Pink Monkey

Melissa lives in Houston, Texas for the last couple of years and on the 37th floor Apartment she recently got into after the last excruciating breakup - is reasonably, a decent one with one bedroom and a subtle modern modular kitchen of double row tables and word cabinets, bath with an oversized tub laid, and two car parks! There is an indoor play hall at the basement. It has also got a pool and a fully equipped fitness centre down below on the ground level for the occupants to windup. Last two of these amenities popularly being in use after the office hours and at times leading late into the night after a longish hang out in the apartments. Though the fascinating part of the house to Melissa was that, where the trash chute was fitted, to her it used to be a great reliever as whatever she did not like, used to get dumped into the chute. (The awful gifts from her past relationships including.) She would then often see from her bay window that the automated garbage truck would take her odd staff away and chill her a bit in the process.
However, for Melisa it became dreadful every night she retired for the bed and many thoughts hover in her mind before she could indeed fall asleep. The lonely moments were a bit awful and unbearable at times.
The last thought that usually drifted in her mind every night while initially rolling all alone in her gorgeous bed, cast in bright white linen and the situation often led saying to her.
“What is happening to me?
Has this gotten me any more love?
Any more ‘joyous moment’ to look forward to and any more moments remain to be cherished?
In this new apartment in this city, this new country, this new planet, this new universe, can it ever make me happy?
When I sit on a park bench by myself, when I feel the sun, the breeze, will it make you happy?
Make my bed after taking a shower, will it make you happy?
And then when I dance right in front of you, May be it can make you happy. If I can give you a big fat kiss, will it make you happy?

When I just look at you, and stare at your eyes, get engrossed in your thoughts,
May be, it will make you happy.
And then in ultimate realisation, conceded with certain serious conviction said to herself,
‘You know what? None of it will make you happy!
Unless, you do one simple thing:
Change “me” for “you”
Change “you” for “me”

And you know what? When you’re happy, I’m happy.
That’s the formula:
First you and then me.
That’s the happiness is all about?
Yes or No, or it’s just the heart of being free and allowing the God gifted mind to swirl anywhere it likes without interruption and to be able to produce a positive energy for all of us to consume and become nothing less than happy, happy and happy!!!!
Happiness is not an illusion, I suppose” She thought over & over again.
The very next day, after the work, Melissa headed for the Pink Monkey club at the Franklin Street; there was high decibel music with no right guys in sight. She was however, tired of love and imagined giving herself a last chance for bliss en route affection and considering to ensure her intellectual and emotional well being.
That’s when a bright eloquent guy entered the pub and looked nowhere but at Melissa! More he came nearer; the more words flew with charming fluency. She took off her eyes away in the first place and then got back to see the man in mulberry culoured shirt with no dearth of energy and in jubilant mood ever. Melissa got hit by the ripples of Steve’s vibrant conduct. Before anything could happen their eyes met and resonance stroked.
“Hi, there, what’s up” beamed Steve and that made Melissa blissful and fly off the handle coupled with a synchronous bit in her palpable tender heart.
This time around they sat side by side on the raised bar stools facing the counter and Steve now had a fair amount of gaze at the exuberant lovely lady, presumably in her late twenties. Melissa, with pretty long black hair, with natural curls at the ends of each bunch, her face entirely gets covered up at times with the shiny filamentous bio material and thus every time she has to give the sexy head jerk to take the silky stuff away from her face, that does nothing but adjoins brightness to her smile. Her hourglass shaped body was of immense attraction to all and natural to Steve. The brilliant brown roving eyes of Melissa distracted Steve but only compounded emotional stimulation raising attraction level in the end.
Melissa broke the ice and went on praising the bar, the ambiance and the yummy cocktail that she have already had. She offered Steve one and he obliged. ‘Hi I am Steve Jonathan, what’s your name?’ ‘Oh! Yeah, I am Melissa Brown’. ‘Are you an Asian?’ Steve wanted to know. ‘Yes, I am from Philippines’ replied Melissa. ‘Where are you from? You do not look like an American either? - Rallied Mellissa, in a tennis court style. ‘Yes, you got it so right, Melissa; I am from that spiritual, pluralistic country called India.’ ‘Nice to meet you and find you at this colossal vibe of Pink Monkey, Cheers!!!’ and they both shook hands and separated only when the loud music broke for a moment.
Soon they found that they share a common religious faith. ‘What are you doing in Texas? Steve queried in an emphatic manner for Melissa to get hit like a tennis ball punch. ‘Oh! Yeah, actually I am working as an Estate agent in Texas as I have done Post Graduation in Real Estate Management from the Metropolitan State University of Minnesota”, Melissa replied so defensively, as if she has done a blunder by coming to the States. ‘What you are upto? Steve? - Volleyed back Melissa. ‘Well, I landed in this country seven years ago. First with a F1 student visa, finally got my doctorate degree from an Institute under the Virginia State University. Now I am working for a Multinational organisation and eventually got my H1B work visa last year’, concluded Steve with huge apprehension of its acceptability to Melissa. She however, listened to Steve with great attention and involvement.
Right in the middle of discussion Melissa’s mobile phone rang. ‘Excuse me Steve’ she said and headed out of the bar. Melissa was talking for pretty long time and Steve was not sure enough whether she’s gone or going to come back. Steve was a sort of in waiting mood and in huge dilemma, unconsciously though. ‘God knows what she could be discussing!’ Steve said to himself.
There was an unusual snowfall outside and Melissa returned back to her stool shivering!!! Like a shaker in a grinder jar and said, ‘You know, I really adored the snow fall outside, which is very bizarre for Houston is not it? Nevertheless, Steve, it is so enchanting to believe that I can see real snow and feel the aura attached to it.’ Melissa said. To Steve, however, it brought the memories of his first winter in the States. ‘You know, Melissa, when I experienced my first winter in America, felt like me all the time in the fridge and but was hardly sick due to snow fall and never caught cold or flu or anything for that matter. Sometimes, thus I wondered, that is why things stay so fresh in the fridges in our country!’ uttered Steve biting his tongue and smiling mischievously. Melissa laughed as loudly as she could at this gig. Melissa was deprived of laugh for a pretty long time and today, believe me, this has indeed elated her mood and she appears to be a little bit happy now.
“Tell you what, Steve, in my country there is hardly any snow in sight” said Melissa. ‘And yeah, you know I first discovered Stick & Puck game out here’ said Steve with utter amazement. ‘Oh! What is that Stick & Puck? Looks like a sexy game’ said Melissa. ‘Oh yeah in fact I grew up with that game in this country’, informed Steve. This made the sports freak Melissa more inquisitive and asked, ‘Tell me Steve what is that game is all about, can I play that one?
‘Why not’ said Steve and continued, ‘You know, this used to be a very popular game in our campus, it is played on the ice table field, sort of an ice hockey but the difference is the stick is much wider & flatter at the bottom unlike a hockey stick and the ball is a puck.’ ‘What Puck? - Asked Melissa, this time around with outmost enthusiasm. ‘Yeah, the puck is the ball which is made of rubber, black in colour, about 3 inches in diameter and about one inch thick flat like a carom striker and of course there are goals as well and more number of times you put the puck in the oppositions net, you win.’
Melissa was deeply engrossed in Steve’s conversation and imagined to herself like playing with Steve, some game which will burn her out. She asked Steve, ‘Any games in your apartment?’ ‘Nothing, in mine, what about yours?’ replied Steve. ‘You know Steve there is only badminton & table tennis’, informed Melissa. ‘Well we can try at Table tennis’, Steve expressed his preference.
Immediately, both of them got up from the bar on impulse, Melissa settled the bill and headed for her apartment. It was about 1:00 am in the morning, but then Steve & Melissa had to stand second in the queue to get their hand on the table tennis rackets.
After a bit of awful waiting, the duo relished their hands at the table and Steve spun the ball extremely well, one after another. Melissa also gave good volleys and back hand returns. In the warm up & practice sessions, no one knew for certain who can be the winner. But when the game started it appeared that both Steve & Melissa are fixing the match and each wanted the other to win!!! Steve wanted to give in and Melissa also started to play too softly and finally they could not resist but hug each other & Steve had to say, ‘Let’s be competitive’. Now Melissa literally pulled up her socks, put full effort and blasted smashes after smashes and thrashed Steve, who lost games almost like a meek spectator to her swift smashes and elegant placements. Steve tried hard and harder but in the end gave away. Steve was fully drenched in sweat and finally could not resist but asked ‘Melissa, can I come to your place and use the wash room?’ - Under a compelling situation may be, Melissa assumed.
The night was not to pass off without any emotional rousing and whenever Melissa placed her head round about the central region of Steve during the course of their intimate amalgamation, he had to desperately try to incessantly caress her hair and remove them from the way of getting a gleaming view of Melissa’s face fully immersed in emotions of deep love.
After a while they both sat on the balcony and saw the night sky of Houston staring at them with some unsaid words.
‘Do you have a girlfriend?’ asked Melissa with great deal of inquisitiveness. ‘At the moment I am single’, replied Steve, to the utter relief of Melissa.
‘I had a few remorseful relationships in the past and have not yet given up, do resiliently believe, things can still work out and I am looking forward to a happy one in the end. Have strong faith in God, and I believe God is not so unkind to me and shall shower me with all the blessings for me to survive in this wonderful earth with peace and happiness - one day’ said Melissa emotively.
‘You had physical relationship as well with all of them in the past?’ queried again Steve. To which Melissa nodded head instantly and said, ‘Yes, I did’ and then continued without any interruption, ‘what about you Steve?’
‘The last meaningful relationship I had was with an Indian girl - about a year ago and she gave up citing that I am too impatient and restless for her to put up’ said Steve.
‘Steve, I believe you would mind to accept someone who is extra sentimental because I am the one of that sort but of simplistic nature at the same time’ said Melissa. ‘Oh! No, not at all, I indeed enjoy simplicity and adore and respect the sentiments, but whatever you are and what you are, if I can accept you, they way you are without any expectation of changing the other, then I believe things can work out’ reaffirmed Steve. This exactly designated Melissa’s own personal realisation, lessons from her life’s experiences and firm point of view of the moment. And Melissa said, ‘Yes, let’s take it forward and see how it goes.’ ‘Yeah, yep, vowed’ Steve.
Today, Steve and Melissa are more than just friends. It has been seven months that they are staying together and sharing an apartment at the high end Galveston area, bought year before the last by Melissa. Steve bumped in at the Apartment just after two weeks of having met Melissa at the ‘Pink Monkey Pub’ - the night club in the up market Franklin Street, which in turn have become one of their favourite destinations, more so to cherish the nostalgia of having first met there.
It took few more weeks for them to settle down into the Apartment though and routines started to get off in a harmonious style fairly quickly. Steve would often be late from work and seek to help Melissa less at the Kitchen. The fun loving couple was enjoying their moments every day and there were huge drink sessions with Club Soda (carbonated water) occupying the centre stage of the bouts. Steve liked Whisky as a regular drink, as it was far too easy to afford and invariably it used to be infused with full soda for dilution and no water but huge chunk of ice used to go in. Melissa on the other hand had tried her brand of preferred things, neatly controlled, like Red Wines and the platter included all kind of meat stuff like, Sausages of beef, pork and lots of boiled vegetables. Steve was a connoisseur of non vegetable items especially meat and used to get easily delighted by the dishes like Partridges, Rissoles, Capons, lampreys with cold sage etc., and never ending.
Melissa would offer to kiss Steve once they are through with the round one of the indulgence and Steve would imagine and feel the lips of Melissa as extra soft and so adorably sweet, sour, salty and imagined to be of all the exquisite tastes available in this divine earth.
One day, Melissa found Steve’s car ahead of her in the very street that brings to their home. She followed his car only to be guided back to home again. ‘Good evening, Honey’ said Melissa and Steve gave her an intimate hug with involvement of abundant emotion.
How the year passed by, in the midst of eventual busy days of work and home, they could not realize and the Christmas is just about round the corner. They both stopped though at the notice board of the Apartment Manager (on their way to the elevator) and it thus notified,

‘Dear Residents,
As you all are aware that we have a pet policy with breed & weight restrictions. We would allow each apartment owner to have a maximum of one male pet with weight not exceeding 100 lbs. No breeding is allowed in case you opt to have a female pet.
We, however, welcome qualified service animals of dog family like Cocker Spanial, Alcatian, Staghound, Antebellum Bulldog, American shepherd etc., etc., or any other suitable breed, subject to these pets being left at our disposition during the hours of your absence from the apartment. The continuous hours of absence can be of maximum 24 hours, beyond which we shall not assume any responsibility.
Further, we have pleasure in informing you that today we have installed the pre-wired with PostSmart internet technology and switches can be available at your convenient location on request.
Best wishes,
Manager
Both Melissa and Steve liked pets and loved to have owned one and Melissa uttered in haste, ‘Steve, should we have a pet of our own, I love dogs but’, Steve was a bit too tired to respond and they headed for the room. As usual like any other day they had drinks and dinner and slept and not in reverse order as it happens occasionally.
Steve for one for the last few weeks was feeling a pain in his lower abdomen and this morning after defecation found something frightening. First thing he confided in Melissa, ‘Take a look, this strange colour on my toilet paper’ Melissa aghast, ‘Oh! My God! That’s blood Steve, how did it happen? Where did you go?’ ‘Nowhere’ said Steve. ‘You must go to the Doctor, come we shall visit someone in the evening’, Melissa insisted. Steve however, neglected the situation for one full week, till the situation became exponentially alarming to both.
On a Saturday the next, Melissa fixed up an appointment with Dr SD Ross a General and Public health preventive medicine doctor at the San Jacinto Methodist Hospital Corporation, Houston. They turned up at the doctor’s chamber at 10 AM in the morning. ‘The general plan is that, after we are finished with the Dr. Ross, we will have our lunch at the China Town’ said Steve with anticipation. ‘I am delighted’ replied Melissa.
The call came from the doctor in five minutes and he patiently heard about Steve’s complaints and asked about his lifestyle and then hurriedly scribbled illegibly on the prescription after measuring his weight and blood pressure in the meanwhile,

Rx
Mr. Steve Jonathan, Age 27, Asian
- Incessant Pain in the lower abdomen
- Bleeding per rectum for last 8 days
- Hyper acidity & flatulence
- Non diabetic & normotensive
- BP 110 / 70 mm of Hg
- Pulse 80 bpm
- Weight 154 lbs
- Height 5 feet 8 inches BMI 23.38
- Heart – no gallop, no murmur
- Abdomen soft, colon tender
- Chest NAD
- Clinically NAD

Advice: HOSPITALISATION
Investigation: Colonoscopy, Renal profile, complete haemogram, Stool for RE & OBT,
Refer to Dr Sandy Roger - Colon & Rectal Surgeon
And signed it off! SD Ross
Steve & Melissa came out of the room. Steve was escorted by a nurse and made to arrive at the Admission counter.
‘What is this, Steve, admitted straightway? What kind of a Doctor is he? Did not even ask me whether we have any other option, I am becoming dumb, my legs are not working’, said Melissa. But what she could not say was she smelled something serious in the whole episode and became gravely concerned about Steve’s welfare. ‘Don’t you worry honey; let’s see what is there in store for us’, assured Steve. ‘God bless you’, said Mellissa after taking a deep breath.
The Customer service agent at the Admission counter noted down Steve’s mobile no and said ‘Sir, you are in queue and have to wait for admission.’ ‘Yeah, that’s fine that suits me, can I come tomorrow for admission, I am not prepared for it, got a few urgent issues to sort out’ replied Steve, ‘We have to take the permission of Dr. Ross before you leave, so please hold on Mr. Jonathan’ said the customer service agent and picked up the phone at the same time. Spoke something with the Dr. Ross and God knows what transpired, Customer service agent hang up the phone and informed Steve that he can go home for now and come back tomorrow in the morning.
Steve said, ‘look gentleman I have got this AIG medical insurance, here is my cashless card’. The gentleman at the other end replied, ‘no issue we shall scan this card now and tomorrow present these documents at the insurance help desk.’
The entire night of Steve and Melissa passed in agony and distress.
The next day at about 9 am in the morning, they arrived at the Admission counter yet again, only to be informed by the staff that ‘there is no bed vacant at the moment and Steve need to wait further’. Melissa got agitated by this and wanted to know what needs to be done and rushed off to Dr. Ross. But the Doctor was not in and he is due to arrive from the morning hospital’s patient round at about 10 am. So ‘wait, wait Melissa, cool off, chill babe chill’ Melissa said to herself.
Before Dr. Ross could take an entry and try to settle down in his Outpatient Chamber, Melissa gate crushed and intervened by capturing the full attention of Doctor and asked, ‘Dr Ross, your patient is waiting for Admission and the people out here seems not much concerned about it and refusing to admit Steve on the pre-text non availability of bed. May we seek your intervention in the matter please’ Dr. Ross equally agitated as Melissa called up the Operations Manager of the Hospital and within minutes Mr. Davidson arrived.
‘Yes, Ladies & Gentleman, may I help you’ – I am Davidson here – the operations manager of the hospital. Melissa took extra initiative to explain the situation and Mr. Davidson appeared to be helpful and offered Steve & Melissa to seat in his chamber in the next corridor and said, ‘let me review the situation at the moment and let me see what can I do for you’
Melissa impatient to the core said, ‘Steve, you be here and let me take a re-look at the admissions counter’. In the meanwhile a lady supposedly in charge of admissions also arrived alongside Melissa at the same place. And God forbid, she started to talk in high pitch tune with the customer service executives, ‘How can you ask a patient to be in the morning without checking bed availability, don’t you know, how difficult it is for a patient to be only waiting at the hall for long hours. You could have told the patient to wait at home instead. The patient could have come after getting a call from you. You people are just useless and no good. I have no idea of how long you all are going to take, to learn these small and simple things.’ Moment she saw Melissa; she increased her volume and repeated the same thing. Melissa heard the story but realized in the end that it was more of an intentional dramatics rather than demonstration of a sincere intention.
Steve patiently waited right in front of Mr. Davidson, who made many calls at various departments like the patient discharge, insurance desk etc., hang up his phone and told in gentle disposition, ‘Dear Patient, there is a huge shortage of bed and a bit of crisis on this very day, we are apologetic and advise you first get into the day care centre and then we shall make arrangements to shift you over to a General bed first and then to your desired private ward. The reason being, the private male ward in not getting vacant first, vacancy is arising in female ward though. Your treatment will start the moment you are on the day care centre bed. Please do not worry; we are here to take care of you.’
‘What a fu**ing luck’, reacted Melissa when she heard the circumstances from Steve.
Steve & Melissa waited for another half an hour and could not see any light at the end of the tunnel. ‘Let us go to the shopping Mall instead, in the next building, and wait for their call’ Steve suggested. Melissa reluctantly agreed and they went around there window shopping for a while and had lunch at the food court.
At around 2 pm – an announcement was made at the waiting hall of the outpatient department; “Mr. Steve patient of Dr Ross, please report to the Admission counter.” At the same time Melissa got a call from Admissions counter informing her, the same.
Steve & Melissa went and they were asked to sign a host of undertakings and paid the initial deposit of $1000 and got the admission card etc. They were inducted with notes of caution that, ‘Gentleman while being admitted at this hospital you cannot have any valuable with you like especially Gold ornaments etc, we shall provide you the dress and leave all your garments including under garments with your near & dear one and there should not be any kind of even thread on your body. We shall provide you with sterilized towels and tooth brushes, there will be a telephone by your bed side, but then all external calls are chargeable.’
A Nurse came and took them to the next building on the fourth floor where the day care centre was located.
Steve was allotted a bed, his identification tag was tied to his hand and it read, ‘Steve Jonathan’ written in indelible ink and the band was made of a material which is water & heat proof. ‘Am I a prisoner, Melissa’, said Steve. Melissa said, ‘No no you are not, hold your patience, how funny this band is not it?’ The patient file was handed over to the day care staff in the meanwhile.
The day care ward was out of the ordinary; the bed was fully automatic with a remote control. Steve noticed that the bed can be configured in many ways like half of the bed in head side can be adjusted to raise to maximum 80 degrees from horizontal , the whole bed can be raised or lowered in its elevation, and side railings can be raised or collapsed as per requirement. The bed was fitted with four 360 degree swivel wheels with brakes for easy & safe patient transfer. The bed has got a bumpy mattress and pillows and covered with white linen of extraordinary quality. The room is fitted with oxygen taps with measuring devices. There is a unit to monitor heart beat & pulse, a side table with lockable drawers to keep patient’s belongings. There is a Television in the room with free channels to watch for. And the overall the ambience gave an impression of nothing less than a five star hotel. That itself made Steve a bit more comfortable.
Nurse came to Steve and measured his blood pressure & temperature and wrote in the medical note “patient stable”, thereafter the one lady Doctor followed and she asked, ‘Yes Mr. Steve J, how are you doing? I have come here for initial screening, now please tell me,
- What kind of bleeding have you experienced, fresh blood or slightly blackish?
- Steve answered, ‘looks like fresh blood only with the stool,
- ‘What is the kind of food you like most?’, said the doctor
- ‘I like spicy food’, answered Steve
- Doctor said, ‘Do you experience any kind of difficulty in passing stool in the morning?’
- Steve nodded his head and said, ‘at times’
- Doctor sought reaffirmation, ‘Do you have any interaction or allergy with any particular drug?
- Steve this time sounded negative.
Doctor went away and wrote a whole lot of notes on the file.
Melissa went out after this episode leaving Steve all alone and headed for home to pass off yet another dreadful night. While going out she saw the San Jacinto Methodist Hospital which is a 500,000 sq ft hospital in central Houston with around 200 beds, 20 departments, 100 Doctors and 15 operation theatres. The daily intake and discharge turnover is about 50 patients. This information of course Melissa received after she went to see Mr. Davidson – the Operations Manager, to thank him for all the help he rendered.
It was 9 pm but there was no sign of shifting Steve to the ward and he himself got up to find out ‘what’s happening to my transfer to the ward?’ There was chaos as the shift changed. The Nurse of the ward on duty reported that she cannot find the patient’s file.
The chaos persisted, many phone calls made to the emergency, ward secretary’s office and ultimately one ambulance came and Steve was asked to sit on a wheel chair. Steve found it very weird as he found that only the other day I was OK and was able to walk on my own, why do I need a wheel chair now? Though, the Nurse on duty insisted that Steve sits on the wheel chair and then he was transferred to the ambulance & made to lie down. This time Steve became literally sick in his mind and thought, ‘Yes I am sick and might need an urgent medical intervention.’
Steve was then transferred to the General ward & allotted a bed, he saw a host of patients, many of them serious in nature, everyone in the ward, gloomy and silent. Many patients groaning, some are reeling in pain, calling for the help from the staff on duty, mainly Sisters, every now and then. Some are being looked after by an extra attendant.
Steve became sick further on observing the situation.
One older patient who was not behaving as his self had a drug interaction was being visited by his son and grand children. The poor man was not able to control any of his nature’s call and the attendant had a tough time managing his bio-secretionary waste. By the side of Steve’s bed, there was another young teenage patient, who had high fever probably attacked with dengue and is in the hospital for the past four days and was under high dose of antibiotics. His mother constantly stood by his bed during the visiting hours. The kid was getting restless to get out of the hospital.
Dinner was served and Steve ate it away fairly quickly and then was asked to change his dress. The hospital attire was nothing but a payjama and a gown of greenish coloured checks, that’s all. He was not allowed to wear anything else!
Dr. Ross arrived and he felt the pulse and put stethoscope all over Steve and dictated to his assistant house doctor.
- IV Ciphran – 2g / 1000 ml in 8 hours.
- IV Pause – 200 ml – in 1 hour
- Advise – Bleeding time, HIV, Hepatitis B and went away to attend the next patient in the ward.
The Nurse on duty came & asked Steve, ‘Gentleman please give me your hand’, Steve questioned, ‘Why’ with a sign of irritation in his face.
‘I have to make a channel in your hand for administration of IV (Intra Venous) fluids’ said the nurse. Steve shut his eyes and four way channel was installed in his left hand vein opposite to his palm. The fluids were connected and drip started to move in into his body from a hanger rod attached to the bed.
Steve could not sleep due to the anxiety of the channel being dislocated, but slept unconsciously though in the early morning.
Melissa arrived to see Steve, to primarily find out how is he doing?
Steve smiled uncontrollably and said, ‘Hi Honey, nice to see you here again, how was your last night?’
‘Oh! Horrible can’t explain you in words’ replied Melissa.
The situation appeared more horrible to Melissa as she saw those IV fluid transfer arrangements made for Steve, but tried to control herself and asked,
‘How do you find the place Steve?
’Hey, Melissa, you see my gown, one waist lace is missing.’
‘OK, ok do not worry about it’, Melissa reassured Steve.
‘You know Melissa, my spectacle is just not right’
‘Why, what happened’ said Melissa and took the glass way from Steve. ‘I don’t find anything wrong with this one, what’s your take, Steve?’
‘Take a closer look at this one, you will find the issue’, argued Steve. ‘I still cannot find anything wrong with this, Steve, what happened to you, chill babe’
Steve this time showed a tiny little gap between the glass frame and the glass for both the right & left eye in the lower outer corners to Melissa.
‘Great, Steve, amazing, you give so much attention to detail, that is why I call you are a perfectionist, and otherwise it is impossible that these details will miss your sight.’
‘Well, I am not a perfectionist’ Steve vehemently denied.’
And continued, ‘just because I am a perfectionist I need not suffer, and I fully understand I should not look for much perfection in everything that I see and desire, as more perfection I look for, more pain I will inflict upon myself, I am ready to compromise and accept as the things are.”
Deep inside though Melissa realised that, ‘Steve is perfectionist to the core in practice but look at him, the guy is intelligent enough to realise his shortcomings but then consciously or unconsciously though he cannot come out of his perfectionist shell.’
‘Steve, perfectionist attitude is good, not bad and I must admit is a great quality to possess, but make it work to your advantage and not otherwise’, sighed Melissa to which Steve nodded his head.
Steve was referred to Dr. Sandy Rogers – Rectal & Colon surgeon by Dr. Ross previously and there was a call from the Surgeon and Steve was taken to the doctor’s chamber for internal examination. Dr. Rogers performed a proctoscopy, which is nothing but a simple expandable machine inserted into the rectum to facilitate a better view of the rectal walls by enlarging the anus diameter. In the end Dr. Rogers said, ‘We shall wait for the colonoscopy results and then take a decision.’
Dr. Ross is one of the most brilliant Doctors Melissa have ever seen. ‘You know Steve, he has got an extraordinary memory and remembers almost everything, moment I entered his chamber, he does not ask me who am I, instantly recognizes me, the last night when I called him up, I did not had to give any intro of myself and he went on talking about you straightway. He has referred you to Dr. Rogers, in case any surgical intervention is required and you know what, Steve, he does not refer to anyone other than Dr. Rogers, in spite of there being dozens of other surgeons available’ Melissa continued.
‘I was chatting with the hospital staff, while waiting for Dr. Ross the last time I came here; understand that Dr. Ross is a colossal philanthropist and he treats all the hospital staff during the Christmas and gives each a festival gift. What a gesture! God bless him. He is so devoted to his medical profession that he spends 14 to 16 continuous hours at the hospital and offers to attend any kind of emergency all 24 hours. The dedication of this kind is rare in sight these days, isn’t Steve? – Melissa not stopping her praise & expressed tremendous confidence on Dr. Ross. Melissa wondered though how is that Dr. Ross, do not fall sick, and believed that nobody else other that the God himself resides in Dr. Ross, otherwise this is not practically possible for most human beings to endure. He genuinely loves his profession and must be he enjoys every time he sees a patient.’ Melissa tacitly confided to Steve. This in fact made Steve overwhelmed and a lot relaxed and he said, ’Yes Melissa, right you are, I am amazed too, you have brought me to the right place and I feel safe at this right hand.’
In the meanwhile, Nurse arrived and gave three glasses of liquids and advised Steve to have them gradually over a period of an hour or so. ‘You would then get the pressure of going to the pot’ she informed. A junior doctor from the Gastroenterology department arrived near the bed of Steve and took his written concurrence to perform a Colonoscopy procedure as advised by Dr. Ross.
Melissa stood by the bed of Steve in agony of what’s going to happen to Steve and what procedures are to be performed? What could be the findings, she became restless by the every minute that passed by.
Soon Steve started to feel pressure and was going to the pot back & forth, several times. Nurse advised Melissa that, ‘please let us know when the patient will not feel motion anymore.’ After about two hours or so the things settled, and Steve who is without any food since morning tends to sleep over.
Melissa saw a trolley arriving with a white cloth cover and that the Nurse carrying the trolley sounded the name of Steve.
Steve was detached of the IV fluid supply & as transferred to the trolley. Melissa asked, ‘what next’, to which Nurse replied that the patient is being taken to the Gastroenterology department to perform colonoscopy.
Steve though enjoyed the moment and felt, ‘all these days I used to ran after the patients and Doctors for others and look at me today - I am the King, I am the patient, there is Melissa to take care of me all the time.’ Steve comfortably lay on the trolley covered with a white bed sheet and the trolley was moving fast from the ward to the corridor and then to the elevator and to Steve, only the changing ceilings were in sight.
Steve was taken to the 1st floor of the hospital and it was a chiller, very cold. One Male nurse appeared and asked his name. Steve was then shifted to another room, housed with various apparatus & instruments. It had a centralised computerised monitor. Many long pipes etc. and a cute compressor machine for air supply, which was making hissing sound intermittently. Steve, while being laid on the trolley was observant and saw quite a few of the staff & nurses making him ready for the procedure. One such nurse put anesthesia pipes into his nose. To his utter surprise he found many of the staff are Indian and appeared belonging to Kerala (Down extreme southern part of India) and were speaking Malayali. (Local language of Kerala) Before they could apply the anesthesia & before calling the Doctor, another staff on duty now asked, ‘What’s your name?’
Steve was a bit surprised and could not comprehend as to why the same ‘name’ question is being asked at various points.
‘Kaanan Nallya Bhagiyendu’ (the guy looks handsome) uttered one nurse. ‘Yeah, yah, Nallya vellayanu, (looks very fair), uttered the other. The nurses had no idea; whatsoever that Steve can faintly understand Malayalam. Steve was actually looking fair due to low hemoglobin count in his blood and due to anemia, according to the Dr. Ross’s earlier disclosure to Melissa.
The two nurses were talking in sequential order one after the other,
- Nee avane kalyanam kazhikkumo? (Would you like to marry him)
- Nallya Kaasukarananennu thonunnu (Very rich man it appears)
- Orupadu kashtappedum, ayalkku adhu ariyilla (He does not know how much painful it will be - the procedure)
- Anesthasia ulladhu kondu rakshappettu, allenkil ayal nilevilichu kaanum (God bless, we have anesthesia – otherwise we would see him shout, what pain, what pain etc.)
Now, the anesthetist and the doctor arrived and strikes conversation with Steve. Now please tell me what’s your name? ‘My name is Steve.’
‘Actually, Steve, we are asking your name just to re-confirm that we are treating the right person, this is the system check. We do not treat patient by the bed number due to obvious reasons you know’, concluded the anesthetist and injected some violet coloured fluid through his channel. Steve said ‘I am not getting unconscious and raised his hand’, ‘You will, my dear’ replied the doctor and the very next moment Steve woke up and found himself on the corridor.
Steve this time was shouting at the top of his voice and saw Melissa peeping through the door leafs from the passage at the end of the corridor. Suddenly, Steve saw the Nurse who was talking about him during the procedure and called her, ‘Sugamthannalle?’ – (are you OK) – the nurse almost fell on the floor and uncontrollably laughed by covering her face with both palms. She was called again by Steve but then this time she blushed and her ears became pinkish.
‘How come, you know Malayalam? Kshamikkuka (Sorry), I did not know’ - Nurse apologetically stared at Steve’s face.
Steve replied, ‘Relax, you have not done anything wrong’ and the conversation continued and pleasantries exchanged. Steve though was now in a great mood and remembered that he has been given sedatives for the full anesthesia. Steve became extra enthusiastic and was talking a bit more than required to everyone whoever passed by. Melissa greeted Steve on the way of getting back to the ward.
In the meanwhile, Melissa organised and changed Steve’s bed to private ward. Steve was rolled back to his bed, this time there are only two patients in one room. Steve now sat down on his bed and said to his co-patient, ‘Hello, dear I am Steve, what’s your name? The guy at the other end co-incidentally was not a very serious patient and he laughed at Steve and answered, ‘Yeah Good evening Gentleman, I am Robert Hesseny’. But Robert found Steve irrationally exuberant and was smiling & laughing a bit more than required. This also did not evade the notice of Melissa and she understood that the full anesthesia has done the trick on Steve and realised why people take on to drugs and sedatives.
‘Steve, could you feel anything that a five metre long pipe with a camera in the front was inserted through your rectum for colonoscopy?’ said Melissa. ‘No, nothing of that sort ever happened to me’, replied Steve.
Steve was advised by the Matron of the ward to have his dinner early and after that he will not be allowed to eat anything till he is planned to be operated in the late afternoon tomorrow under spinal anesthesia.
In the evening Dr. Rogers came to inform Steve that the medical board has decided to perform an operation as growths at the two places have been detected in the intestine and there is an ulcer in the ileo-cecal valve, which is partly deformed also. Dr. Rogers also very impressive, with lanky figure but extremely bright eye and looked a confirmed extra brilliant persona. Dr. Rogers assured Steve that nothing to worry and things shall be OK, only it is a matter of time and advised Steve to hold on to the patience.
Melissa also equally impressed by Dr. Rogers by just listening to the ever assuring body language. By sheer looking at him Melissa gained confidence and thought, ‘Well, Steve, we are at the right hands.’ Reconfirmed Melissa and immediately tried to find out on Goggle what is that eleo-cecal valve and saw that it is the valve that joins the large & small intestine in the stomach.
On disclosure of the colonoscopy report, a junior lady Gastroenterologist visited Steve. Melissa too eager to know what lies next and asked, ‘Doctor, what happens if this odd valve in the stomach gets deformed etc., as shown in the report? The lady doctor told, ‘Yeah, it can happen due to various reasons, may be due to an infection, as the place is bacteria prone and bacteria galore and due to this problem hemoglobin count may go down. In any case the doctor has ordered for biopsy and if there is no malignancy (Cancerous growth), then with the colonoscopy tool the deformed valve can be repaired. We shall have to wait for the histopathology report of the sample extract taken during colonoscopy.’
It was evening about 6 pm and the Dietician showed up at the bed side of the other patient Robert Hesseny. Dietician seemed to be a smart lady, with a white skirt and jacket and pink top; she held a thick folder on her lap. Always in smiling disposition she was asking about the patient’s preference of the diet. Dietician was taking extra little care in detailing the food menu for Robert.
Steve was getting envious, as to ‘why is she not asking me, as well? ‘Are they not going to serve me any food and keep me on IV fluid instead?’ Steve murmured within himself.
‘Hello, gentleman’ the dietician now turned towards Steve, ‘the doctor has advised that you can have dinner tonight, that’s it. Thereafter, no intakes for you till you are out of the operation theatre tomorrow. Now please tell me what your choice is?’
Steve requested, ‘Can I have rice, a portion of fish curry, some salads, yogurt may be’
‘Hang on, Sir, going by your reports, I feel, it is not right for you to have yogurt in dinner; you have also been advised to have non spicy, soft diet. I shall give you lentil instead and may be chicken stew.’ – sounded the dietician.
‘Ok’, said Steve.
‘Now, what about your breakfast menu, what is your habit?’ said the Dietician. Steve got frightened by the word ‘habit’ and said, ‘Oh, yeah, I like fruit juice, fruits, bread, hot eggs, porridge, oats or like’, Steve wanted to play safe.
‘Well today, I will get you Orange juice, whole grain bread toast with butter or cheese or mayonnaise – any one of the three at a time or oven fresh Croissants, baked egg with leek / hot egg and banana. Don’t take milk and milk products for now and thus cereals are out of your menu for the moment, no tea or coffee for few days. But you can have any other fruit of your choice.’ - Dietician said.
Steve though wondered why no tea & coffee, and could not suppress his inquisitiveness and asked, ‘what about tea or coffee, why is that out of my menu?’
‘Sir, you have low hemoglobin count and thus you require iron input in your diet. But tea & coffee if taken within one hour of food intake either way, before or after, bind the iron with itself and do not help proper absorption in your body. The reason being, Coffee contains polyphenols and tea contains tannins, both of which render any iron found in food unusable and thus hinder absorption.’ Explained the Dietician, gleefully and Steve was impressed. Melissa captivated by the knowledge of the Pro, nodded her head smilingly & felt being enriched in dietary.
‘Anything else may I assist you with’ asked the Dietician, ‘no thank you so much’, said Melissa on behalf of Steve, well before Steve could actually come in terms with the reality by being out of his imaginative world.
‘Bye, Good Night’ said the Dietician and speed way down the corridor.
Melissa constantly by the side of Steve passed quiet moments though.
Dr. Ross arrived with Dr. Rogers and said, ‘Well, Steve, do you intend to wait for the histopathology report on the sample taken out of the ulcer in the eleo-cecal valve? This may take about 3 more days and so will also delay the today’s programme of performing surgical intervention on you. We have found that the growth in the intestine and can be operated now and the same samples will go for Histopathology as well. Please think about it and take a call within the next couple of hours and inform Dr. Rogers. Accordingly, we shall confirm the Operation theatre (OT)’ and the doctors went away.
Steve & Melissa set in for consultations ‘as what to do’ and were in quandary, more so, as neither of them had informed any one in their family so far about their relationship. This deprived them of instant family support.
Melissa went down stairs and prayed at the prayer room for some time & then wished to head for the nearest church and found on Goggle Maps in her BlackBerry smart phone that Almeda Plaza Baptist Church is the nearest one, to which she walked down (about 3 miles). Melissa lit candles there and prayed for some time and then asked herself, ‘What to do?’
Melissa day dreamed of Steve being hale & hearty and getting married to Steve in a grand imaginative Catholic church in Philippines. All the while, she went on asking herself repeatedly but, ‘What needs to be done now?’ Her head said ‘wait for the cancer test report (Malignant cell report of the histopathology lab)’ – this being logical as the line of treatment would differ in case of cancerous & non cancerous growth.
While her heart said, ‘Go ahead and get the operation done if the Doctor has no objection’. In way she felt that doctors are professionals and it is more desirable that they decide instead of ‘leaving the decision on laymen like me & Steve.’
Melissa came back to the bed side of Steve and confided, ‘Tell you what, my mind speaking, get the operation done, don’t wait for the histopathology report and if something is found later on, then we shall handle it.’
Mood of frustration had set in Steve, but looking at what Melissa said, Steve agreed instinctively to Melissa’s mind.
This time Steve himself picked up the phone and dialed Dr. Rogers. The other end of the phone replied, ‘Hello, Dr Rogers’. Steve said, ‘Doctor, Steve here, your patient, we consent to get the surgery done today afternoon, without having to wait for the malignancy report of the eleo-cecal valve, provided you also agree.’
‘That’s not an issue’, said the Doctor, ‘Get yourself ready for the surgery.’
Steve was on IV fluids since the dinner yesterday and he was informed by the nurses that IV fluid administration will continue and about 4:20 pm he will be taken to the Operation theatre. Steve, however, lost his complete appetite by now for being on the antibiotics for the last 2 days and slept over.
Melissa, went to her office for a while, had lunch in the cafeteria down below her office floor, did some work, attended few e-mails and reached back by the side of Steve’s bed around 4pm, only to find Steve in continued deep sleep. Melissa silently waited and she saw there is various hospital staff and all are moving about in different uniforms. Melissa wondered why so many categories of staff existing in the same hospital.
Melissa sitting and thinking about something and there only a person in another type of uniform arrived with a stretcher trolley. Steve was still sleeping by then and the person went near Steve, disconnected his IV fluid attachments and said, ‘Sir, please wake up, we have to take you to the OT.’
Melissa was asked to check that there are no ornaments on Steve’s body and take over everything. He was given a single cloth gown to wear and specifically advised not to use any underwear.
Steve opened his eyes; his dress was changed and he was rolled out to the trolley from his bed, IV attachments re-fixed and the trolley started its journey to the Operation Theatre (OT). A nurse from the ward was accompanying Steve to hand over the patient along with the treatment file. This is one such file which keeps on accompanying the patient wherever the patient goes; it contains the records of all the medications, doctor’s observations, test reports and prescriptions etc. Melissa also ran along with the trolley and she was stopped at the OT entrance this time in the 2nd floor of the hospital. The nurse said to Melissa, ‘Madam, you please wait here and let me hand over the patient to them.’
Steve once entered the hallway leading to the various operation theatres. Steve asked nurse, ‘how many such OT is there in this hospital.’
‘There are fifteen operation theatres, Five - General OT, Two - Pediatric OT, Four - Cardiac OT , Two – Maternity OT and Two - Neuro OT’s.’ – replied the nurse. ‘Wow that’s great, where will I be taken into?’ – exclaimed Steve.
‘General OT’, said the nurse. Steve saw several OT personnel moving about and all of them wearing green coloured dress, with head mask, gloves etc., there is a huge board on one particular room, written as ‘STERILISATION SUITE’, where the few staff on arrival are heading to and then they all are coming out wearing green uniforms. Yet another question came to Steve’s mind as to why all of them wearing green dress. Steve exuberantly stared at the lady looked to be the senior most in the department well surrounded by scrub nurses, Steve asked, ‘why all of you are wearing green dress?’
‘You want to know that as well, dear! OK. You know, green is a natural colour and the colour allows you to concentrate and not get emotional. Then on green colour the blood stains look blackish and that is easy to identify and lot less frightening. Green is thus preferable over white as the blood strains on white looks very bright because of reflection in excess by the white light and thus captures attention of the OT staff and scare them more’, answered the Lady so convincingly. She continued, ‘to help you relax, I shall address you Steve, OK. Now tell me, do you do jogging or do you do any form of exercise?
‘No’, said Steve.
‘Do you feel shortness of breath while climbing up the stairs’ – she asked yet again.
‘No’, said Steve and continued, ‘I can climb up and sped and generally climb two steps at a time’
Well, Steve was ordered to be taken to the operation table, a scrub nurse was pulling the trolley backwards and then just before reaching the spot she applied brakes on her own and Steve slid a bit on the trolley and Steve’s right feet accidentally touched her left boob. Steve felt that apart from green apron she was not wearing anything else. This may be due to Sterilisation issue Steve assumed.
Steve was now transferred to the Operation table. All the monitoring devices like, Heartbeat, Blood pressure etc., were fixed, IV fluid was continuing. There are provisions for Oxygen mask with metering device and for blood transfusion as well. Steve noticed here that the blood pressure instrument is an auto & it measures at an interval of about 2 minutes. There is a huge light on the top and there are many localized lamps which are maneuverable. There was more than ten staff dedicated to him.
OT was a grand place looked to be for Steve, with wooden floors and wood panel walls; aluminum paneled false ceiling, stainless steel strips and accessories with glass in every place wherever it could be. All places spic & span and was giving a grand neat outlook.
The lady who answered Steve’s question on ‘green colour’ was actually the Chief Anesthetist and her questions to Steve on exercise; stair climbing etc. was to ascertain Steve’s physical agility and therefore will help her to decide the dose of anesthesia to be administered on Steve.
Steve was now made to sit instead of lying down and held by scrub nurses. A chilling liquid was applied all over his spine. Steve felt there are three people behind his back. One elderly woman dictating a young woman and one middle age man was helping the situation.
The elderly woman said, ‘Push this injection now and inform to patient prior to doing that.’
‘Yeah, pushing a local anesthesia injection, OK’ the younger women said and then she started trembling and pushed the injection but Steve felt lot of pain and sensed the person is not an expert and may be a trainee.
Steve this time around started screaming at the top of his voice and said, ‘Do not make me a guinea pig, please doctor and ask the chief anesthetist to do the job. I am getting lot of pain, I cannot bear, please forgive me.’
At the same time the elderly woman took control of the situation and then she said, ‘Steve, relax, we wait for two minutes’ and continued to scratch the area around Steve’s lower spine. Then after a while said, ‘Now I am pushing the spinal anesthesia’ and Steve kept on waiting for yet another painful piercing push but that appeared did not come through. Steve thought these people are unnecessarily delaying things but the very next moment, the Chief Anesthetist asked, ‘Steve, do you feel any numbness in your legs?
‘Yes, I do’, said Steve
‘That’s fantastic’, said the staff in the OT. The Chief anesthetist confided to the trainee and said in a very low husky voice, ‘You know Madeline that means the local anesthesia has worked well and the patient could not feel the administration of spinal anesthesia and since the patient has started feeling numbness in his lower part, this also means the spinal anesthesia has already set in to work, got it?’
Steve lost his feeling from waist and below but sensed was able to talk and wanted to make sure that Dr. Rogers is around.
Steve was now made to lie down and this time Steve gleefully uttered, ‘Yes Sister, can I see my favourite doctor?’ and went on & on insisting on it. Dr Rogers just in the room next to it was waiting for the green signal from the head nurse, came rushing in and reassured, ‘Dear Steve, I am right here, don’t you worry’
‘Thank you Dr. and very nice to see you’ said Steve, ‘I am at your disposal today and have reposed all my faith & trust on you, Doctor’ carried on Steve, with expression of deep sense of gratitude.
Dr. Rogers said, OK, OK dear now relax, I will perform on you the surgery, known as darada..**tomy. Steve could not comprehend the initial letters of the surgical procedure.
Steve this time around ticked conversation with a nurse and said, ‘my girlfriend - her name is Melissa, is waiting outside, how can I inform her that I am OK, is there any way, sister? You know what, she is a very caring girl and she is beautiful as well. Most importantly, has an equally beautiful mind if not better. You look very close to Melissa, are from Philippines?’
The nurse however did not pay any heed to what Steve had to say and harped instead, ‘Look Gentleman, can you see the LED right in front of you, you can opt to see the surgical procedures live or if you are too scared then we shall place a curtain over your waist and hang it up. This way you will not be able to see anything for now, but never mind we shall give a recorded CD of the procedure and you can see at leisure of your home later.’
Steve said, ‘Oh Yeah, I got a CD for the colonoscopy as well!’
The procedure took may be around 20 minutes, Melissa who was anxiously waiting outside the OT was shown the two operated piece of the growth filled in a transparent container enveloped in scary blood.
Dr. Rogers said, ‘Hi, young lady, the procedure is complete, the patient is stable & OK. We are going to send these samples to histopathology lab for checking malignancy. The patient at the moment is in the recovery room and shortly shall be transferred to the bed, All the best.’
‘Thank you Doctor’, said Melissa.
Steve was brought in to the recovery room, and connected to all auto emergency devices like oxygen supply, heartbeat, pulse & blood pressure monitors. Steve was conscious & oriented though and looked up all over the place. Steve saw that, there were about six to eight patients in the recovery lounge. To his left there was a girl fully unconscious on oxygen & blood transfusion and to his right there was a middle aged gentleman who was in his senses but on life support system.


To know the rest, please read my book.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Whatever is written out here is not that I know everything; I must admit and express my gratitude to Mr Jimmy Wales the founder of Wikipedia and Mr.Larry Page & Sergey Bin of Google without whose creation of information libraries in the web I could not have assimilated these works.
Thank you the great creators DISCLAIMER While I dislike to start off with a disclaimer, however, you know it is sometimes a great experience to have a bitter dish as a starter, thus the protagonist of the book prefers to remain as anonymous and all opinions & characters depicted in this work are not necessarily true and may be unintentional & co-incidental in the instances they might resemble with any one either dead or alive. That's precisely the reason while this appears in the end of the blog & in the begining of my content - Forward from the Author