26th
December, 2013
SPM
lecture hall:
I had my SPM pre
final practical today. We should take a Clinico-social
case after statistics and epidemiological exercise. Even though I prepared
well, I was tensed. I was ready to take any case, except those two diseases
caused by that awful Mycobacterium.
Even though, we were
related to Community Medicine since our second year, we were never told about
the pattern of the practical. It was around 10 am, we finished our stats and
epidemiological exercise. I started developing tachycardia, thinking about the
Clinico-social case. A final year PG, Dr. Niharika came and started calling the
roll numbers.
Answer sheets were
kept in a row in inverted manner on the table on the stage of the lecture hall.
Each student was asked to pick any answer sheet of their choice and take the
case of the disease that is written on it. It was purely based on our luck. I
was in deep thoughts thinking about what case I would get…
“Roll no: -
60!!!” the
PG called.
“Who is roll
number 60??” she shouted this time.
“Sharmila…”
“Sharmi…”
shouted my friends in chorus.
I came into my
senses and ran towards the podium to check my fortune. I was glancing at all
the papers, thinking what to take…
I kept my hand on
the last but first one on my left, I was about to take it. My heart sensed
something bad & within microseconds I changed my mind and took the paper
which was right in front of me.
I was about to turn
the paper and see, but suddenly the pg dragged it from me. She noted it on her
paper and returned it back to me and said, “Go to O.P
fast… be ready with your case in 45 minutes…”
“Ok madam!”
I said hardly and I turned the page to see the case. To my shock… and to my
misfortune it was… TUBERCULOSIS!!
My mind was blank,
and I almost stumbled from the stage. Reluctantly, I collected my things and
started walking to the O.P.
“Sharmi…! Wait
till I come…” I heard Prathyusha’s voice. Her face was very sad even than me.
“Yaa… Ok! I will wait there at
the steps! Anyhow why are you such gloomy? What’s your case?”I
asked.
“Hmm….
LEPROSY!” she said in a dull note.
“Eee… why is
this Mycobacterium only behind us? I don’t know anything about TB health
Schemes and treatment protocols… that DOTS and other stuff!”
I was worried.
“Chill… You
can read that in Park after your case is finished. But what about me, I have to
examine all the peripheral nerves! I don’t know their anatomy at all!”
she screamed.
“You can call
someone from the hostel to come downstairs, to give you anatomy book.”
Someone said hearing our conversation.
“Idea…!!! I
will call Himaja to come with me to O.P and help me in the case.”
I shouted.
“Tell her to
bring the book too”
Prathyu
added.
****----------------------------------*****---------------------------------******
“Hello! Himmi!
What are you doing? Come fast to O.P. I got TB case! You have to help me…”
“What? Sharmi… how can I come?
What if the staff sees me there?” Himaja exclaimed.
“Oh!! It is
only a pre final. No one is going to come to check the students. Stop the discussion and come fast. Also bring
Anatomy text book for Prathyu, she got Leprosy case”
“Ha ha …. Both
of my friends got wedged with Mycobacterium… LOL!! It is so good to hear,”
she giggled.
“Stop your non
sense. Be in O.P soon… I will be waiting! Bye!”
“Ok… bye!! I’m
coming…”
****------------------------------------*****----------------------------------*****
TB
clinic:
I entered the TB
clinic. I got a Relapse case of a 40 yr old male. I started taking the case.
Even though, I don’t need Himaja, I just called her without expecting the
further consequences.
I was engaged in my
work. Suddenly I heard someone screaming Himaja’s name. Though I was happy that she came, my smile
disappeared as soon I saw her. My dearest friend came to help me as soon as I
called, not even bothering about her appearance.
She didn’t even comb
her hair. I couldn’t resist laughing at her. I and Himaja discussed my case for
a while.
“Sharmi… I know that you don’t need me… you called me
unnecessarily.” Himaja yelled.
“Oh… I just
called you, because I was tensed. You can go now…”
I started concentrating on my patient.
I thought that
himaja left. But she didn’t go…. She was busy chatting with my other classmates
and I didn’t notice that.
Suddenly, two PGs
came to the clinic. Everyone who had their books open closed them, and arranged themselves in front of their
patients.
One of them was Dr.
Niharika… I could hear her voice from my back. She was asking, “Who are you?”
I turned back to
see, who that was? And I was shocked to that it was Himaja… My idiot friend still didn’t go from here!!
I was frightened. I was just staring them with fear filled eyes.
My clever friend
started acting like a lay village girl with an innocent face and naïve eyes. She
didn’t react to our PG. She behaved as if she doesn’t know English. She was seeing around the surroundings,
typically like the patients who come to Gandhi for the first time.
Even though, the
situation was serious… I was laughing hysterically. My cute friend will definitely get a Nandi Award if she does a
movie… seriously! True…
Our pg came near to
Himaja and asked in Telugu, “avaramma nuvvu?? enkada endhuku unnav?”
Himaja said in a low voice, “Madam… ma uncle!!” she pointed towards a patient.
“Ok! But why are you so afraid?
You are a medico. You have to be bold!” We were hell
shocked, when we knew that our PG recognized Himaja as a student.
“Madam… that
my uncle came to this clinic…” Himaja said.
“Ok… don’t ever fear to speak.
Be dominative! Here exam is going on you go and sit aside.”
“Ok… madam!”
Then Himaja left.
Our PG indentified
Himaja as a medico. But she was not clever enough to find out that she was
helping the other students. J
Although, it was a
serious scene, we enjoyed a lot. Himaja’s stellar performance was worth to
remember. It was one of my crazy acts in Gandhi with my bestie.
I'm really lucky to have such a friend, who supports in every act and never complains about anything....
