DOCTOR STRANGE

71

Encounter

Ren

I reached the parking and spotted doctor Ezekiel’s black SUV parked there on the farthest corner. Just at his usual space.

‘he reached already.’ I thought.

I fetched my bag and coat from the back seat and stepped out. Striding to the elevator I grabbed my phone, which was dinging constantly from the notifications that I was receiving from the chat room.

As I entered, I asked the receptionist if she knew where Doctor Ezekiel is.

“oh yes!!! I saw him. He went to the director’s office.” She told.

Not waiting there for any more minute, I walked to the elevator. It was on the Sixth floor, the topmost floor.

I was the only one in that sealed room, the elevator. It was roomy, two stretchers can easily be fit in it with a few other helpers too. during the residency period in the previous hospital my room was smaller than this elevator.

My feet were constantly tapping on the floor, and my eyes were on the monitor. It was still third floor.

Ding*

The elevator sounded with the door opening, it was the sixth floor at last.

I was walking out if the elevator and stepping to the director’s. I have really been in this part of the building much. Only been here like about two times, both times it was related to the discussion before any big operations.

I was midway when I saw doctor Ezekiel himself coming my way.

“Doctor what going on in the news? Aren’t you gonna say anything?” I spoke catching up to him.

“What news?” He asked striding fast feet to the elevator which was long gone to the lesser floors.

“This…” I said and showed him the videos that were trending all over the social sites.

“Huh!!!” He said watching the video patiently.

‘What just a huh?? My blood is boiling and all he could respond is a simple huh. This anchor is twisting the truth and all could say is a simple huh…’ I thought.

“What huh doctor? Do something or it will tarnish your reputation for forever.” I panicked.

“It doesn’t matter anymore…” he uttered, not showing any tension on his face.

‘is he really this calm or he is just a good liar?’

“What? Why? How could it not matter? You are a doctor. Reputation is everything for us. And you definitely don’t deserve being treated this way.”

He suddenly halted his feet, and looked at me, still black. But somewhere I could see anger rushing to his eyes.

“Yes, I am a doctor… I've treated more then two thousand patients in my entire career of fifteen years. Ninety percent of them were fixed, healthy and still very well. And I am very proud of that. But in the end, I was still sued by the rest five percent. I am done with it this time. I quit.” He responded.

“Quit?? What are you saying doctor? You can't quit. They need you; your patients need you. I need you. This hospital needs you too. I still have so much to learn from you. A better doctor a better human, everything all from you. You can't leave like this.”

“I am leaving and you will not stop me.” he spoke those words like they were his final verdict.

“But why are you taking the responsibility of something you haven’t done? You didn’t even operate him and all the blame is falling on you. If you leave the hospital now, everyone will this of you as the guilty.” I persisted.

“I didn’t operate him, but still he was my assistant. If he did any mistake then I should own up to it. Rest about being guilty, I don’t care about such things.”

“You are trying to protect Owen? You know he didn’t deserve this. it was his fault that the patient died. Or is the director forcing you to take the blame to protect his son?”

“Whatever the reason is, my decision is final.” He repeated.

“No, I can't let you do it.” I spoke.

“Who are you to stop me? you are nothing… leave!!!”

“I know you didn’t mean what you said.”

“I will leave and nothing will stop me.”

“Fine, if you leave then I will leave too… with you.” I spoke with resolution.

“Do whatever. But don’t blame me later. You can still have a good career in this hospital if you stay.”

“No, I will go to where ever you are going.”

“I am not going anywhere.” He said.

“What does that mean? You said you are ging before and now you are saying the opposite.”

“I quit being a doctor. I won’t do this anymore. I will go back to my hometown.”

I stood there speechless while he just walked to the elevator. I didn’t know anymore how to respond to him.

I stood there dumb-struck for a good ten minutes.

‘I quit being a doctor. I quit being a doctor.’

His words were the only thing painting my blank screen of my brain, flashing it like a motion picture. They were playing in my head on repeat again and again like a broken tape.

‘Quit being a doctor?’

Is this even something sensible. Can a doctor ever stop being a doctor? Can he have ripped away such a big part of his reality so harshly. Being a doctor is not just a profession or a simple job to earn a living. You spend hours of life to learn this art. Yes, it is an art. An art of knowing what is what and what is wrong in a body and treat it. It can never be separated from any doctor’s life. So why would he choose to just quit it. Is it rational or is it just an old wound that raised to surface finally losing all the pressure that has been build inside it?

Suddenly a vibration in my hand brought my conscious back. I picked up the call immediately.

“hello…” I answered.

“doctor Ren we are taking the patient to the OR. Please report fast, we are initiating the preps.” Nurse said.

“okay I'll be there.”

- - - - - - - - - -