THE RISING SUN

CHAPTER TWELVE

The hospital really cherished her so much. It was not because she was the most proficient doctor, but because she was mostly concerned about the life and well-being of patients, other than concentrating on the pecuniary value that would ensue from her services, just like some of her colleagues. She really had human sympathy. However, some of her colleagues never liked her as a result of sheer jealousy. But, she persevered in doing her job ethically.

One day, a patient was taken into the hospital, and was admitted at the Intensive Care Unit. Fortunately, the clinical chief was at the hospital then. So he requested that Dr Zainab should handle the case.

His choice provoked an angry reaction from other medical staff. This reaction did not spring up because Dr Zainab, who was actually off, was chosen to handle the medical case, but because the patient appeared to be a rich man. To them, it was a deliberate denial of fortune.

At the hospital, some medical staff would not want to pay a required attention to a patient who seemed to be poor, because they would always feel that no incentive would be given them. This was so because very often, rich patients would always offer some incentive to the medical staff in charge of their case. Sometimes, some doctors or nurses would bribe a senior staff into giving them the opportunity to take care of a rich patient, while the poor patients would be abandoned for the selfless staff.

The clinical chief recognised the patient as a prominent person of the state, so he would ensure that the minister was well taken care of. Among other selfless doctors, Dr Zainab was the one who struck his mind.

After a few minutes, Dr Zainab arrived, so he handed over the case to her, then she took it up from where he stopped.

Before she commenced her diagnosis, she had already warned the nurses not to take any dime from the patient or from any of his relatives.

Fourteen days later, he regained his health, and become very strong. He was really baffled to hear that Dr Zainab and her team never accepted any gift from his friends and relatives, who felt that incentive was a necessary condition for a health worker to be zealous. But Dr Zainab really proved them wrong. She properly took care of him without any incentive being taken by her or by any of her teammates.

So, when he was discharged, he called Dr Zainab and thanked her. He was really grateful to her.

"What can I actually do for you?" he asked.

"Nothing, sir. My joy is that you're sound now."

"I'll not be at peace if you don't tell me what to do for you; there must be something."

So, Dr Zainab became agape. She had what to tell him, but she did not find it appropriate to request for anything.

"My daughter, there's nothing that I would do for you that is equivalent to your kindness to me. You must ask for something now or later. I'll be waiting in my office."

Then he was driven out by his driver and his convoy followed.

She smiled and waved at them, and then went into her office.