continued from part 1.......
For years I had wondered about the full form of KEM Hospital but felt stupid to ask.
And suddenly, lo behold here was the answer in bold
"King Edward Memorial Hospital".
(Chalo, at least one of life's many questions was answered).
Founded in 1926, KEM is one of the oldest government (sarkari) hospital.
It ranks among the top 10 medical care providers and medical college in the country. It has 1800 beds and treats approx 1.9 million patients annually (5000 per day).
The word "Sarkari Aspital" always takes me back to my cycling days.
Cycling as a sport involves high speed.
High speed always brings with it accidents and sever injuries.
When ever any of the national cyclists' had a fall or an accident we were rushed to "sarkari aspital" mainly because we could afford none other.
The crowd, long queues, smell, dirt and mess are all part of Sakari Aspitals. But the experience and expertise of its 'no nonsense' doctors is superlative.
Fortunately for us, the timing was right.
At 4am, there were very few patients in the emergency/casualty wing, awaiting their turn with the doctor at this time of the morning.
With my dad and sis, I awaited my turn.
I tried to make some polite conversation, but both were in shock and relatively speechless.
"Next", a voice called out.
I went into a cabin like room, small but well lit for preliminary investigation and diagnosis. The room was open enough for all inquisitive patients to poke their nose in other's ailments and get consoled.
I took seat on a worn out chair opposite the doctor on duty.
The plastic weaving of the seat had worn off from the centre and so it could double up as a toilet seat.
Expressionless and emotionless, the doctor questioned me.
She was young and sported a boycut hair style.
I was impressed with her unemotional Q&A style.
"I stay in Thane (outskirts of Bombay), on the border of Yeoour forest (it is the back side of Borivali national Park). Unfortunately due to heavy construction by builders, a lot of snakes are getting displaced from their rightful place".
"I was trying to save one which had slithered near the gate of my building. He was a very beautiful one.
I am glad I was around when he was there.
I tried to help him shift to a safer place.
Unfortunately, he misunderstood me and gave me a.... kiss".
"After the kiss, he sobered, and I managed to shift him to a greener safer area".
I waited for her to respond.
Where is the snake", she questioned my family, "did you bring it along with you?"
"Nope. My parents stay 30 kms away from me and they weren't with me when it happened. And how would I ever dream of bringing it?" I asked.
"2 days ago, a lady came here because of a snake bite. Her husband walked behind her, with the snake in a jar" she said.
"Was the snake dead or alive?" I queried meekly.
She didn't bother to answer my question.
It helps identifying the snake", she told my dad.
Hmmm.... but I didn't carry the snake with me
and neither did I expect her to be able to identify the snake.
"Describe it" she said as she checked my arm and the bite on my thumb.
"It was small, may be a foot long, with a beautiful pattern of light and dark brown scales, one of the cutest I have seen.
Its small thick body was was coiled up tight into S shaped folds, very neat and compact, and he kept rubbing his scales, making a phfuuuu... phfuuuu sound".
The audio without visual of the snake sounded very filmy.
But he was a piece of marvel.
On my medical form she penned her investigations and observations "Alleged history of snake bite".
'ALLEGED'?
Nahiiii ! that's not right.
I was heart broken.
Why did she write such an unsuitable unjust word?
Suddenly she gave my case a twist of a suicide attempt.
I stared at her in anger for her betrayal of my love for animals.
(Much later I learned that this was the official language for penning 'serious cases').
I was disheartened, crest fallen.
Couldn't she write anything kinder than 'alleged'?
My heart cried.
'Alleged' hurt my heart more than my arm.
Morally and spiritually I was let down.
Suddenly I felt out of steam and esteem.
"What time did it happen ?" she continued.
"Around 10.30 pm". I replied in low volume.
She continued scribbling in semi-legible writing.
"Get her admitted to ICU immediately", void of emotion, facial expression or voice modulation, she instructed my father, as she handed me my OPD form.
"The time frame for effective remedial action is 5 hours,
after which complications start".
It was now 6 hours since.
On the form she had encircled her surmise of expertise.
On reading it my eyes popped out like fried eggs.
Man ! This wasn't like a mosquito kiss or a frog prince kiss
This was by no way an ordinary kiss
Fortunately or Unfortunately
it was a Saw-scaled Viper's kiss!
to be continued.....
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