the autobiography of a less known medico...

"Amma...im havin a prob wid ma stomach...so when i come home this weekend get some castor oil..", I told amma during a phone call...but the response just shocked me. "Hey if you really need a laxative we'll try Dulcolax", said her. To be honest it was the first time I was hearing that name.I soon checked my pharmacology text and confirmed the drug...dulcolax-Bisocodyl.

Well the element of attraction is the fact that I am a third year Medical Student and my Amma, a loving house wife. Well after having joined the course, lots of similar instances have occurred and still occur. I don’t know what exactly I am doing as a ‘proud’ medico...don't know what the mistake is and where exactly the problem lies.

I have seen more than 25 movies during my first year in college. A pal of mine has reached a number of 98. I go to a family ceremony and the first thing I hear when I am introduced is “wow medical college..? Brilliant boy!!!”. I travel in a train, and the person sitting next to me start canvassing, speaking about the attractions of the special insurance offers that his company has for doctors. A friend dials me, “Hey I have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. Which is the best prescription?”. But this time I have an excuse, “Da, I’ve just started with pharmacology. Wait for few minutes and I’ll refer to someone and tell you”…hooo…escaped…I sigh…

The worst fixes occur when a really ‘distant’ relative (unknown till I joined the college) rings me to request for help during an admission to the hospital and when a pal of mine calls me and tell… “Hey pal, I have a girl friend and…and…da what should I do now?”…yupp!!!

Every Monday still starts with my vow… ‘and now I’ll start to be a responsible student’. That evening I rush back from college and open Hutchison ( the famous book on clinical practices). Hours later I wake up when my roommate yells.. “hey lets have dinner”.

In between postings, I roam through the corridors with my pals, wearing the coat and the legendary steth around my neck. And then a by-stander approaches me, “Doctor sir, please tell me where I should go with this slip”. I and my colleagues exchange glances puzzled when another by-stander interrupts and start pointing to the correct direction. Feeling that being in wards, where we are posted, is safer we retreat.

Now I am waiting to reach the final year. Simply because I’ve heard seniors telling that something will surely happen during that time!!! All that I am, now, is the proud student of one of the most prestigious medical colleges in Kerala…and nothing more. There are, indeed, a trillion excuses I can use when amma asks me why I am like this! But she is more updated with the news from college. Thanks to my sweet relatives with stethoscopes working there. By the way this is another problem.

But on the whole I just love this life here...!!!

I have pals who often call me just to hear about terminologies they are not familiar with...like ragging, bunking,elections,etc. And then I say, like a tourism promo, "Come to my college for the experience of a life time".

I am sure I would have been no different if I had entered an engineering college or practically anywhere, since I have regular chats with my pals there. Everyone has similar stories to tell. The pile of “supplements” or arrears. Fortunately I don’t have one. Only because, we don’t have that system…here it is the ‘additional batch’ system (for first year university exams), something more horrible than ‘supplees’. But at times I feel jealous of them, simply on the thought that even when their grandsons are admitted in schools I might be house surgeon or so posted at some lovely rural corners where even Airtel or Hutch fears to tread.

Asatoma Sadgamaya
Thamaso Maa Jyothir Gamaya
Mrithyor Maa Amrutham Gamaya…

Come on some one, lead me from darkness to light!!!