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| Sunday, 19 January 2003 |
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Boomerang
Catching a bus to Meegoda, her home town, was not an easy job at that hour. They took a trishaw, since there was not enough time to walk to the public library. They were on time and the bus was empty too, except for a few seats. Nelly sat near the entrance with her daughter. She couldn't believe her luck! At least now she could relax till they get home. Working as an eye surgeon in the Colombo Eye Hospital was not an easy job. It was a very demanding job. A single slip-up on her part could ruin a patient for life. Being a good mother and a good wife is much more taxing. A slight misjudgment could wreck their whole lives. Trying to balance these two jobs were the most difficult challenge in her life. Every evening, except on Tuesdays and Thursdays, when she had to go for private practice to a leading private hospital, Nelly drove home with her daughter Akila. Driving home in the traffic was another challenge. Life is full of challenges. May be that is the force behind their survival. Yesterday, their car broke down and Nelly had to use the public transport system to travel. The bus stopped at various places to get the regular commuters. Empty seats started filling up one by one. Near the BMICH a couple got in from the front entrance. The man boldly elbowed her to get up from the seats. "Why should I?" Nelly asked back. Regulars "We are regulars in this bus. This seat belongs to us. Everybody knows it. Now without wasting our time please get up." "But, this is public transport. I paid my fare as everybody. I have a right to a seat as all of you". "Don't try to teach me about rights! This is our seat and this is our office bus. Get up before I drag you up." The man was talking like a thug. Nelly felt embarrassed; but, no one came to her rescue. She saw insulting smiles on some of the faces. Her daughter was nudging her to get up. But, Nelly didn't want to give up easily either. She firmly sat on her seat. "Conductor, tell this woman to get up." The man shouted to the back of the bus. She was shocked to hear her being called a woman in a vulgar way. She was a well respected doctor. But these people didn't know it. "Miss, please get up. That seat belongs to the gentleman. Don't try to create problems." The conductor shouted back. "Pride goeth before a fall." The man mocked her making others laugh. Humiliated Nelly felt humiliated. She knew she couldn't travel in this bus any far. She got up and rang the bell amidst the laughter of the passengers. The man and woman rudely pushed them away while sitting. "My god Amma. why did you argue with those people? You know very well about the office crowd. Didn't you read that paper article about the 'Ruhunu Kumari' train? They are a different kind of Mafia! There is no wonder that the government sector is going to ruin with such bad-mannered people working in them". "You know Duwa, it's not entirely their fault for being what they are. They are the worst paid lot in this country. See, even after being a fully qualified and experienced eye surgeon, how much I get from the government service! If not for my private practice, I wouldn't have had a chance in this society". Ill mannered "Poverty has nothing to do with ill manners! They only know how to shout for their plate of rice. What about the people who come to them for assistance? Do they take care of those people's rights? You know, I'm all for privatisation. But, the first thing they should do is to get rid of the people, who are responsible for the fall of such places. But, it's not happening. That's the hitch". Nelly knew her daughter was right. The country was so politicised, that nothing happens right. It has even spread to the education system. Nowadays, students have knives in their pockets instead of pens. It took a long time for Nelly to get the ugly incident out of her mind, making her use a taxi whenever the car was not available. It saved her time and trouble, which was worth the cost. Accident "Doctor, doctor, there has been a gruesome accident at Narahenpita. They are bringing in the wounded. Doctor Athukorala wants you at the accident ward immediately." Her ward sister came rushing in one evening, while Nelly was getting ready to go for private practices. She promptly cancelled her evening appointments and hurried to the OPD. The trolleys were full. Blood was all over the place. Now there are no bombs, but accidents she thought to herself. Some patients were screaming with pain. Nelly had a full night with four urgent eye operations. It was nearly noon when she went home. She didn't know anything about the accident excepting that a bus had oversped to its doom somewhere on the new highway from Borella to Kirulapona. Updated Nelly slept the whole day, and it was the night news, which updated her on the accident. She was taken aback when she realised that it was the office bus from Town Hall to Meegoda. Only the driver had died. All the others had escaped with injuries, most were serious. She wondered about the man and woman, and the conductor, who gave her a hard time in the bus. Tomorrow she would visit the wards and find out. Nelly was glad that all her operations were successful. It was very difficult to remove the tiny bits of glass and grit from the eyes. It took her a lot of time. But she was happy that she could save their eye sights. She had rounds in the wards. But, there were none who looked familiar. Even after a week, she was unable to locate those she was looking for. Maybe they were not on the bus when it happened. About a week later, Nelly was in her office, tending to paper work one afternoon, when some patients came in. "Doctor, may we come in?" She looked briefly up and beckoned them in and went on to finish what she was doing, when suddenly something clicked. She stopped what she was doing and looked at the visitors. Some were still with bandages around their heads and limbs. But, it was not hard to recognise them. She motioned them to sit down. "Doctor, we came to say thank you and also to say sorry for that day's incident." "Why didn't you tell us who you were?" The conductor asked apologetically. "Would it have made any difference?" They looked at each other. "Probably you would have insulted my profession too. Besides, you didn't know that such an accident would happen to you, and would be at my mercy. If you knew that, you would have treated me differently." Sorry "We are really sorry for what happened. We saw you going round the wards. But, none of us had the guts to talk to you." "When we inquired who you were, the nurses talked reverently of you." "We are really ashamed of ourselves. Please accept our apologies." Hereafter remember, public service is not private property." Nelly chuckled but her tone was firm. |
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It
was getting dark and drizzling too. Nelly coaxed her daughter to hurry up.
She knew there was a bus starting near the public library in another ten
minutes time. It was a male nurse, who gave her the information.
