The Atman Hospital

                “This is sure a junky, old hospital,” Barbie grumbled. “As soon as I can I’ll be glad to move on to a better place. Why in the world is it called Atman hospital anyways? “
                Vivek stood behind the floor length mirror in the staff washroom. She arranged her nurses’ cap just so on her long straight hair that was formed in a knot at her neck. “That’s the Hindu word relating to ‘World’ or person. This huge hospital holds a cross-section of people from all walks of life. “

 

                “It looks like most of them are from the untouchable caste to me,”

 

                “Not so!” Vivek’s eyes flashed. “And besides we are not allowed to call them that!” How she wished to really tell this snobbish newcomer off. Every day since Barbie had volunteered to work in Shalputa’s inner city hospital she had found something to complain about. If she finds it so dreadful why doesn’t she just leave?  She obviously doesn’t know a thing about the caste system and the benefits of it! Why if wasn’t from the caste Aghrit is in, he wouldn’t have received the assistance needed to find a bed in even this economy hospital.

 

                Barbie’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Pardon me, your royal highness, and what caste are you from?”

 

                Vivek flushed red but didn’t deign to answer. She thinks her western ways are so superior to ours, but they aren’t, they simply aren’t. The Eastern Culture is as varied and beautiful as rich tapestry.

 

While trying to keep a tight rein on her emotions, Vivek turned and sashayed out of the room.

 

Fifteen minutes later, while she was chatting with other caregivers at the nurses’ station, she lifted her eyes to see Barbie strolling languidly towards them, coffee cup in hand.

 

                “What took you so long?” Leila, always the outspoken one, demanded. “Shift change was fifteen minutes ago, and report is over.”

 

                “Oh, this and that,” Barbie chose a chair and sipped indolently of her steaming beverage.

 

Vivek saw a spot on Barbie’s uniform but Barbie either hadn’t noticed, or didn’t care.

 

                “It looks like a long night is before us,” Jyoti sighed.

 

                Barbie shrugged, “The moaning and groaning doesn’t seem any worse than usual.”

 

                Vivek leaned back and peered down the dimly lit hall. A look of concern shadowed her features, but she kept her thoughts to herself. Will tonight be like every other night, with the staff enjoying the comforts of the brightly lighted lounge and only superficially going through the motions of making sure everyone is all right?

 

            Last night she had verbalized this concern, but Barbie had responded. “They will come to us if they need to. They can ring their bell.”

 

                Vivek had nodded but she knew better.  How many would actually call? They are afraid that every act of service we provide will cost them something. Our ways are so strange and foreign to them that they will shrink back and think that…Vivek glanced at Barbie and her lips curved slightly; that they are untouchables.

 

                Just then a bell tinkled from somewhere down the hall.

 

                Leila glanced pointedly at Barbie. “That’s your patient.”

 

                Barbie sighed, “I’m not quite done my coffee. It will be cold when I get back.”

 

                “Must you always put your own needs before others?” Leila snapped. “See there it rang again. It must be urgent.”

 

                Barbie checked the number against the chart; “That only old Mrs. Farah wanting to use the commode again.”

 

                “Well, what if you needed to use the commode, and couldn’t wait…” Feeling embarrassed, Jyoti’s voice trailed off.

 

                “I’ll go,” Vivek said quietly.

 

                “Nah, I’m almost done.”

 

                “If that what’s Mrs. Farah wants, you’ll need help anyways.” Vivek started down the hall and Barbie trailed after her.

 

                They attended to Mrs. Farah’s needs in a professional manner, but Vivek’s heart ached for the elderly woman. I almost wish I would have gone alone. Mrs. Farah is so sweet and frail. I wonder if she is afraid of the great beyond. She would never call out to ask for spiritual help, but shouldn’t we be offering it, somehow?

 

                The long night wore on. The girls went the rounds when it was time, and answered the bells when required to, but Vivek wished they could do more.

 

                Around three o’clock that night, the girls couldn’t resist the urge to slumber and sleep although they knew it was against the rules. When Barbie was sound asleep on the couch, Jyoti dozing in the rocking chair, and Leila deep in the pages of a book, Vivek took her little light and slipped away into the darkness. She went into one room after another, the tiny light illuminating her face and a small area in front of her. . Some were sound asleep, but not everyone. She knelt beside Mudhurima’s bed. The tiny child was weeping for her mother so Vivek smoothed a lock of hair off the small, delicate face and offered words of comfort.

 

                A little further on Ganak was muttering and tossing, sleepless. Vivek knew he must be in a lot of discomfort from the fractures suffered in a gang war earlier that week so thought of offering him a sedative.

 

                Ganak looked like he was going to lunge at her with his fists and hurled a few choice expletives her way, so she backed out hurriedly.

 

                Ganak stared at her in dismay. Why did I ever act like that? She looked like a ministering angel. I am so used to having to protect myself, but what if, just what if she had intended to show mercy? Vivek didn’t know how he felt in his heart, and avoided him next time she passed by.

 

                Eventually Vivek reached Mrs. Farah’s room supposing she would be fast asleep by now. The round orbs that were the old woman’s eyes were wide and staring as Vivek crept closer. Vivek placed the candle on the bedside table and knelt beside her. She placed the wrinkled, claw like hand between her own, and stroked it gently.

 

                “Oh, Vivek, thank you for comin,” Mrs. Farah murmured a long time later. Vivek saw that her cheeks were damp where a tear or two had coursed down it.

 

                “Would you care to talk?”

 

                In the silence that followed Vivek dimly heard a bell tinkle, and the sound of passing feet.

 

                “What is beyond this life?” Mrs. Farah asked hesitantly.

 

                As Vivek quietly shared her hope of eternal life with God, Mrs. Farah listened eagerly.

 

                Eventually Mrs. Farah had fallen in to a peaceful sleep, so Vivek let herself out of the room.

                Far down the hall she saw the brightly lighted nurses’ station with the staff all dressed in white.

They were enjoying each other’s fellowship, which was so enjoyable, yet here in the dark and gloomy corridors only the occasional beam of light was searching out the needs of a suffering society. Some cautioned against penetrating the darkness with all its dangers, and reminded her that they can come to us but once again Vivek wondered how many would actually dare.

          She slipped in to a comfortable recliner and had nearly dozed off when Jyoti’s words floated into her consciousness.

                I wonder if we as a staff are doing all we can to ease the suffering in Atman? Vivek prayed they could do more.

 

  Vivek twitched her nose but didn’t wake up. The aroma wove its way into her dream. She stirred restlessly and the obscure figures in her visages of slumber grew agitated and started running around doing she knew not what. The acrid smell grew stronger, stinging her throat. Vivek woke up rubbing her eyes and found herself staring straight into Jyoti’s terrified eyes!

                Leila shook her violently. “The hospital is on fire!” she screamed.

                “Someone call for help!” Barbie yelled. “Let’s get out of here!”

                Jyoti hurried to a window. “Someone did call for help and the motorways are crowded with emergency vehicles, but they can’t get in.  The streets are too narrow!”
                Vivek yanked back the curtain. “You are right! These narrow, crowded roads were never meant  to maneuver and back up in!”

                “Hurry! We must rescue the patients!”

                “The smoke is so thick, I can hardly breathe,” Barbie wailed.

                “Everyone grab a washcloth from the laundry room and soak it.” Vivek instructed, “Hold it to your nose and stoop as low as possible while going from room to room.”

                “Crawling won’t help,” Leila sounded frantic. “The smoke is below us.”

                “I can hear the crackling,” Barbie screamed. “I’m getting out of here!”

                “Grab a patient—grab two patients! You can’t go alone!”

                The other nurses were too distracted to see if Barbie actually assisted others as she headed for the elevator.

                Meanwhile Leila, Jyoti and Vivek were helping each other by transferring patients to wheelchairs and stretchers.”

                “Which route shall we go?” Vivek asked desperately.

                Jyoti looked around. “Not the elevators. We might be trapped.”

                “Oh I wish someone would come and help us,” Leila said through clenched teeth.”  She was wheeling Mrs. Farah out of her room;

 

                “I can hardly breathe!” Jyoti gasped. Wish I could re-dampen this cloth, and yet the patients don’t even have any!

                “ Hanzia, darling, climb on my back and wrap your arms tightly around my shoulders. I’ll carry you to safety. “
                “Don’t leave me, don’t leave me! “ Several voices screamed. The bedlam was increasing all around them. Those that could walk were making their ways into the halls and clutching the nurses as if their lives depended on it. 

                Leila pushed the wheelchair she was handling into one of the more mobile patients hands; “Here, wheel this over to the exit sign; and you take this one; and you this one.”

                A hulking figure appeared in the shadows. Vivek’s heart beat double time. Ganak. This is not the time to be afraid of him. “Follow me” she said quietly. “I know the corridors. I’ll lead you to safety.”

                Jyoti scooped up an armful of towels and dumped them into a container of water. She could hardly see any more as she tossed some to Vivek and some to Leila, who handed them to the patients nearest them.

                The bells all around the city seemed to be constantly clanging.

                Nearly everyone on their floor was crowded by the door. A scream rang out; “The fire is worse over here!”

                They turned about face and headed the troupe to the fire escape. “We will never get the wheel chairs and stretchers down there!” Leila said grimly.

                Vivek opened the door. Firemen raced towards them carrying a safety net while others took turns scrambling up the steep stairs to piggyback patients to safety.  Mudhurima clung to Vivek screaming when the nurse endeavored to release her grip with soothing words and gentle movements. Finally Ganak yanked her off Vivek’s back and threw her to safety.  Many jumped.

                Then the building collapsed and was engulfed by flames.

                At least we saved some; Vivek thought as her Guardian Angel swooped her up in his big, strong arms and carried her high above the flaming building that lit up the entire night sky.

                As the screams of the lost faded, the songs of the recued became clearer.