A Night To Remember

To the Only Girl from whom I have cooked a steak,

It was a Warm Night but It was freezing Inside. You slept as I watched over you . Hypothetically Keeping the Mythical Night Monsters at Bay. Morning would come and you would be gone. Like a Tornado through the encampment for a lost Soul. But It wasn’t for a few hours more and sandman kept his peace. I was lost in this book . Nonetheless I would look over to see If you were breathing. I guess I was Worried that God would want his Angel back.  “How” I wondered, “Did you ever manage to get your hair to smell in the scent of the fruits I liked?”. It was all part of your wonderful Charm. Soft as Silk and Gentle to touch, Your dark black hair covered your soft feline features. May be it was one of the reasons I liked you.

The Night was quiet and dawn about to break. I would have preferred it not to End but the Hour Glass had ran out of sand. I whispered into your ears to wake and everything else was made in haste. It was cute to see you Tooth brush in hand. Some how it remind me of home.  A shower later and we were ready to go. After Ensuring you had left nothing behind, We walked out hand in hand. The Train to the Airport was close. Though it was preordained, every step was taken in grief. At last we stood at your gate, With mumbled good byes. Words were hard to come by, I guess I was still dazed. Maybe I should have rode with you till you got on your plane. I guess our hug conveyed the feeling from deep within. You let go and my hands were incomplete. I watched as you rode down the escalator and disappear from my sight.  And quickly I had to get away to hide the Tears running down my eyes.

Truly Yours
Your Master Chef

The Horse Whisperer 2

“What would you like to see?” she asked. Her name was Ummu, a management graduate and the eldest daughter. I was tempted to answer : A glorious path that may lead to sustainable happiness. “All the different kind of horses you have here” I replied. We walked to the barn. This farm started out small and slowly accumulated one horse at a time. It’s family owned and the next generation hoped to take on the mantle.

We stood in front of a white stallion which belonged to her brother. The horse greeted her with a slight nod as Ummu patted her down. I asked Ummu if I could pat her too. She told me to approach gently but the horse shrugged away as I raised my hand towards her mane. “Woah” I said “I think she doesn’t like me”. Ummu laughed as she told me it wasn’t personal. Well the Stallion preferred her touch over mine.
I held my hand out as I tried woo the horse towards me. But she suddenly took a swipe at me with her mouth. She was either really wary of me or liked to bite. And I meant the horse and not the girl. “Horses are playful creatures” Ummu told me “They love to nibble but don’t worry they won’t hurt you”. Ya Right, as if I could entrust my hand to a playful creatures. “Go on ” she encouraged me “Hold out your hand”. I wasn’t comfortable with just handing over my hand with my palms stretched out, so I formed a knuckle. She was right about the horse not wanting to hurt my limb. It’s chopping and licking tickled me a bit. Ummu walked over to a horse she had tamed and it greeted her like an old friend. It was 7 years old with a brown chocolate coat.
We moved on to a wider fenced area where a horse was galloping around. Each horse gets at least three hours of exercise. “What’s that noise?” I asked her about the constantly running engine. She took me towards this machine which was like a huge treadmill. There was a milk colored horse on it. Certain horses were trained for endurance and long distance races. So this was one of the way they were trained. The duration on the machine could be either 45 minutes or 3 hours. It depends on the training schedule.
“This one looks particularly young” I said as I pointed at a foal. It’s was only 12 days old. Ummu surprised me by opening up the gate and walking in. She nestled the young-in in her lap. The Mamma horse stood nearby protectively. Since Ummu was familiar to the mother, she was welcomed to cradle the child.
The horses aren’t trained till they reach 2 and a half years. So this one wouldn’t be broken in till later. We met her brother who was shoveling hay. We greeted him and walked on. Ummu seemed like she handled birth and death really well. At age 11, she witnessed for the first time the birth of a foal. In this farm, most of the trainers were proficient in taking care of the horses, thus they didn’t really need veterinarian doctors. Though they can’t do much in case a horse badly broke it’s leg. If they can’t fix it , they would put it down so as the majestic creature wouldn’t suffer.
Ummu started riding at age 9. I asked if she wanted to emulate her brother and become an International equestrian competition rider. I was told it would cost a lot of money to participate in one of those competitions. And since her brother had more of a knack for it then her,her family decided to focus on him for now. I asked what about her goals and dreams. She told me she plans to expand the family business. Later Ummu was called off to help out with the horses. I stood there trying to take in every inch of the scene. As Ummu whispered something to the horse to calm it down, I understood why some one would devote their life to taking care of these creatures. They understood her as much as she knew them.

The Horse Whisperer-Part 1

It was getting late and my wound was throbbing. The Sun was still up in the sky. And it seemed like it wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. The water fall was supposed to be close by but I’m not so sure how far. And I hoped to end this day by lazing in a pool created by the cascading water. So I strode the bike once more and with a flick of my left hand had secured my helmet. I still couldn’t lift my right arm beyond my shoulder. Though the throbbing pain had ceased. I did one last check to ensure all my belongings were intact. I’ve been doing this all day as If these things were the only possession I owned. My conscious had been troubled for a while and I haven’t been able to shake off this weird vibe. This was the partial cause of the accident earlier. Talk about tragic consequences. I set off once I  ensured that I still had my wallet, phone and camera. The Camera would be useless till I have fix fixed. It had been on quiet a few journey and I hope this wouldn’t be it’s last.

 The Bike started without much coercing though how the bloody thing still works after the fall is still a mystery. It was surely lucky but I couldn’t say the same about my elbow. I could saved myself the pain and the trouble if I had just tucked in both arms when I fell. Or better yet, meditate to put my mind at ease before I left. Was it a good Idea for me to keep driving around? I drove off the parking lot and on to the road. The Path on my Right would lead me back to my hostel while the one on my left would take me to my supposedly final destination. As If on instinct I took the path less traveled. I didn’t know how far I had to drive. But as I kept riding, I found rows and rows of fences. So this was the ranch I sighted from the cable car on my way to the Top. As I drove pas the front gate, I braked to a screeching halt. Should I go in? I’ve never been to one of these places. Well since I am already out of my comfort parameter, why shouldn’t I? So I drove in and stopped in front of a barn

I took my helmet off and got a full brunt of the mixture of manure and hay. There seemed to be an engine running somewhere along with the galloping of a horse or horses. I could sense these equestrian mammals and I am sure they could feel me out too. Neighing and huffing greeted me as I entered the barn. The barn was huge and contained numerous stables. How funny it is to go in search of a water fall and find these beautiful majestic creatures.

The horses were padlocked in their stables and I was alone with them. No one came out to greet me. I guess they weren’t curious about visitors. I could have just stood there feeling out these 4 legged souls but I felt I was trespassing. So I went in search of the caretakers. I guess I wasn’t the only one who was nervous as I saw a restless stallion who was as black as the night. He was pacing his stable behind the gate.

I stopped at a poster which heralded the feats of the owner’s son. There were a couple of trophies and photos of him taken at International events. “Impressive”, It seems these training grounds have produced a star. There were other trophies, medals and newspaper cuttings of the achievements of various people associated to this ranch. This Ranch enjoys a good patronage and the Ex Prime Minster of Malaysia owns the first foal to have been breed in these stables.

.There was an open door leading to an office. So I walked in hopes of finding a receptionist. I wasn’t the only one waiting to talk to someone. When the help finally showed up and had attended with the couple who were before me, she attended my questions on the riding rates. Not only was she a Veterinarian graduate but also an intern at the stables due to her love of horses. I was a bit late to be able to ride one so I settled on exploring this magical territory. There were an ample number of cats lazing about. I guess they were used to the humans and the horses. I rubbed one right between the ears and he purred as if I ran a massage parlor.

A full scale skeleton remains of what I assume to be a horse stood right outside the office. There were two of them on either side. This was meant to be an honor given to the favored horses who have passed on for greener pastures. It was nice gesture and I was glad they didn’t make jewelry from the bones.

I heard growling and I knew there were dogs about. In fact there were two of them locked behind a fence on my right. They didn’t look happy so I walked towards the ponies on my left.  Though the ponies were of equal size to the dogs, they seemed more welcoming. I didn’t know if I could pat them but I didn’t wish to disturb them either. I didn’t think they would have minded cause the grass seemed far more interesting.

By now the dogs had visitors. But they weren’t fond of one of the girls. So I guess the other one was either a friend or a family member. I went up to greet her and Inquired how she was able to stand so close to the fence. She either had nerves of steel or must have been wearing an Iron woman suit inside her normal clothes. “We have an agreement” she said ” I ignore them and they ignore me”. I laughed at her humor but they dogs did know her. One of them belonged to her dad and another to her brother. It was he I found posters out at front. As I stood there looking on, I asked if she could show me around. “Let’s go” she said and we all went in search of horses.

Beyond The Call of Duty- A Doctor’s Story

The Shrill of the phone broke her peaceful night dreams. It was still dark for it to be her 6 am alarm. Her hands reached out for her device . Her mobile phone was equivalently a boon and a curse. She found the damn thing and answered it just to shut it up. She was regretting the Single ladies Ringtone . Why couldn’t she have picked something more soothing. “Hello ” she said as she turned on to her back. Her Voice sounded coarse and her body was covered in sweat. The Humidity in Malaysia wasn’t something to make fun off. But she was used to it. It’s been a year since she packed her bags and headed to Asia. She had her reasons for leaving . She was a long way from home. She missed her her family. Most of all she missed her niece. But she had to get away from America . Far away to clear her mind. So she headed to the Orient on the first plane out. It was also a good excuse to travel to the other side of the world.    

“You get on the next plane out , after the storm clears” said the voice. She was still buzzed from sleep. She was having trouble placing the voice. Then she remembered her conversation the day earlier. There was a huge Storm front gathering outside of Philippines.   They Called it Typhoon Haiyan. According to experts, it was going to be the Strongest Storm ever to hit land. There would be a lot of Injuries and a necessity for medical personal. She wanted to volunteer with the relief efforts . She would have to bring along a couple of her med students .

I met this wonderful gal in Kuala lumpur . It was a warm summer evening . The Sun had set ,bringing an end to the punishing heat. But it was still humid enough . I was glad I wasn’t wearing a Jacket. Me and my friends were at a gathering of expatriates. This gathering usually helped us assimilate with the local populace . We got together to share tips and talk about life in this wonderful amazing country. One of my colleagues was six ft tall ,blue eyed ,blonde haired child from the Netherlands. You couldn’t miss him in crowd in Asia. Along with him came my Indian friend who was my partner in crime. They were my dynamic duo for the night.  We alighted from the Taxi at a Mall . We weren’t sure about the location. This was our first time to one of these gatherings. The concierge was helpful enough to give us an accurate direction. We headed to the elevator which was located outdoors . It took us up to the Second floor of the mall and directly opened up to a Restaurant. A Room was reserved by our host Anna whom met her at the entrance . We collected our name tags and complimentary drinks. The Doctor and her companion were the first people we met that night. After a bit of small talk we went our separate ways to meet more people. Later in the evening we revisited our brief encounter when the party was winding down .  

 She was a wonderful dancer. She felt light in my hands cause she was nimble on her feet. Alas it was the first and last dance we ever shared. We never met in person but we did keep in touch. She’s a wonderful soul. She’s been volunteering since 2006 for the Organisation Operation Smile. So far she has been to over 25 missions to fix kids with facial deformities. She loves hearing the laughter of kids . Especially those who have recovered after being Sick for so long. When she’s not out traveling or deep sea diving or just behind the lens of a camera taking photos of Smiling Children , she’s out there in there saving lives. For her, it’s a great feeling having saved some ones life. Like the 4 month old baby with severe pneumonia and respiratory failure in Philippines after the Hurricane. But she beats herself up too, every time she loses someone. After those moments, she always wonder if she could have done it better. 

For doctors, losing a patient is tragic. Losing a patient who is a child is devastating . She felt that way when she lost some one in her resident years. She could have walked away but she went on to further training in critical care for kids. She knows she can’t save them all but she would try. She tries to help the parents cope with their loss in times when the child is beyond saving.   

 

It’s not all about money,prestige and fame. There are many people out there like Nicole who sacrifice their lives for the greater good. There are Doctors in Africa who are working with Ebola Patients . And there are Doctors working in Gaza while the bombs drop around them .  They Risk harm to their Physical well being , mental health and emotional state . Nicole is back in the States and she will fly off to Africa soon. No matter where she goes, she will leave behind a trail of smiling kids.

The Girl Who Cried Awesome

There are time when I look back and wonder why this angel entered my life. With all angels who come and go ,this one heralded a message of change. How I met this angel was due to good fortune and lots of help from karma.I met her in passing, a friend’s friend of sort. Well, She was running away from Issues that were plaguing Her. Normal Girl , Normal Problems. One weird thing about this girl was she used the word  ‘awesome’ a lot. Awesome this ,awesome that. We Probably could have played a drinking game and gotten pretty wasted. She’s one of those people who are always chirpy about everything But the odd thing was she was forcing herself most of the time. I could feel the fake smile and fake enthusiasm in her voice. I could feel the hurt.

                                                                           So Due to unseen circumstance, I was able to  spend 2 days in close proximity with her and things happened that still makes me wonder if it was witchcraft or magic. Firstly It was my friend K’s Birthday. So throughout the day we randomly met strangers who had the same birth date. Well One could argue Its was his karma and luck which made him share his birthday with strangers. But how often is it that when you are having pizza for dinner and you request candles for the pseudo-pizza cake and you get a actual slice of cake cause it was the waitress birthday too. It gets better, a need or wish came true. Let’s assume It’s was not money she wished for but ordinary things like a place to stay cause all the hostels were booked because of the holiday weekend. There was a 1% chance of getting a room and she got it. So all throughout the day “Awesome, we can’t find a place to eat ,then we will be more hungry and the food will be more awesome. The Rain is so awesome. The Sun is out,its hot and its awesome”.

                                                                          Awesome this, Awesome that. It should have been driving me crazy but I was caught up in the moment. I could feel energy in the air around her. It was like static and no, It was not love. It’s this energy which pulls you In. It affected all of us who were around her . It was like the Universe was with her. A force protecting her and providing for her and thus in turn taking care of  us too. Here’s where my  friends would jump in and say ‘HA,GOD loves woman MORE’ . All I know was ,she was truly happy. She has her moments of struggle to being happy but who Isn’t. I realized she was not trying to portray an Image of happiness to others but to gather positive thought and energy around her. She taught me the need to create an inner supply of happiness and empowerment. We need to monitor our thoughts ,words and feelings cause they create our lives. I’m still in touch with her and she’s still awesome this,awesome that but she’s happy with her life. So I’m still trying to form the habit of awesomeness .Day 21 Project 🙂