The bubbly man with a large heart (1237)

Basudev Pal, Basu in short, has been in the hospital only for less than a fortnight and it seemed an eternity for him.  He had a heart attack in the office and was luckily brought to the hospital immediately. After a week or so in ICU, he was moved to a room with two beds separated by a curtain.

Though he was stable, the cardiologist scared his wife that the first three weeks and three months after the attack were crucial and that anything could happen during this period. He told her that Basu needed to rest for three months and get doctors' care for the scar to heal.

Basu was just 45 years old with a small family of a wife and two kids. He was not financially very sound except for the monthly salary from the good job he held. Though the medical expenses would be completely taken care of by the company, this unexpected attack rattled him wondering how it would alter his life.

Scary thoughts often crossed his mind as to what would happen to his wife and children if he were to die suddenly, a possibility that the doctor had not ruled out. He was the sole breadwinner for the family. Although his wife put up a bold face and gave him pep talks that he would be soon normal, he knew she was very worried. He could not also come out of the negative thoughts.

One afternoon, three days after Basu moved into a private room from the ICU, a new patient was wheeled from the ICU into the other bed in his room. There was a flurry of nurses moving in and out fixing several tubes connected to different monitors and bottles for drip. A senior doctor along with his associates was by his side monitoring the condition of the patient.

Basu wasn’t exactly excited about the arrival of a new patient to give company. The condition of the patient rather depressed him. The curtain, however, hid him from the things going on in the other bed. It was only later that Basu came to know from his wife that the patient’s condition was not good with an enlarged heart with practically little strength to pump the blood. It seemed that he was in ICU for 10 days before being shifted here. Except for the nurses and doctors, no relatives or friends of the patient were seen. Basu learned that he was of the same age. Things became quiet after some time. Around 7.30 pm, the curtain was drawn open at the new patient’s request. Basu slowly turned his head to see a beaming smile from a burly face with a ‘hello, Johnny well met’ attitude.

He said “I am Anand Sinha. Don’t be scared by all these tubes and bottles. They would remove them after three or four days. I have grown accustomed to them so much. I am fine and happy despite my being here. What is bothering you? Why are you here? You look young and healthy.”

“Thanks, I am Basudev. I suffered a mild heart attack and have been in the hospital for about ten days. “he replied.

“Phew, mild heart attack? That is nothing. The stent they must have fixed will take care of you for decades. You will be fully fit in a month or so and will be your usual self short of jogging. Nothing to worry at all. Every other fellow gets this in this stress-filled competitive world. A little precaution in your diet and a bit of walking will take care of you. You can just forget that you ever entered this hospital.” he said and loudly laughed till his nurse motioned him to stop.

This did not lift Basu’s jaded spirit who was immersed in thoughts of self-pity while this guy in what seemed a critical condition was cracking jokes on himself, at the nurses and making them laugh despite the many attachments all over his body. He had a positive attitude, and cheerful spirit and made no complaint unlike Basu griping to the nurse about a dull pain on the right side of his chest or likely constipation.

There was no evidence of fear in Anand despite the worried look of the nurses and their constant monitoring of his condition now and then. Poor chap, he was not allowed more than 500 ml of water the whole day. Again, in the night there was an emergency with doctors and nurses making a beeline to his bed. So, it was a surprise when in the morning around 7 am, Basu heard “Hello Basu, how are you? Could you sleep well despite the disturbance from my side last night?”

The nurse cautioned him not to speak loudly and to sleep for a while. This did not deter him from talking about his office and his work. At 7-30 am sharp, my wife came with coffee, sandwiches, fruits etc. Then some relatives and colleagues dropped in with special permission. Basu forgot about Anand and the curtain was drawn by the nurse.

At dinner time Anand was at his best making Basu laugh with his crazy jokes. He said “You are a lucky bloke as your wife seems very affectionate type and constantly with you. You have so many caring relatives and good friends calling on you while not even one  cared to enquire about my well-being."

When Basu smiled weakly, Anand remonstrated him,” Don’t scare your wife by pulling a long face all the time. Cheer up particularly when you are well and on the road to recovery. When we both go home, we will have a binge of beer to celebrate our homecoming.”

It was then it struck Basu that Anand had no visitors, not even his wife or kids. He must have read his mind and said, “My wife got separated from me a few years back and my daughter is with her. She has cut off all connections with me and even my daughter is not allowed to see me.”

Basu could see his moist eyes and felt bad that he was so wrapped up in himself that he never made any enquiry about Anand and his family till then. But he was amazed at his strong spirit and cheerful disposition despite the sad happenings, Basu decided to share his breakfast, talk to him for a long time the next morning and make amends for his lapse.

Alas, Basu did not get the chance. When he woke up the next day morning, the curtain was pulled closed between their beds. He could hear the nurses with sombre faces whispering to each other in soft voices.

Basu asked one whether anything was amiss but she did not speak but showed her hands heavenward. After 30 minutes, when Anand’s body had been removed, the nurse told Basu “Anand ji was aware that he had less than a week to live. He wished to remain in the hospital till his end. There was nothing that was medically possible to prolong his life. Poor man, he had none to care for him in his last days. He told me last night that he was enjoying his stay in the hospital thanks to his friend on the other bed and was making fun of your imaginary fears.”

“The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” —Mark Twain