Stethoscope – Golam Kibria

I’m almost 80 now. I have grandchildren. Old people talk too much. Maybe it’s a rule of nature. For me, my grandchildren are the listeners. They have so much curiosity which I too had in my early ages. That’s the difference of age 80 and age 8. One delivers and the other grabs.
Like every day I was sitting to tell a story to them. It’s a winter morning, that’s why we are outside to get some sunlight. Their granny was knitting something. But her ear was in our gossiping. This time grandchildren wanted to hear an adventure story. So was I trying.
I started like this, “Honey, it’s my real-life story”
I was 30 then, just passed my MBBS and my mind was in adventure which I didn’t make in last five years. My minds were looking for some refreshments. I prepared my backpacks. As a nature lover I picked a jungle to stalk into.
I was walking through the jungle after the bus left me at four in the afternoon. The sun was getting down. Evening comes quite earlier in the jungle. So, I was looking for a staying place. I had snacks to take as dinner which I carried from home. So, no tension for foods. I made a tent like Bear Grylls. We didn’t have him in our childhood. So, when I watch his program at this age, I try to recall my adventures.
When I fell asleep, I don’t know. But I remember I woke up when I felt a bunch of people are in front of me. Oh no! I will be kidnapped soon.
(Their granny made a sound of laughter at this point and they asked her why she’s laughing. She avoids the question by saying ‘nothing’)
It was midnight I supposed. The group of people was carrying me. I was in front of a cave. When we entered into the cave it was clear like a daylight that it’s not at all a cave it’s like a small village. Some people live here just like tribal folks.
When I was taken in front of their king, the people who arrested me was telling something in their language to the king. Then the king said something loudly. I understood nothing. One of them punched me and demonstrated me what’s my work is here. I understood I was in big trouble. And I undertood that it’s a mistake entering this jungle. It’s their place and they don’t like outsiders.
My work was to clean the house of the king morning to evening. And I was allowed to eat once a day and it’s at the evening. My life was so miserable and I was praying to God to get released from that hell. And I believed that there will be a miracle for me, miracle that always happens at the ICU.
One day a girl there got sick. It was their princess, Rumina. I loved this name as I love the poetry of Rumi. I heard that they are giving the treatment that they know. By passing all these days I learned their language a little. But the condition of the girl was getting worse. As a doctor, I couldn’t want to hear that a patient is dying in front of me without proper treatment.
Finally, I asked the king to give me permission to treat the girl. I had my first aid box and a stethoscope in my backpack. The king gave me permission.
I entered the princesses’ room. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Her beauty was just like glimmering from her body. I felt like I fall for her. Now there are two reasons to save her. One is I want to leave this place and another is I felt pity for her.
I checked her with my stethoscope. Heartbeat was so weak. As I read a book on how to treat by helping with natural things, I prescribed her. And some people of that group collected the things from that jungle that could help her to improve.
After the first dose she took, I saw she was improving. And she got a fresher look. Just the looks that the trees have after a heavy rain. She was improving day by day.
I kept checking her with my stethoscope. The king was wondering about this device. As there is no technological development there, it was new to them. Princess was improving her heart rates.
After ten days she was totally well. The king thanked me and he hugged me with tears and asked me what I needed from him. A story crossed my mind that I read in my childhood. If a person saves a princess, he demands that princess to the king. I was not the exceptional. I asked him to release me and to marry me with her beloved girl.
The king agreed. My farewell from them was so amazing and I returned home with your granny. (This time grandchildren understood why their granny was laughing).
They all say aloud, “A stethoscope saves two lives and make them come closer”.