Hush.... It's Doctor Kunal

“May I have your attention please, train number 1-8-4-6-3, Bhubaneshwar- Bangalore city Prashanti express has arrived at platform number 4…” announced the railway announcer of KSR station. Kunal watched the passengers rush towards to their respective platform numbers. Everyone is busy, everyone is in a hurry. It seemed that only he was clueless of his surroundings. He has given up yet again. This time in planning an escape from life. The strong smell of disinfectant wrapped the platform 2. The repeated cries of the hawkers who sell tea and coffee and what not, felt silent for a while.

His cut was not even healed yet, that his hostile thoughts were back at him. He badly needed an escape. Depression was a myth he was told, but his slit left wrist had a different story to tell. “It is 6 am, your train will be here any minute,” said Kunal to his friend Vikki. Kunal was surprised of the fact how a watch on his left wrist could cover the time and his condition. Vikki was aware of his condition as they were roommates. Vikki needed to attend his cousin’s wedding in Delhi. He did not want to leave Kunal in this condition. It was not that he will be long gone. In two days Kunal too will join him. The two roomies had made a deal that they will attend the wedding together. Kunal’s tickets were booked lately.

Kunal’s thoughts went back to that hot day of May when his father broke his only DSLR. “Medical or nothing,” yelled Baba. Vikki tried to lighten up the atmosphere, “Bro, there is going to be full on masti in the bachelor’s party, do not forget to bring your leather jacket. We will go for a long drive bro after the party” Kunal’s thoughts were interrupted and he replied with a faint smile. The train arrived and Vikki and Kunal ran towards the coach B2. A huge crowd followed. Kunal and Vikki were able to push themselves through the mob, “Everyone is going to reach the same destination at the same time, yet why do they rush to enter the train…” Kunal remarked at Vikki. “Promise me bro, you are going to take care of yourself” asked Vikki. Kunal gave a nod and told him he is not going to miss the wedding. This was followed by a hearty laugh. The train left, the platform felt silent amidst all the noise.

He wanders towards the lively Majestic bus station. The bustling of the masses was inevitable to miss. With his bag pack he walks as if he had nowhere to go. A lot of people are leaving Bangalore, or maybe he feels so because even he wants to leave. After few minutes he boards a bus. “Failed again, you are a desperate shame to the family!! This is the bloody last time I am paying for this next time you better not show me your face…” Baba’s voice echoed from the phone, when the last time they spoke. He knew he was a desperate shame, after all being a son of an engineer he was not able to clear a single exam without failing.

“Ticket, ticket, ticket, ticket…” the conductor cried, laying out his sweaty palm towards Kunal. Kunal took out a crumbled Rs.50 note, “ISRO Layout.” “Excuse me, is this some joke? This bus goes towards Dodda Banaswadi not ISRO Layout.” said the conductor. Kunal refused at first but later realized his mistake and wished to get down at the next stop. The conductor with a grimace across his moustache cut a ticket for him and then returned the remaining change. The next stop was Malleshwaram circle. It was early morning, and the wind was chilly. Kunal had a thin shirt on; with nothing else to cover himself he took out his lab coat from his bag pack. He was freezing in this weather and needed ‘chai’ the solution to every problem.

In search of ‘chai’ he ended up in front of KC General Hospital. He stared straight in to the hospital. Last week too he was in one such hospital. All hospitals look and feel the same. “Keep your eyes open, don’t give up, bro you are a strong man…” Vikki’s voice echoed. “The only thing I remember was blood from my wrists and my will to not live anymore. Everything was just dark and peaceful. To be a doctor who works in some hospital like this is what Baba wants” he thought, “photographers are only needed during weddings.” A sudden wish to go inside occurred. Kunal walked into the hospital that is filled with smell of various medicines just like his college laboratory. No one bothered to stop him. He picks up a stethoscope and a syringe from the tray at the end of the shiny corridor.

“See now I am Dr. Kunal, just the way Baba wants me to be, Dr. Kunal is the solution to my entire problems,” Kunal’s thoughts ran as he inserted a needle to the syringe. “Baba would have been so proud of me if he saw me now, the great Dr. Kunal now will inject medicine in to his patient” he did a injecting action. He laughed. Suddenly he was stopped by a nurse. “Are you Dr. Kunal?” she asked, Kunal was confused how she knew about him. “Dr. Ramesh has called you immediately to the operation theatre, there is an emergency case and he needs help,” Kunal did not say anything instead slipped the syringe in to his pocket then followed the nurse.

He saw an operation for the first time in his life. He was a medical student and it was not difficult for him mix in as he knew the terminologies well. It lasted for some 30 minutes. The patient was referred to as Mr. KC. It was an URS surgery for removal of a big kidney stone. “Mr. KC will be fine after this,” exclaimed Dr. Ramesh. Kunal was asked to accompany the patient to the special ward. He agreed because he needed to get out of the OT as soon as possible before he gets caught. He goes to the wash basin, washes his hand, and then fills the syringe with water. He reached the ward with Mr. KC which was next to the ward of an old lady who was resting. Her relative sat next to her bed, reading a book.

“Dr. Kunal is the solution to my entire problems” thought Kunal. “I need to embrace this opportunity… what use is a doctor who did not give an injection at all.” After settling Mr. KC’s case he goes to the ward of that old lady named Parvati. “I need to give her an injection. Please go out and bring her health records from the reception.” Kunal said that to the relative of Parvati who was reading a book. Without any delay, patient Parvati’s relative stepped out and started walking towards the reception.

“Could you please turn your head?” asked Kunal. She obeyed. Suddenly he injected her neck. Before Parvati could do anything he left the syringe and caught hold of her sleek gold chain then ran towards the stairs marked ‘fire exit.’ Parvati let out a shrill but faint cry. Before anyone could hear it, Kunal was out of the hospital pacing towards the bus-stop while he stuffed his coat, the stethoscope and the chain in his bag. “Dr. Kunal is the solution to my entire problem, Baba will be so proud…” he thought while he boarded another bus.