EMBARK

CHANGE AND BETTERMENT;

 Late in the afternoon after finishing her COVID duty Dr. Siya lying on the bed to catch the midday wave of her nap. In a while her telephone rings, a soothing Bollywood instrumental ringtone playing.

Dr.Siya picks her phone, ‘hello?’ Dazed Siya looks into her smart watch, it was 3:30 P.M. and notices she was asleep just for 20 minutes.
‘Hey, Siya I hope I haven’t awoken you, its Dr. Keshav here. I have finished my duty early thought we could go out for a coffee?’ She still felt fuzzy to keep up a good conversation.
 ‘That’s really nice of you asking but look I’m in middle of something... I hope you understand. Can we go for jog and finish our coffee tomorrow morning?’ That’ how she’s been managing and pushing this date for weeks now.

Siya who merely opened her eyes thought to herself. ‘Fine, let’s do it tomorrow.’ Siya Dozed off.

PRESENTING YOU
1.MORNING CALL

It was 5:00 A.M in the morning that’s when She usually wakes up but this time with a little change..Siya wakes up in a rustled manner, she hears knocking at the door..
She opens her eyes; her books laid on floor, laptop still running, water bottle dribbling on the floor..
She had late night study going as she was working on a research paper.
‘What the hell?  Where am I and who’s waking me up.!’  ‘Coming….’
Opens the door ;  ‘Ah!!! Keshav how on earth are you here?’ She questions with a grim on her face.
‘Hey did you forget you called me morning for a jog and coffee also actually..’
‘Oh yeah! No, no I didn’t forget I had a late night so couldn’t be so excited about this.’ Give me a minute I’ll meet you downstairs.’ She briefly shuts the door and starts searching for track pants.
Siya definitely wanted to get ready but again doubted what if after this he again calls for another date and for benefit of doubt dressed up casually wearing black track pant paired with red T shirt.

When She got downstairs and that’s when she bat’s an eye on Keshav, who’s waiting for her leaning on the wall wearing clean printed blue shorts and a black Nike T shirt paired with white colored sports shoe wearing his smart watch in right hand.
 She paused, ‘He really looks good and muscular!’  Siya sighs, lays her hand on stomach and lifts her track pants to compress her lower belly.
‘Chalo yaar, sorry for the delay let’s move out.’ 
It was cool day with dark clouds above as didn’t rise yet this morning.
Following the pace of Siya ‘What is that you’re working on?’ Keshav tries to make a conversation while jogging.
‘About that, it’s something more about neuromedics and psychology of human brain.’
‘Tell me if you want any help in that matter, I have done a paper on reflexology might get some help out of that.’
Siya who always thought Keshav was only showing sexual interest on her gets catchy this time knowing he’s got some brains too.
‘Definetly’ she said.
Ensuing the jog, they stop near a lake to click few pictures of the sight.
Siya heard someone who was screeching and the sound was audible up close.
‘Keshav I think we need to go and check, don’t you think so?’
‘Listen, that’s very bad idea... We are in a village and our introspection might make them cautious and it may lead into something else. I don’t think we need to retrospect this.’
‘How can you say this? You’re in a professional field and how can you not know this?’
She was on edge to make an opinion on him so that she could get rid of him.
‘May be they need our help. You wait here I’ll go and check out.’
Keshav always knew She was never really interested in him and always pushed him far for no reason but never gave up his efforts.
‘Wait let me come along… God knows what the scene might be.’  Keshav follows her.

‘Ey wait don’t just peak into the scene lets watch it from far.’ Keshav whispered.
They stood behind a shanty shelter with just brick laid, few meters ahead from the lake.
It was a man crying out loud sitting under the tree.
Keshav felt uncomfortable hiding and listening to some stranger’s grave sad life story.
‘Look, trust me this must be same old story of village people getting drunk and cursing their and other’s life… it is definitely not good start to our morning.’ Keshav could barely stop her.
Siya who was totally riveted couldn’t contain herself.
‘I really want to know what’s the matter with him Keshav’ she looked uncertain.
‘Look it’s already 6:30 A.M. I think we both have got morning shift… Wouldn’t it be nice if we get back to our hostels?

Siya nodded and smiled... fine, let’s go but before that let us take few snaps and leave.
She clearly didn’t want to move without knowing the facts. As she was working on the psychology paper she thought this might be a backdrop for her research. She stared back took a snap of the tree and gave a glimpse to remember the place so that she can come back the next day.

Keshav enters the canteen to grab coffee for both of them.
Siya who was totally occupied about the scene she saw couldn’t be in the situation. Noticing this Keshav said ‘Will walk you to your room; meanwhile you can work and sip your coffee’.

Siya after finishing her morning shift attending COVID patients, getting pestered by the attendees, laying it off comes to her hostel.
She couldn’t take notes in the morning, soon after freshening up she takes out her journal to write about it all...She begins;
1.Man drunk early morning sitting under a tree with no leaves left. Is the tree dead?
2. Shanty shelter nearby must be his house.
3. Crying out with screeching sound with no neighbors to even hear him out.

 To cover this story I must be following it coming days…
She paused; should I be calling Keshav tomorrow?

 

2. RESTLESSNESS

With utmost excitement She calls Keshav early morning calling for a jog. Siya picks up the pace and stops near the same lake.

‘Wait, you can’t be serious. You brought me here because of what you witnessed?’ ‘Hey, no it’s just for my paper…’ Siya sighs…

‘Look there he is, come along’
‘ I am really not going to be part of this, sometimes you have to let nature do things instead meddling with it.’
‘Keshav there’s no evidence that he can be harmful, it’s my gut feeling’ resting the case She moved towards the house.
This time they hear old women coughing her throat out.
‘See I told you there’s something wrong..Keshav I’m going in.. Are you coming?
Of course not!! But here put on this mask and go inside.
She smiled and wore the mask..
She saw an old lady distressed and blabbering all by herself in the corner.

‘Amma, can I come in? I’m district medical officer here in COVID care centre… if there’s anything you want to tell me you can.’
‘What do I tell you, my grandson Is wasted…he doesn’t work, doesn’t even bother to take care of me, I run this house even in this age all by myself.. My health is also deteriorating. All he wants is to sell fruits of his own tree but doesn’t want to look out for anything else.

Still being unsure Siya asks… ‘Is that tree a reason in any way because I see it has got no leaves left also.’
‘Yes, in a way… that tree is 8 years old and hasn’t given a single fruit just like him and now its leaves are also shredded. What a useless life are these two living, mere waste life.’

She comes out and fills in Keshav. ‘I feel she is COVID positive, I haven’t touched any surfaces. We need to come back with RT pcr kit to test her.’
This time they again here the screeching sounds of the man.
‘You go ahead and bring the kit, I want to listen what this man has got onto’ Siya drifted her way behind the house.
‘You’re mad but please don’t go any closer’ Keshav bellowed.

The man was kneeling on the ground with grim all over his face yells at the tree ‘My whole life sucks because of you, I planted you so that I can benefit you. I haven’t got any land left and no neighbors are willing to offer me also.’ ‘You are waste and you made me wasted one.’ And now Rama is also not coming any closer. All I have is this old one and all she does is taunts me for everything. Only your branch can come for help now to hang myself.’
Siya observed the remorse that gripped him was powerful and deep sadness laced with guilt.

In a while Keshav comes back and calls for Siya; ‘the kits will be available in the evening will come back then’.

Moments later, they both dispersed to attend for their duties.
Siya was unsure about dating Keshav, confused about the psychology of the man, grim reason behind the unseasonal leaves shredding off and the agony of distressed lady who got COVID symptoms.

Amidst of this chaos, Siya after finishing her duty comes back to hostel to make points in her journal. She continued;
4.Deep agony of old lady misguiding her grandson.
5. Depression of the man leading to cursing the tree.
6. Three lives interlinked.

In the intervening period late afternoon she gets a call, ‘Hello?’
‘Hi Dr, this is about the rapid kits you asked for, they are here in nursing station ma’am’.

She calls for Keshav sitting in his cabin. ‘Come on Keshav, we have got the kits lets go and test them’
‘Look Siya I admire the efforts you’re putting in but if they are positive let the 104 and asha workers handle them.. Look into the broader picture’.

‘You’re unbelievable and darned. You don’t even care; it’s our duty to bring them here because we found them’. Siya exclaimed and bangs his cabin door.
Keshav really didn’t want any of these things to happen and so he was bailed soon.

3. POSITIVE

Around 5:00 P.M ambulance driver and asha workers walk in with the old lady. She was restraining herself perhaps after she saw Siya walked in slowly.

Siya took the register book and wrote her details.

‘Amma Laxmi Devi you must stay here for 14 days. We will provide you food, water and medical care’.
‘Doctor, how will my wasted grandson take care of himself if I am here…? He doesn’t know how to cook also.’

 ‘Amma You can go rest will come and see you in the morning’ Siya tries to ignore her concern.

Siya calls for asha worker ‘what about his son? Wasn’t he positive?’
‘No, ma’am he wasn’t positive’.
‘Okay, thanks will take it from here’.

Late evening Keshav comes to meet Siya,

I know you’re curious about their lives, although now see she is positive and I don’t want him to come here to create nuisance. That’s what I am more concerned about.’
‘I told you before I have got this gut feeling that he isn’t harmful, it’s just because of the situation. But then let it be will see what can be done further’.
Keshav smiled ‘As you wish, but just remember I am always with you.’

She wondered why Keshav was being so nice even after treating him like a douche bag.

 After finishing her journal crashes into sleep mode.
She wakes up as in snapping out of a dream… looks for her journal and writes
7. Is the tree alive?
8. Are myths about Solomon Islands in real?
And in half time alarm blaring sound startles up Siya.
Its already 5:00 A.M. I need to go check whether the tree is alive.

After reaching the location she carefully observes if that man is still there. He was clueless and so Siya rushes towards the tree to scrape the bark and see if it’s alive.
Surprisingly, the bark was green as if it was breathing its last breathe.

With a relief she walked back to hostel and calls Keshav to fill in.  

‘Keshav listen, that tree which we thought was dead isn’t dead I checked it today. If at all we can bring change in this person I think we can bring change in the tree also.’

‘How can you say that the tree can be brought back to life?’ Keshav asked pleasantly.

Haven’t you heard about myths of Solomon Islands? People over there won’t cut the trees, they curse them for days and it automatically falls off dead. I think this man might be retaliating in this case.’  

‘Well, then let’s wait for the day to check if this man turns up in our centre’. Keshav responded.

 

4. ATTENDER

It wasn’t a surprise when the man himself walked in and asked for his grandma. Siya was on her desk speculating the situation.

When the man was trying to enter the ward Siya proclaimed, ‘you’re not allowed inside, there are COVID patients and you better stay down. You can talk with your grand ma from here itself.’

The moment Laxmi devi amma came, both broke out, started crying over each other’s situation.
‘Amma how are you? Why did you leave me alone here? You always taunt me that I am wasted now look I haven’t eaten anything for two days and roaming like a scavenger everywhere.’

‘Chandra, one thing I am very happy is that you’re not here inside with me; it is very horrible in here. I think you can make out a living still. I will fight my illness but you have to promise me one thing that you will let go off that tree and find some job.’

‘I will Amma but without you how can I survive I thought I had you forever but after all this my eyes are open.’

Keshav saw Siya who was deeply moved with their emotions, wanted to help them.
‘Chandra, I am Chief doctor here and we are looking for sanity workers, if you are willing to give your word to work sincerely I will appoint you here. Will that be okay?’

Siya’s eyes were locked on Keshav, to her utter amazement she was just sitting and blushing.

‘Sir, whatever it is I will do it, from now on I will take care amma and make our lives better.’
‘Fine, we will see you tomorrow then’.

Siya didn’t want to show any reaction but realized how supportive Keshav was and she was doing the same mistake Chandra was doing.

She rushed towards Keshav; hugged him tightly and said ‘I am very sorry I didn’t realize that I got so connected with all this and was being inhuman towards you. Coffee?’ smirked Siya.

 

Chandra started his work in COVID care centre and continued his chit chat with the tree during early morning hours sharing his day to day moments.

After 14 days of quarantine when Laxmi Devi walked home she saw the tree was bearing leaves and the birds were chirping on it again.
That was beginning of change and blossom in their lives.

  5.JOURNAL

1. Frustrated for working whole life, losing her family for poverty, looking at her wasted grandson was unquestionable.

2. Impatient and intolerant, knowing he had nothing at all, though having everything but not working for it was his realization.

3. Curiosity to understand the stigma and change other’s lives was Siya’s character and Keshav being moralistic, succumbed to his values trying to make betterment was his character.
That’s how CHANGE and BETTERMENT started their journey towards life.

Unapologetically words are double edged swords. More like an entangled circle. once you're trapped you hurt yourself and others in it too.