If it was another call

to be remembered, I can’t afford to forget this day.
In the early hours was a call for resuscitation.
A young Zimbabwean woman who had delivered a beautiful baby on the 2nd developed abdominal pains from 7th which had become worse since the previous evening.
Unable to bear,  the young couple had come to the hospital.
Whilst waiting for being attended she collapsed suddenly and was being resuscitated. So far, it’s a normal affair, which does happen in any casualty department.
Now,  the resuscitation attempt proves unsuccessful and the patient dies.
It’s another routine thing which happens and the certification is done for further formalities.

For a moment I thought, let me talk to the young husband.
There I saw, this young man may be just out of teens carrying the nice chubby baby wrapped in shawl and holding a milk bottle in another hand.
He had already been told of the death, so I asked him, if he had anybody for help?
He had thought that it will be just another ordinary ailment and he would admit her in the hospital and will go to work from the hospital direct, an inference born out of the fact that he was with his work suit.

My simple question had shattered him: Only then did he realize that he has a responsibility in the arms and a ritual waiting to be performed.
He silently pushed out a tear from his tired sleepless eyes and softly replied,
“No, Sir “.

May be in that moment the future of that baby was running like a cine film in his mind. Here is a man, who had left his home in another country,
Until recently life was overflowing with joy and happiness and now suddenly his better half is gone with the wind.
And the arms are carrying a huge responsibility.

To be a doctor and walk away after resuscitation like this is a routine,
but for a second just a courtesy enquiry pulls me back to become more humane...
His facial expression on that early morning sun has left a lasting impression in my heart...
I gently patted his shoulders, conveying my sympathies.
Untold words of comfort were passed on to his mind as I could see in his eyes the sense of thanks…..
It was not just another call...