Next Station

Chapter 2

The world owes no one happiness, comfort, peace, or bliss. Suffering, hardship, and bitterness are inherent in life and unavoidable. Only humanity can try to make the world a better place and find a way to reduce pain and suffering.

Emergency Room – Hospital

The sterile and busy atmosphere of the emergency room was filled with the constant sound of machines and the movement of staff. Maral was examining a young woman who had come to the hospital with her husband. The woman, with a dark complexion and a worried expression, was lying on the examination table. She was an Iraqi migrant, speaking Turkish with an Arabic accent, and was concerned about the severe pain in her stomach.

Maral gently examined the woman's abdomen and carefully observed her condition. The woman writhed in pain, occasionally moaning and groaning.

Maral (looking at the woman carefully and speaking softly):

"You need surgery. Your pain indicates that there is a serious issue with your intestines."

The woman's husband, standing next to the bed, looked at Maral with a distressed and fearful expression. He, clearly under pressure, came closer and said in a trembling voice:

Husband:

"Please treat her with medicine... we don't have enough money for surgery... I... I can't afford the operation."

His face was full of concern and anxiety. Maral looked at him, feeling sympathy for the man and the woman, but at the same time, she knew that the woman's condition was critical, and she needed to act quickly.

At that moment, Kenan, Maral's colleague, was standing beside her. He had heard the entire conversation and appeared concerned, not wanting Maral to get involved in more complicated matters.

Kenan (in a warning and concerned tone):

"Maral, this decision of yours is a mistake."

Maral sharply replied to Kenan:

Maral (urgently and almost desperate):

"This woman is in critical condition. Her abdomen hurts severely, and there's a possibility of an intestinal blockage. She needs to be scanned immediately and undergo surgery. Help me, we need to get her to the scanner."

Kenan (with concern):

"This is not a charity hospital. We can't perform any procedures without formal approval."

Maral passed by Kenan quickly and took action. With the help of one of the nurses, she took the patient to the scanning department. After receiving the scan results, she immediately went to Professor Osman, the surgical specialist.

Professor Osman (after reviewing the scan images):

"Your diagnosis is correct. She has a tumor in her intestines. It needs to be surgically removed as soon as possible."

Maral let out a deep, frustrated sigh. At that moment, the migrant couple was preparing to leave the hospital.

Maral (approaching them with concern):

"Please don't leave. You need to stay; surgery is essential. Your wife's life is at risk."

The husband shook his head and said in a choked voice:

Husband:

"We can't afford the surgery. We have to go."

Maral, worried, spoke again with a determined tone:

"You have to stay, your wife's life is in danger. We'll find a way."

Kenan reached Maral and spoke in a warning tone:

"Maral, this decision of yours is a mistake."

The staff-only cafeteria was quiet, a stark contrast to the usual chaos of the emergency room. Only a handful of hospital staff moved about, their footsteps echoing in the empty space as Maral sat in a secluded corner, staring into her steaming cup of coffee, her thoughts miles away.

Kenan arrived, walking slowly and observing carefully. He spotted Maral and sat in the chair opposite her. Maral continued to stare at her coffee, lost in thought. He paused for a moment, unsure of how to start, but the concern on his face was clear.

After a brief silence, Kenan spoke quietly:

"Don't even think about it. This isn't your job. I'm telling you this as a colleague and a friend, Maral."

Maral didn't seem to hear him. She was deep in thought, searching for a solution. Suddenly, she looked at Kenan and asked:

"Do you think it's possible to do the surgery under my name and use my insurance?"

Kenan shot to his feet. He couldn't believe she was even considering it.

"You're crazy, girl! I didn't hear anything you were saying, what you're doing, or what you plan to do. Don't drag me into this mess!"

Maral (with urgency):" This woman is in pain, Kenan. She's suffering, and I can't just stand by while she waits to die. She needs help. Now."

Kenan (sternly):"You have to stop this. You're risking everything. If you go through with this, you could lose everything. "

Maral (with a cold, firm tone):" I can't just let her die because of a system that doesn't care. She needs surgery, Kenan. And I'm going to give it to her. "

Kenan stood up and walked away from the table, leaving Maral behind.

Kenan knew he couldn't stop her. At that moment, Maral was determined to save the woman's life, even if it meant going against the regulations.

Kenan, deeply concerned about Maral's situation and her illegal actions, could not remain indifferent. He decided to take action. He went to the hospital's administrative department and asked one of his friends who worked there to retrieve the contact number of Maral's family from her personnel file. For emergency situations, only her brother Sinan's number was listed in her file.

Kenan quickly dialed Sinan's number, his voice heavy with concern as he explained the situation.

Kenan (in a serious tone):

"Are you Maral's brother? I'm Maral's friend and classmate. Maral is about to make a big mistake. She wants to help an illegal Iraqi immigrant get surgery. This could cause her major problems and put her entire medical career at risk."

"This illegal Iraqi immigrant woman doesn't have the money for surgery, and it's uncertain whether she will survive the operation."

Sinan, hearing this news, became worried and thought deeply. He knew that Maral would never listen to anyone. She never easily changed her mind. Now that he was aware of the risks ahead, he was worried about how he could stop her.

Sinan (in a hushed voice) to Kenan:

"Yes, I need to do something. Thank you for letting me know."

Sinan didn't know how to change Maral's mind. He discussed the issue with Zeynep, his girlfriend. Zeynep, who was deeply concerned, was sure that if anyone could help, it would be Janan. So, she called Janan to discuss the matter.

She explained the situation of Maral's patience to Janan and asked for her advice. Janan, the sensitive journalist in the city, immediately started thinking of a solution and remembered Kaan. He knew Kaan could always find a way, just like always.

Janan, having been looking for a reason to call Kaan for a while, finally managed to reach him after several failed attempts. He explained Maral's situation, her illegal action, the patient's dangerous physical condition, her illegal immigrant status, and the lack of funds for hospital expenses.

Janan, speaking with excitement—something she always did when talking to Kaan, said in a pleading tone:

"Kaan, please help. This situation is dangerous for Maral. We need to find a way to pay for the surgery of this immigrant woman. We can't let Maral get into trouble."

Kaan, who couldn't convince himself to allow an illegal action to take place around him, felt a strange urge, telling him that he needed to intervene.

Kaan thought to himself:

"What a strange girl Maral is... Why would she take such a big risk? Not only the cost of treatment, but will the patient even survive? She might even get closer to death, and in either case, for a young, beginner doctor, it will end badly, and she will definitely end up dealing with the police."

After thinking about the situation, Kaan decided to call one of his friends who worked at a charity. He asked them to cover the cost of the immigrant woman's surgery. The charity gladly accepted the responsibility and agreed to pay for the woman's treatment.

Maral was busy attending to a patient in the emergency room when her phone rang. On the other side of the line was Kaan.

Kaan (in a serious tone):

"You shouldn't be involved in the surgery of that illegal Iraqi immigrant woman. The cost of her treatment has already been covered by a charity."

Maral was taken aback, surprised that he knew about the situation. She asked:

Maral:

"How do you know about this?"

Kaan:

"Ask your brother Sinan."

And with that, he ended the call.

Maral froze, her breath catching in her throat. She felt a rush of anger, her pride wounded by Kaan's words. How could he have solved her problem so easily? How had he known? "

Maral should have been happy, as the issue of the illegal immigrant woman's surgery cost had been solved, and thanks to Kaan, the woman would be able to undergo surgery. But why was she angry? Why didn't she like the way Kaan spoke? How did Kaan know about this situation? Surely Kenan must have revealed it, but how? She had to find out. It took a few days for Maral to realize that Kaan had found out through Sinan and his friends.