: you got something?

ME: follow me

We went to the roof and closed the door.

ME: this my boy is the finest stash in this town. You will be high as a kite. Just don't die while doing it. I don't want to get arrested just for letting someone smoke pot.

IQBAL: it will be fine na? I am little bit scared.

ME: don't push yourself, inhale slowly and let the weed take you to trip.

We lite the joint

PUFF PUFF PASS

PUFF PUFF PASS

PUFF PUFF PASS

COUGH

All we had at that night was a sky full of stars and the greenery that uplifts humans from aliens. We smiled, we smiled at nothing. He was happy, he was so damn happy. I don't know why but I felt like he forgot that he has cancer. He was just sitting in the railing of the roof, watching people looking like ants from that height. A joint in our fingers made us realise the simple beauty of "NOTHING".

I talked to his parents about the match, they were worried. So I promised them that I will be there with him all the time. Finally after a long discussion, they agreed. That night I was going to tell him about the seats, when his reports came. He had a week or two left. I went to him and told about the match seats, he was super happy, talking about wearing the jersey and buying all the merchandises. So I decided I will tell him about the reports after the match.

On the match day

We went to the stadium two hours before the match so that Iqbal doesn’t feel like suffocating in the crowd. We got the best seats.

IQBAL : You just watch, Chelsea will destroy the other team, at least they will score four goals. We will do the thunder clap and we will howl at the entry of players also. This stadium is so big.

ME: just wait for the crowd to come, football fans are the best fans. Hey if you feel like you want to go or like any problem. Just tell me then. Ok?

IQBAL: Thanks man, for all of this.

ME: people are coming, match is going to start in few minutes.

Match started.

Now 25 minutes is left, ball is in Chelsea side. They are leading the game. Iqbal was so happy after the goal, he danced with other fans.

And suddenly he fell on the ground.

I picked him up and took him to the exit gate. I called the ambulance. Things were pretty serious now, he was immediately admitted into the ICU. I called his parents. Due to pressure on his heart, his heart collapsed. Doctors started operating them and I was one of them. Somebody asked me to pass scissors but I wasn’t able to move. Maybe he was in there because of me? Maybe I should have told him about the reports? But he felt great at the stadium, right? I wasn’t able to help them, so the doctors asked me to leave.

I came outside, his parents were there. I went to them, they were completed devastated. They gave me a note, it was from Iqbal.

Hey doc,

Thanks for the weed, tickets and everything. You are the best person I know who didn’t treated me like I was dying. Thanks for that, and please solve your issues with your girl otherwise I will show her my sexy body and impress her.

I know about the reports.

Thanks for being there for me.

HAIL CHELSEA

He knew everything. He lived whatever he had and that’s more than most people do. So what he didn’t had as much as we have but he was happy at the end of his journey.

BYE IQBAL.