I Couldn't Digest It

I couldn't digest it. It was one fine day for having lunch with my teammates. Going for team lunch in any corporate company is common. That day, we went to a famous restaurant in Koramangala, Bangalore. As it was an official treat,  there was no need for my wallet and cards so I didn't carry them. The welcome drink, starters, meat, main course, desserts were stomach filling and selfies were heart filling. While taking the group selfie in front of the restaurant (to cover the restaurant name so that we can share in social media), my friend asked me to accompany him to a place nearby. I told him I'll sit in the back seat as my stomach was heavy. All of us were leaving the restaurant. Myself and my friend moved to that place. He drove to a famous hospital near Koramangala. He told that he had to buy few medicines from the hospital's drug store. That was the first time for me to be there. It was a huge hall and there I saw separate counters and waiting hall for the people to get medicines. He went to the first counter to give the prescription. In return, he got his token mentioned with the counter number. As soon as, he got the token we went and sat in the waiting place. Even the heavy stomach wanted a place to rest. After a wait of 20 minutes, his token number was called. And we went to get his medicine. My friend got an important call while we were nearing to the counter. So, he gave me the token and went out to attend the call. I went near the counter but it was already occupied by two people and they weren't ready to move aside. The voice inside me was saying that even with a proper counter and token system our people are not ready to follow a simple rule.

I couldn't digest it as I was standing there in queue even after my token was called. I lost my patience and moved forward to listen. There was a lady above the age of mid 30's, whom seem to be from a middle class, asking the staff in the billing section to reduce the count. As per the prescription, the staff had packed the tablets and she was asking them to reduce the count. I thought what was wrong with the lady as she was not taking the prescribed count of tablets. The staff started to raise the voice saying that they billed it and cannot change. But the lady in her sad, anxious voice was pleading with them to reduce it. She was unable to convince them. She ran towards a man who was sitting with a 6 to 8 years old child. She whispered something in his ear. Then the man came. I understood that they are a couple. It was his turn to convince the staff to reduce the count of tablets. Again, they failed to do it. The man took his wife, the lady to one side of the hall and was telling her that they had only 200 bucks. If they are getting the tablets, they cannot afford the bus tickets to get back home. So, he told her it is not possible to get them. The lady suddenly left the conversation with him and returned back to the counter. Her face and her pleadings are still there in front of my eyes. She started to shed tears while requesting the staff to reduce the count of tablets. By seeing all these my hands suddenly went back to my wallet to help her. It was not in my pocket as I didn't take it with me. After some more of her tears the staff agreed with her. And finally she saved 20 bucks for their return bus tickets.

I couldn't digest the things happening around me. Common people are unable to afford their basic needs even during emergencies. In contrast, I had a heavy lunch which was beyond my free space in the stomach.

I couldn't digest the costs of medicines in my country. Where is the Generic Medicine? Thanks to Satyamev Jayate, a talk show hosted by Aamir Khan. Else I wouldn't be aware of Generic Medicine.

I couldn't digest the memories that started to haunt me. The memories of my childhood when I was diagnosed with eye sight problems. Back then I had demanded my father to get me a new pair of stylish spectacles. It was expensive. Despite our financial constraint, he got it for me as I was very adamant.

I couldn't digest this moment right now - writing this blog I'm not wearing my spectacles, as I had my laser treatment. It's me the same adamant guy to get the laser treatment which costed a lot for us as I had high eye power then.  At that time also, my father told that it is costly and we will do it later. But I didn't agree and made my father suffer.

I couldn't digest my emotions. There in the counter I wasn't seeing them as strangers, I started to see the child of around 7 years of age - Me, the couple as my father and mother. I called my mother immediately as I wanted to hear her voice immediately.

Despite the societal norms associated with a lower middle class family,  our parents will never let our happiness get affected. On behalf of all of us, I thank them here for all the sufferings they had gone through to keep us happy.