At The Hospital…

I went to an ophthalmologist to have my eye checked up. He's famous in the city which can be gauged by his clients and his coming late to the clinic. In the mean time, his assistants perform some preliminary checkups and put few eye drops asking us not to open eyes till the doctor arrives.

I closed my eyes for half an hour and couldn’t continue any more.
“Please close your eyes sir” said the assistant.
“How long should I be like this” I asked him.
He took a torch light and came to me. He came and examined my eyes focusing a torch on them.
“You need to close your eyes for some more time sir” said the assistant and put the same eye drops again.

How long can I stay with my eyes closed, doing nothing? I couldn't even sleep as the drops were irritating. I don't even have someone to chat with. Every patient sitting in the hospital have their mom, dad, brother, husband, wife, friend or some one with them to discuss some thing and pass their time.

I was just thinking about my mom, dad and my friends. I felt like calling them to talk. All of a sudden my cell rang. It wasn't a call but a message. I read the SMS “Checkup ayipoyinda...” with my eyes half opened. I called him immediately and said the doctor hasn’t yet come. Then I gave a missed call to Govu. He called from his office phone and spoke for a long time.

Thank God, the doctor has finally arrived. I met the doctor. He asked me to get few tests (blood, sugar, bp…) done and bring reports the next day.

The next day I went with the reports. This time I went a bit late. By the time I was in, the assistant had already put eye drops into few patients’ eyes. I was asked to wait till the doctor arrives. I was just looking at the patients around me. Their struggle in keeping their eyes closed reminded me about the day before. It was really hard to keep our eyes closed for so long time.

I saw most of the aged people sitting calm and quiet with their eyes closed for long time. But, the kids were opening their eyes and closing them on warnings from their parents. I asked an old man how he could sit calm for so long time. He said he was just thinking about his past for most of the time. He was also praying God and was also thinking about his sweet grand daughter. I thought even the old lady sitting opposite to me might be doing the same.

“How long should I keep my eyes closed like this” kids started shouting at their parents.
“Till doctor comes” their parents said.

The kids weren't able to tolerate this, the same way I couldn't the day before. But the elder ones were calm and quiet. Meanwhile, the doctor has arrived.

He looked at the reports and said that every thing is normal with me. The only problem is that I have a minute eye correction of -0.25. He advised me to use anti-glare spectacles as I work in the IT industry.

I came out of the room…
“This is why I asked you not to play video games, but you never listen to what I say” a lady was shouting at her son “see, the doctor says that your eye sight deteriorated enormously...mmm...you don't eat green vegetables and eggs...Only God should help you”

It was funny to see the boy’s expression when he was telling “Mom, don’t tell this to dad…”
I left the place looking at the old people still closing their eyes. They are blessed to have sweet memories in their lives… I wish the same happens with me and you too… :-)