Wednesday, September 28, 2011

An old blog from India and ofcourse Indian...

I thought of writing.
But I lack a subject and so writing could be difficult to deal with. I hate structure also, may be my carelessness exhibits this trait of mine, I adore flexibility.
So what I’ll write here is the flight my thoughts have taken and would try analyse the trajectory behind it.
Woke up, hangover. Slept Again.
Only to find out on waking up again that my folks have gone to office(M on vacation to my Native Place, Indore) to perform the task that society has so blatantly gifted them in order to survive in this “selfless” world, after meticulously calculating their degrees, area of expertise that is being forced upon them and comfortably ignoring the fact that they could be good at something else. Well a bit of a rebellion here and there.
Went out to shopping, at 1045Hrs: To realize that shops are closed. So I strolled on the roads which looks so familiar as I’ve spent all my childhood here, yet so distant and suddenly a strange realization hit me that even though I’ve been hatched and ‘ve dwelled at this place for 18 years, I have never walked on these roads and a smile lit up, I started enjoying the trip. Bought three formal shirts 2 for my folks one for my bro and one jeans- for me. Just wondering how they would feel when they will look at it. Three arrow shirts and a lee jeans: Rs5k, A look on your father’s face un-rapping the shirts- Priceless, there are some things money can’t buy-for everything else, you-need-to-slog-your-ass-down-the-drain card.
Done my bit of shopping and came home at about 1300Hrs, the time when my folks will hit the house for lunch. Had lunch beaming with excitement over the new read that I purchased a while ago, my first in the J K Rowling series Harry Potter and the philosophers stone (Why didn’t I read it before), and Jeffery Archers The Prodigal Daughter, the second in series after Kane and abel. After going through a painful book on Transaction theory and game analysis, Interesting but complicated I thought I need some elves and goblins and magic masala. I’m happyyyyyy I’ll start with Rowling.
Had lunch, folks went to their respective second abode again, I switched on the TV, the heater and 20-20 match was on air, though I hate watching matches but 20-20 can be tolerated a fair bit more then one day and Eternal Test Matches, I often m afraid whenever there’s a test match going on, put this TV for some good use rather then tick tock complimented with insane commentary of Siddhu. Bhajji and irfan I guess(M lousy with names of cricketers), ran to catch a ball and even though they had it, they dropped it. A friggin crucial wicket, dropped. Bhajji smiled. I smiled, better luck next time.
Anyways, I went out, passed by a house where loud music was being played, I heard some noises coming out young guys having ball of a time and I started missing college days. Just that very moment I thought I’ll get through ISB. I have a trace of doubt that I wont be able to make it. What if. They expect even more.
What I’m eternally afraid of is dark, which takes everything within and yet would not show a slightest iota of discomfort, it leaves me speechless, insecure, just cuz one of my senses is devoid of functioning in dark, how much we’re dependent on them, imagine people who have lost it forever. Smile for you have it and the guts who live life without it. I remember a story from readers digest where they gift a painting to the colleague who was blind, just to make him feel that he’s no different. No body wants a tag that shows you are “Politically Privileged”
I don’t know why and how scandals came into picture or rather exist, when secrets are not to be kept or are loosely locked up.
I went to a park nearby, it use to boast of lush green meadow and fountains neatly coupled with trees, spic and span, I use to take sweety(my pet dog) out for a walk over there and she use to run here and there, not for her own comfort but to let us know how much is to be discovered in things which we casually choose to ignore, after some point in time I was sure that it wasn’t us who adopted sufi, it was sufi who adopted us(J S at TOI edit.). Coming back to the park, now when I saw the park it was messy, the fountains were dying of thirst, and there are leaves falling from trees which were scattered all around, it was looking… very beautiful, grass have a bed-sheet now to face this cold the bed-sheet of leaves, however rusted they may be but once they come out of tress and become lifeless, they form a part of reproduction. I thought that nature is best if not tempered with. I looked at it again and a smile lit up.
Then I saw a dry cleaner at the housing row that is behind my house, that man who use to run it has made a two storey bungalow out of his shabby looking house, and then I recalled my entire row where 90% of the houses stand two stories tall, erect, showing confidence on “perhaps” booming Indian economy, my clients says that it (GDP-9%) only favors metropolitan cities and stock market, now I have an example to prove my point, cuz when we first shifted here some14 yrs ago it was all single story row of houses being built by housing board, looking like clones of each other. All the neighbor use to have kids of my age, leave aside one or two, boys use to go and study at St. Pauls school(Masculine), girls to Sofia(Feminine) or Modern(By). How come all the people who are living in that vicinity have more or less the same demographics, I don’t want to get into it. May be every one got prosperous as they saved penny by penny to reach here where most of the kids I knew off are working everywhere but Indore. Immediately I recalled the crushes and love triangles, the gossips that use to take place at that time. Bubblegum Romance. Yes once again I smiled.
No matter how many complexities and problems may be cropping up around you, you don’t need reason, situation, possessions, places and faces to cheer you up, you just need to look around and you’ll find million reasons to smile and to say what the heck, what can deter me from feeling good, after all its not the destination that makes life worth living but the journey towards it. Stay focused but not so much that you loose the essence of your destination.
Why???? You may be wondering.
At the end of the day even if you become Gates of software or Khan of bollywood, you will get used to it. Imagine the first time you bought yourself a new phone with countless Turn-Me-On-Too features that you seldom use now…baby cuz you are used to it. Enjoy the journey while it last, trust me the manzil is not as exciting as the journey.
Ingredients: Face and a Curve, pointing towards sky.
Adios: I have to talk to Harry Potter…Nice Laddie huh

Saturday, July 23, 2011

"What's a libido?"

Patients have this uncanny ability to come up and surprise you. Sure, you need to go through hundreds before you can garner enough tales worthy of a blog, but this next one takes the cake. You'll find these people when you least expect them, when your brain is at its dormant best, figuratively twiddling its olfactory lobes & definitely not in a state to process what's about to present itself.

I was sitting peacefully in my OBGY clinic yesterday when a tame looking 45 year old woman was brought by her husband. It was almost lunchtime & this hubby had a look of serious concern on his face that made my heart sink; I was expecting a long history. So, he starts off & then suddenly trails, feeling uncomfortable discussing his wife's *cough*cough* reproductive prowess. My resident came by and sat herself down, telling him that he needn't be embarrassed. For my younger friends out there studying medicine, I'd rather describe the complaints in usual 'case format':

Patient, ABCD, 45 year old married female, G3P3L3A0, living in Mumbai, hailing from XYZ, was brought by her husband, who is also her informant, with chief complaints of:
  • Excessive libido since 6 months
  • Unusual need to experiment in bed, especially positions
  • Insatiable urge to seek sexual satisfaction with other men in absence of husband
  • Severe exhaustion & dehydration of husband intermittently
Patient claims, "There's nothing bothering me, it's my husband who's worrying too much". 
Husband claims psychological distress at seeing her with strange men when he comes home. 
There's no past history of heart disease (Thank God!), hypertension, diabetes, TB, asthma, psychiatric illness or surgeries

Diagnosis: Refer to psychiatry

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Never give up on "Strange"

Dr. Linda Freeman: Anything bothering you lately?
Charlie Harper: Well, there is this one thing, but I don't know if it's medical or psychological.
Dr. Linda Freeman: Tell me.
Charlie Harper: Lately, I've passed up a couple of opportunities to get some strange.
Dr. Linda Freeman: *Strange*?
Charlie Harper: Oh... Women with whom I have not previously been acquainted.
Dr. Linda Freeman: Oh, right, strange. Charming.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the characters, they're from Two And A Half Men. (For those who are even geekier, its Season 6 Episode 15)

I've shared this for two reasons. One, I find it incredibly funny how the character objectifies women. Two, I like "strange" too. Don't get me wrong, I'm not really referring to women here, but, I'm always one to try out new things. As a kid, I once came across this poster which read, "Between two evils, pick one you haven't tried before". Once again, I apologize for the poor choice of examples to convey my point. Apparently, Google couldn't help me find alternatives without sex and alcohol involved. 

Give yourself the "Strange" treatment! 

Enter a restaurant and instead of going through the menu, ask the attendant to get you what he feels is good. Don't fuss over the type of sauce, side-dishes etc. Try out something new for a change, what's the worst that can happen? I'm yet to ever order a drink based on what's written under its name. If the description was important, it wouldn't be in such a small font, would it? 

When out in a lounge, bar or just waiting for a table in a restaurant, strike up a conversation with the girl opposite you. No, you don't need to blast off on a romantic tangent, just talk. You'd be surprised how interesting the opposite sex seems when you take sex out of the picture. Wait, scratch that! 

Ask your friends to pick something to do & don't bother resisting their choice. I recently went to see Vagina Monologues, with a group of 5 women nonetheless (slaps forehead) & left after an hour of intense laughter. 

Something you should know about the "Strange" Treatment, it's especially good if you're lethargic. There's nothing I hate more than having to plan, co-ordinate & arrange for 'days out'. Strange does all the work for you & things work out most of the time. Though I strongly suggest those with a neo-Nazi, ultra-authoritative personality to stay away. You're one kind of strange I'd pass up on any day! Strange isn't about losing control, its about giving it up peacefully.

Cheers to another strange weekend

Thursday, June 23, 2011

What rhymes with blood?

There once was a doctor fresh out of school,
About to enter a hospital very cruel.
He looked around the ward, totally enthused,
Not knowing he'll soon be thoroughly abused.
The residents knew how this creature would work,
With wide eyes in the shadows they'd lurk;
Hunting, searching, grabbing at the chance
To make him on their fingertips, dance.

Everyday patients would come & go,
But somehow his knowledge would never grow.
Then one day he finally decided,
He'd do no work unless he was properly guided.
He'd prod & pry & request on both knees,
"Sir, won't you teach me what you're doing, please?"
"Alright" was the reply, the resident still undecided,
He looked around & towards a patient he glided.
"Here's this patient, draw his blood", he said
The intern would rather treat the disease instead.
Fresh out of school he still jumped at the chance,
Not knowing this would end up becoming his ritual dance.

For from that morning his life would flood,
With endless, over-powering collections of blood.
Days passed by without any respite,
Still trying to overpower a small vein's might.
He knew that soon something needed to be done,
Looking at his own veins made his head spun.
He told his superiors, "Sir, Why not give it a rest?
Why we need so much blood, I cannot digest
Every morning, I bleed these men & women dry,
And, if it clots, I must give it another try"
They just laughed & handed him another list,
More blood to collect, the intern got pissed!
The patient list crushed within his fist,
And so his protest they easily dismissed.

He walked over to the door & hung up a sign:
'Without blood, urine & stool we can't make you fine.
And if you so choose to decline our request,
I love you for finally giving me some rest.
Here, the needles are not the only pricks,
Cause these doctors can be such dastardly dicks.
Soon I'll bid adieu & be out of your hair
Leaving another intern be the cause of despair'



Sunday, June 19, 2011

The Textbook Paradigm

My first post as guest blogger & I'm already breaking into a cold sweat. Not because I don't really have something to write about (I pull off miracles with nonsense everyday), but  because I was told other students/professionals from different streams have been called together to blog for Bucket-Bolt. I don't have  a clue what they're going to writing about (or whether they'll write at all). Maybe some engineering guy can post how to edit html script, cause its ruining my own blog. Wishful thinking on my part?

Coming back to the actual post, it didn't take a mental mad-dash to come up a suitable subject. Seeing what Bucket-bolt's primary business is, books kinda seemed obvious. So, here's my version of The Textbook Paradigm

I'm a nerd & love being that way. There's nothing I love more than my books. Over the course of school, college & now med school, I've amassed a huge library of every damn subject that even vaguely interests me & books that I've ordered especially for me. I proudly display my titles in neat stacks & piles in my room for all to see, like a tribute to my medical degree! I love the smell of new books. Its reminiscent of all the years gone by, every memory like a page describing a fresh year at college.

Every year, I go through the regular routine of making up a list, checking what's available, ordering them from  Bucket-Bolt (I swear I do) & start tagging all the books with my name. From that point on, its all downhill! The books seem a lot less interesting once you have to read every last page. Watching the pages turn from pristine white to beige has to be one of the slowest processes ever. Another particular problem I have is that no one truly appreciates the size of the book you're reading. In my college, everyone turns the book on its side & examines the rows of pages that've turned brown; its a marker for how much you've actually managed to read. Its a royal piss-off, one that should be punishable by the electric chair!

Another particular problem, especially for med students is the "edition mismatch". The moment a fresh edition is published, be sure that whatever you know or believe you know is now of no significance. Medical knowledge changes so rapidly & fresh additions are made at such a rapid pace that you can't afford to rely on an earlier edition. It's times like these when I'm thankful that we have a lot of people around who are more than happy to exchange older books for new. For one, its definitely lighter on my stipend & secondly, who wants outdated stuff lying around? I don't store old newspapers, do I? Though I definitely wish there was a way of transferring all my markings & post-it notes from one book to another. Wishful thinking, again? 

Feel free to comment if you've had something similar happen to you or if you're nerdier than me when it comes to books! Until then, I'll leave you with a hilarious video I found online: