A Thing of Beauty.....

I was 3rd in the queue and she was 4th. So we sat in the same lounge, waiting for our turns, to be examined by the country’s top oncologist, in the world class hospital. I had seen her stepping into the lounge some 30 minutes back, with a middle aged man and wondered what was she doing here. It’s not usual to see someone like her in the breast-cancer section, so i conveniently presumed she was accompanying an ailing relative, maybe her mom.

I saw my name flash on the giant LCD, asking me to report to room no. 102.  I stepped in and was immediately followed in by her. She sat beside me. I never ever talk to strangers, be it a flight or a rail journey or a tourist spot in some city of the world....but i turned towards her, when finally i had no doubt that she was here for herself. 

I smiled and gently asked her, “So you are here for....”

An eager reply in a little accented English interrupted my query half way through, “Yup, a follow up!”

I mumbled, “A follow up? Err...u mean......u actually had ......”

“Ah yeah, I had a lump....and I got it removed here, a year back,” very casually put by her.

“Ah a lump? Benign? ” I was still a little shy with my questions.

“Oh yes benign!” You could not miss the sweet smile on her face.

“Why did you get it removed then? I mean.....if it was benign....”

“Oh well, you know I actually was treated for lymphoma just prior to that, so a benign lump also needed to go...that’s why!” She unfolded her denim clad legs and relaxed herself, appearing cool as a cucumber, in that high tension room.

“Lymphoma.....you had lymphoma....i mean you are.....too young....”

“Yup, I know, I am too young for all this..” She cut me mid-way and beamed again.

I turned towards her fully......had a good look of her.........and saw a  sweet, overzealous, petite frame of a bubbly  kid,  in a pair of faded denim and a tee to go with it!

“I... err.... i shouldn’t be asking but how old are you???” I muttered to her.

“Oh I am 20 now....” she looked nothing more than 14-15 though.... “and i had lymphoma at 18, just before my boards” another piece of information that took  the casual talk further.

“It must have been tough...”

“Not at all!  It was like, all right!!”  She smiled casually at me!

I grinned foolishly, “oh yeah, i mean yes i know, it’s all about how one takes it.”

The conversation just took off from there. When i replay the whole thing now, i am amazed how in just a few minutes, she knew where i came from, what i did, how my dad had been my guiding force and how i felt at sea, when i was left to do whatever i wanted, after moving to a hostel! How i was able to relate to my students and how i was so excited that college life never really got over for me! How I wanted to pursue literature and actually ended up studying engineering for the rest of my life, and not regretting it one bit!

In those few minutes, I knew she was still doing the sonnets of Shakespeare in the first semester of her Bachelors in English, and not the full plays! I don’t know why and how  i even verified that  she was being taught Keats and we could actually discuss him, sitting amongst 6 other ladies, who were stone- cold, with the fear of the C- word.

I actually did not realise there were others, till I was asked to proceed to the examining table, and she to the other. The intern called out, “Anjali.......and..... Priyanjali....” I turned towards her....was her name actually Priy-anjali.....and she grinned, “I knew it all along...had seen it on the display outside!”

I laughed softly, for no reason probably, but a little surprised, with the coincidence. Was there a little of me in her.....or a little of her, was me? Would this coincidence be able to justify the “connect” that was  there from the time we had met....would this justify how I identified her from the sea of people who sat in that lounge from the moment she had entered.....or did it really matter!

The doctor went through his routine questions. Smiled all along. Encouraging during it all. He enquired about any developments that I might have noticed.

I wondered, had I ever really cared to check......thought of the consistent pain, deep in my heart....thought of the person I had lost to the C-word, some time back........put up a smile, and said, “ No.”

He asked me to see him after a year. The intern was a little confused. She tried to point out that the reports I was carrying were yet to be seen, but was waved off by the doctor. She hurriedly waved a warm good bye to me, within minutes of my being on the table.  

I collected my stuff and came out through the various doors, into the lounge. As I was stuffing the papers back in my bag, I heard a nervous voice behind me.

“Are you through?” a middle aged Bengali gentleman, whispered to me.

I was about to brush him off with a mild “Oh yes” when he added hesitantly, “My daughter was immediately after you. I was wondering...”

I dropped my bag and the papers on the sofa....and turned to him, all charged up!

“Oh she is being examined right now and would be out any minute,” I informed warmly.“Sir, you must be one proud dad because you have a wonderful daughter! She has a long way to go...and she will be an inspirational story, for years to come! God bless her....” I gushed, all excited.

I saw the tears....roll down......

“Parents....!” I thought to myself.

“Sir, I will always pray for her health and happiness!!” I tried to cheer him up but was so overwhelmed.

I wanted to stay....to talk to him......to give him hope.

I wanted to stay...to meet her when she came out...and give her a big hug!

 

I could not do any of it because I was ushered out that moment, by a really concerned (and by now totally confused) someone.

As the car crawls out of the hospital premises, my thoughts go back to her....and guess she will always remain with me. 

The words of Keats - another common factor between us are ringing in my ears,

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever...its loveliness increases....it will never pass into nothingness!!"