Costly Whisker

Hi!! I am Rashi. Kushi and Shashi were my best friends in the same school. We were so very much together that we decided to get into the same college for our PU, with the ambition to become doctors. Our parents also were aware of it and of course were happy for us.

People around were of the opinion that I am a bubbly girl full of life and I take up studies only when exams are around the corner but I am sure when I become a doctor my patients will have confidence in me because I am always lively. Kushi, was a silent killer me and Shas would call her SK. Happy for self, hardly speaks even after you speak about a paragraph an introvert basically. She said her patients will have faith in her because of her calmness. Shashi, Shash as I call her, a book worm but has achieved what she wanted to and thinks her knowledge will cure everything. 

Like other exams, we finished our PU board exams well. As we sat for preparing for the entrance exam next I was curious so asked: " What if we don't clear the competitive exam?" SK replied suprisingly "I am sure I will clear it and if I don't get the marks that I am aiming at I will withdraw and rewrite".

Shash was like "With the knowledge, I have gained I am sure I will clear it. To be on the safer side I would take up another competitive exam that's meant for engineering also". For a moment I remembered the contended emoji we have on WhatsApp.

I almost immediately said "Yes that's a good idea I too will do the same. Why don't you get along with us SK? You will have an alternative choice to make?". SK replied "While I have the confidence that I can clear one exam. I am not fickle-minded like you people."

There was a sudden silence and I got back to my work thinking SK would beat me up next. Soon exams came were round the corner. We decided to study individually last week before the exam. Wrote the exams but never met probably the silence had left us a question mark. 

It was the day of results we three met together to see our results together. SK was devastated. She did not meet up the expectations though she had qualified. Shash had qualified but not to her expectations. I had surprisingly qualified and was happy with whatever I had got. I and Shash tried to console SK that she will get a seat in a good Medical College if not what the one she wanted because she had missed it by a whisker. But SK was like "I will withdraw and write again it's okay if I waste a year." She did not listen to anyone's advice.

Shash had got better ranking in the engineering entrance exam so she decided to go for it though, it was not her choice. I got into medical irrespective of specialisation and place. SK being adamant withdrew the exam. Then, we got separated. 

Years passed by, we the trio never met for 10 years. I was in touch with Shash but we couldn't meet because of our schedules.

 

Shash got placed through campus interview in one of the top companies. After her engineering with a distinction, she got into the job and we thought about SK many times. Messaged her, called her up, but she did not reply. 

I successfully completed my MBBS and was practicing as a doctor in one of the hospitals. One day as a duty doctor then, was on rounds. The nurse came in and said "Doctor, a lady was rushed in, on a stretcher saying she worked overnight collapsed at the office out of fatigue. Saline is administered". As a doctor, it was normal for me to see one such case every day. I held the lady's hand, looked up the clock to check the pulse rate, the face of the patient seemed familiar. Tears rolled down, my eyes. It was SK. I could not believe my eyes it was her. As my teardrops fell on her hand, she opened her eyes which were filled with tears soon. I texted Shash but she was out of town for work. Sat all time with SK till she got better. 

The next day when she was to be discharged I sat next to her and asked "How are you SK? What's all this?". SK said " I made a big mistake by not accepting what I had got. Had I done it I would have been atleast close to whatever I wanted to. I withdrew and wrote the exam again. But did not get the qualifying marks also. I went into depression because I had lost the best I had got. I did not even write other competitive exams like you both did. All I only did was a basic degree, with low-grade marks because I could not concentrate after a big loss. Now, I work in a call center where shifts keep changing so there is no proper biological clock in my mind. By the time I get adjusted to it shift changes". 

Hearing to SK I had to keep myself strong because she was already weak and broken. I told her "Don't worry things will settle. Shash will help you out for sure to be in a better place. Take Care". SK promised me to pick calls or reply to messages before she left.

As she left the only thought that was in my mind was One wrong step has cost her so much. We must learn to accept and appreciate things that we get who knows we might get back better than what we were asking for in the long run.