There's a Doctor in the House

Recently someone sent me a message on Whatsapp that said: 

“When you’re dead, you don’t know that you’re dead. It’s only difficult for the others.

The same is true when you’re stupid.”

In my case my stupidity mostly affects me. Or so I think. For example a few months ago I drank excessive amounts of tequila in spite of knowing that tequila completely messes me up. Whenever I drink too much of it, my brain and body begin acting independently with results that are always embarrassing. This time too I lost control, fell down, hit the footboard of a bed and bruised my ribs. 

Example 2. I know I have a weak back from a spinal injury I had several years ago. I know that every time I do the things that the doctor has forbidden me from doing for the rest of my life, I have ended up hurting my back and spent a week or two in bed recovering from my foolishness. But do I learn my lesson? Of course not. 

So here I am, once again in a horizontal position since Saturday night waiting to get better. Really Ratan, is it so important to lift weights at the gym? If I could punch myself really hard I would. 

On Sunday morning my sister came over and insisted that we go see a doctor. Just like any concerned sister would do. Except that I couldn’t possibly go through the motions of getting dressed, walking to the car, driving to the doctor’s and waiting at his office. So I suggested that we go after a couple of days when the pain was a little more manageable. She wasn’t happy about it but gave in to my wishes. 

Later when we spoke on the phone, she once again reiterated that we had to go over to the doctor’s office as soon as I was able to. Knowing fully well how much I hate going to a medical establishment, this was her way of preparing me for it. 

The same evening, at about 7 pm my phone rang. I’m going to refer to the person calling as a friend although we were more of acquaintances. We had met maybe 3 or 4 times at social gatherings with occasional interactions via text messages. 

“I’m at the Forum mall and I know you live close by,” he said. “Thought I’d drop by for a few minutes if you’re free.”

While I was as ‘free’ as I could be, staring at the ceiling fan and bored out of my mind, I really wasn’t in the mood for visitors who I didn’t know very well. So I explained my situation to him and told him that maybe now was not the best time. 

“In that case I insist on coming over,” he said and asked for exact directions to my place. 

And that’s when it struck me that my ‘acquaintance’ who I’ve now upgraded to a ‘friend’ status was a doctor. If I wasn’t going over to the doctor’s office then I guess the doctor was coming over to see me at home! A few minutes later he showed up at my apartment, checked my back, confirmed that I was already doing the right things to get well (rest, heating pad, muscle relaxant, been-there-done-that) and prescribed a pill that would help loosen up my lower back muscles. After he left I felt about 50% better, which is the effect a good doctor should have on you.

He also sternly told me that I had to stay away from lifting weights for the rest of my life. Which I promised to do.  

“I’m traveling on the 9th,” he said before leaving. “I’ll come and check on you before that.”

For the longest time I couldn’t get over the randomness of a visit from a doctor acquaintance, who had never dropped by to my place earlier, at the exact time that I needed a medical expert around. What do you call something like this? A coincidence? I don’t think so. It’s got to be something more than that. Whatever such incidents may be called, I’m glad that they take place in our lives and help us believe in little miracles. 

Hopefully I've learnt my lesson, which is not to say that from here on I'll never do something that doesn't make sense. Maybe the next time he drops by, I'll ask my doctor buddy if he can also prescribe something for my stupidity.