Euphoria

It was half past ten in the morning. The usual wait for Mrs. Raina had begun. She came, though a little late, but had the same charm in her personality as I saw when she came for the first time to my clinic.

She was carrying a small plastic box in her slender hands. Very happily she placed the box in my hands and said with a glow in her eyes, “ Laddoos, I made myself for you.” I accepted the box with grace and thanked Mrs.Raina for the kind gesture. She blessed me and begun her story for the day.

After murmuring her heart out for at least twenty minutes, she took a deep breath and thanked me for a patient listening.

This used to be the daily routine of Mrs. Raina, coming to me in morning hours as I had told her the first day that I was free for some time during morning OPD. It was a daily affair wherein she used to bring out her miseries, her frightening interactions with her son and daughter-in-law, the daily quarrels with the maid and so on.

She had covered seventy years of her life’s journey but the magic in her ways still reflected her glorious past.

I remember the first day she came to me for medicine. She complained of restlessness, anxiety and weakness but it didn’t take me long to understand the underlying problem - loneliness. Yes, she was lonely. She found relief in talking to me, sharing her woes, her petty difficulties that she faced on a daily basis. She was happy after a few meetings with me as if she had found someone whom she could share her heart with. She would shower her motherly love upon me by blessing me every time she came and by often bringing her handmade dishes for me. I accepted all she brought for me with due honour and esteem which she greatly acknowledged.

Honestly speaking, all this brought a sense of great gratification in me. I felt so happy and contended by listening to her stories and as if lessening some of her burden. Seeing her mark of pleasure brought a joy of unknown level which I just can’t put in words. Yes, this was the feel of true happiness which perhaps any person can spend a full life in searching for it.

I always thank God for giving me this opportunity to serve people in this different way apart from treating patients through medicine. I personally feel that the weight of Mrs. Raina’s blessings must have surpassed all the blessings in the world.

Today, I remember her more as I attend her funeral and feel her smiling and still blessing me from her grave. Isn’t it a true euphoria for me?