I've Been Kissed - last and final - part 8 (a tale of Love, Beauty and Stupidity)

continued.....

ICU - DAY 3

6 AM

I was awakened by the hustle bustle of the nurses in the morning.

I sat up and looked around, the nurses in their 'neel' white, busily moving around. 

In the last 2 days, I had recovered all the lost hours of sleep. 

I felt energised.

After a non-intravenous breakfast, I was feeling fit and fine. 

I walked around in the ICU in my karate suit, met other patients and their relatives who shared their patient's history. 

Some of them shared with me their village snake tales.....

One's relative was bitten and his whole body became blue, she said.

Was it Krishna Blue or Neel Blue I wondered? 

Another one had to amputate his leg. And for yet another one of them, the wife of the snake came back to attack her son.

I also met and chatted with all the doctors on duty. 

It was time to meet and greet them cheerfully. 

A visit to the doctor is only in sickness or pain 

when we can barely smile or say a hi.  

The ones who come to meet them 
are always crying in pain 

All we want to do is cry and complaint
of our body invaded by sickness and pain. 

To be continually around the sick, moaning and injured,  

day or night,
in rain or shine, 

daily fighting for life to survive, 

certainly ain't for the faint heart and mind. 

I wanted to hug all the doctors for dedicating their life to this morbid profession, 

for masking their psychological and emotional stress, 

and ensuing their commitment to saving unknown lives, 
day and night. 

At 10 am, my sister came in the ICU holding a small katori of milk with both hands. 

She looked visibly relieved as my platelet count was on the rise.

"It's Nag Panchmi today", she said with a smirk, raising one eyebrow as she passed on the katori to me. 

Her loving offer I could not deny. 

I stretched out my unforked tongue and unlike the snakes I lapped it all.

We hugged each other for a long time.      

The rest of the day passed by with a stream of visitors coming in and out of the ICU, to meet me. 

The day passed quickly. 

My mom who had been teary eyed all thru, even now, could barely smile.   

At night,

in the ICU the mighty matron's saga continued, 

outside in the corridor 
Peekay's night with his battalion ensued.

   

ICU : DAY 4 

By now, I was an active member in the ICU.

I became the reliever for the inpatients relatives when they needed to go to the loo or for lunch.
   
After 13 vials of anti venin, my recovery was on an upswing.

By evening I was shifted from ICU to HDU.  

Fortunately my platelets speedily increased

Unfortunately, the level of cleanliness in the HDU decreased 

and the air-conditioning ceased!

  

At night, in the corridor, 
Peekay's entertainment ensued,

but the matron's saga got discontinued.

  

 DAY 5 

DISCHARGED!  

The final billing at the life saving Sarkari Aspital was Rs.6500/- 

PRICELESS!

Fortunately-Unfortunately my life was priced-less! 

As we exited King Edward Memorial Hospital in triumph and relief, we passed by Dr. Savita in her white doctor coat, the emotionless, expressionless doctor with the boy cut who had examined my bite on arrival.

Excitedly I leaned 3/4th out of the car window frantically waving my arm and calling her by name to catch her attention ....."Bye Dr. Savita".  
My mom held on to my lower body to avoid stupid accidents.

Through the inflow of patients and people she scoured for the sound of her name and when her eyes saw me on my way out of the hospital, 
a small smile she could not refrain. 

Her expressionless face, so alive it became. 

"Thank you" I yelled and waved in gratitude, as our car was forced to move on thru the traffic. 

As I wrap up the saga 
or rather 

as I coil up the saga 
of the coiled up Saw-Scaled Viper 

a few things I'd like to bare....

First-aid has greatly changed in the case of a venomous snake bite. 

No tourniquet No ice

All bodily movements to be minimised

No drink, No food, Not even a small bite,

Don't cut the wound or try to suck it out 
in effort to de-venomize

Lie down or keep the wound low below the heart  

And the most important thing till you reach the hospital..... 

STAY STUPIDLY CALM !

After I was bitten, I grossly underplayed the pain (a hereditary defect). 

I could neither understand nor express the burning and jabbing inside my arm. 

It was only after return from the hospital when I searched through the internet, I could attach words to the pain. 

Neurotoxic bite is less painful but more dangerous and quick, 
and if delayed....fateful. 

Hemotoxic bite is very painful, 
fortunately it's effect is slower, gives more time before it gets fateful. 

Not all snakes are venomous and not all venomous bites are painful! 
Never ignore a snake bite 
Lest it turn.... dreadful!

At home, when I went for my first non sponge bath on return from the hospital,

I discovered my arm was discoloured Red-Purple-Blue! 
Is this Krishna blue, I wondered? 

My family was, is and will remain 
lover of all animals including snakes

We admire nature's beauty 
and still stare at viper's scales

In wonder we appreciate 

how a handless legless creature 
has evolved to catch its prey.

I was kissed by a viper and survived, 
My parents Thank God I survived 

My elder sister is happy I am alive, this tale to write,

My younger sister though thankful 

wonders... 
how such a stupid person is still alive. 

I agree, stupidity in my blood runs high.

Fortunately Unfortunately.... 

Stupidity has no limits and can achieve great heights. 

              -----------The End----------