Dr Bablu Sardar had just finished a very long day at the hospital. Not just the looming spectre of Covid19 hung over the land, there was the demand of the rush of cases at the hospital too. People wanted to get the pending operations cleared before wards started filling up with the CoronaVirus patients. Bablu Sardar is an anesthesiologist. Working for SSKM, a government hospital in Kolkata.
This was the second day of the Lockdown. The streets were empty. It would be a swift drive home. To home-cooked food. To a nice shower. To some deserved rest, before the battle renewed again the next day. He got into his car. One of the modest, low-end cars. Comfortable for 4 people. A squeeze for 5. He didn't need a big car. After all, they were just 4 in the family. Occupied with thoughts which oscillated between home affairs and hospital cases, he backed out of the parking and swerved towards the exit. The Hospital was calm too. And silent. There wasn't the usual buzz of people. Everything was quiet and peaceful.
He spotted them from the corner of his eyes. A family, it seemed. Three of them. Impoverished, from the looks of it. A very young girl, and what seemed like parents.
'What are they doing here?' He wondered, 'They should be home. There's no transport!'
The family seemed to be talking to the drivers of the ambulances. The drivers were dismissive. Uninterested in the family. There seemed like a silent desperation in the family's eyes. Should he get involved? He wondered. But why? They would manage. They always do. What could he get involved with? It was already night. He had a full day the next day. He needed his rest, so that he could be focussed and sharp the next day in the ORs.
He took a second glance at the family. The despair and dejection seemed to have gone up markedly in their eyes. NO! It was all in his imagination. He should drive on. He looked at the daughter. Clutching her parent's hand. A daughter. He had two of them. Would he want his daughters ever experiencing such despair? He wondered.
He turned his car towards them and got out.
'Kya hua?' What's happened? He enquired.
The father rattled out. They were the Baseys. A daily labourer from a stone crusher unit in Birbhum. Their daughter, Angela, 8 years old, had developed an intestinal obstruction. They had come down to Kolkata to get the daughter treated. She had been operated and discharged on the very day that the Lockdown was declared. Now, there was no way to go home! Only Ambulances could ply. And they were demanding Rs 14,000 approx. The Ambulances had their reasons. They would have to make a 2-way trip. A journey of over 500 Km! The Baseys, of course, had never seen that kind of money, let alone be able to afford them. They had been released 2 days back. They barely were able to feed themselves. That money too was running out. They were caught between a rock...and a VERY hard place.
Birbhum? Bablu wondered. He had served there. In Dubrajur. He'd give them some money, so that they could feed themselves and then make his way back home. It was a tough situation they were in. But, the authorities would find a way. Or they might not. He thought. After all, Angela wasn't her patient.
Where in Birbhum? he asked. Baskey told him that it was a remote village. More remote than where even he was posted.
'You could stay for a day and by tomorrow there will be some means?' He suggested.
'I can't sir' Baskey nearly cried. They had another daughter whom they had left behind. Cos they had no other recourse. She was there. In the near wilderness, all alone.
'Another daughter!' Bablu thought. Of all the coincidences, here he was facing another person, who had a family just like him, only in a completely different financial circumstance. They could possibly find a way to reach home tomorrow or they may not. And all along the daughter at home would be alone.
'Don't you have any relatives there?' He asked.
Baskey responded, a week back, two of his brothers had died. There was no one. Caught in the horns of dilemma, Bablu wondered, what he'd do? Then he finally came to a conclusion.
'You all get into the car!' He said.
Baskey was startled! What sir?
'get in, I will drop you all home!' Bablu said.
It was 9 PM. The drive was over 270 Km away. He had full duty the next day. But what other choice did he have? he couldn't leave the family to an unknown destiny, nor that small girl at home alone.
They drove off. The roads were empty, mostly. BUT, the highways are a different ballgame altogether. And would be completely deserted. What if something untoward happened? well, the bridge would have to be crossed when he came to it. They continued driving.
They were stopped once. At Ilambazar. He had the Doctor's sign on his car. But the Police were curious as to what he was doing at Ilambazar at that point of the night? He told them the story. They waved him on.
It was close to 2 AM when they reached the track at the edge of the Highway, which would take them to where the Baseys lived. It would be unlit all the way through. Bablu drove on.
It was 15 more kilometers before they reached Basey's hutment. They were poor. Very poor. 'How did they reach Kolkata?' Bablu wondered.
Angela shrieked out her sister's name. She rushed out. Her sister came out, rubbing her eyes. It was the dead of the night after all. There was relief, so much relief on everybody's faces. Then there was some consternation on Basey's face.
'Sir, I would offer you some tea but we have none at home.'
Bablu brushed it away. 'Just be glad that you are home, safe!' He said. 'I don't know what we can say sir!' Basey cried. 'You are Godsend!'
'Hush!' Bablu said, feeling a bit embarrassed. He couldn't stay here. Not only would he be an embarrassment and a botheration to Basey, but there was also his duty at the hospital tomorrow. He looked at his watch. Today! He took his leave. Left some money with Basey, who was too embarrassed to take any further favour, but in too dire a straits to refuse.
Bablu drove away. It is an adventure to drive back in the dead of the night through rural roads where Google has never gone before. He only hoped he'd remember the route they had taken from the highway. There would be no one to guide him nor anyone to ask directions from, here, in the back of beyond!
It was an adventure, but he had made it so far.
It was early morning, by the time he reached Kolkata. It was almost time for him to start his shift. There hadn't been a wink's rest. But, such things happen. The complete drive? 540 Kms.
Somewhere, down the day, the story of what he had been up to made it into the hospital grapevine. From the grapevine, it made it to the press. A few days later the press came.
They asked him, 'How much did it cost him?'
'30 ltrs of Petrol.' He replied.
They didn't ask what he earned. the right to look into his daughter's eyes and know that he hadn't proved false to another father like him. The karma which such deeds always earns.
The press, to check both sides of the tale, got in touch with Basey. Basey corroborated the tale. They were indebted to him! They affirmed.
'He's like God to us!'
Bablu, when contacted again, just nonchalantly said, 'I did what any other human should have done!'
Some may have. Some may not have. I am glad he did. And that there was this tale to take away.
There are many others like him. Ensure that they are at least adequately kitted out to fight the approaching battle? And that they are never pushed into harms way callously or casually?
This is his page: https://www.facebook.com/bablu.sardar.1481
(Copied from Avi Das)
Dr. Bablu Sardar deserves the proverbial 'carrot' in 'CarrotNStick'. Lots of #respect for you, doctor.
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* Indian Roadie Inspirational Stories
* Indian Roadie Motivational Stories
* Indian Roadie Covid19 Lockdown Tales
