FORGET ME NOT

■CHAPTER 4■

"Do you think the universe fights for the souls to be together ?
Some things are too strange and strong to be coincidence ".

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In India
At hospital

I was in the middle of stitching up a patient's wound when my phone buzzed. I ignored it, focusing on the task at hand. The patient was a young boy who had fallen off his bike and scraped his knee. He was crying and whimpering, but I tried to calm him down with soothing words and a gentle touch.

"There, there. You're doing great. It's almost over. Just a few more stitches and you'll be good as new." I said, smiling at him.

He sniffled and nodded, clutching his mother's hand. She looked worried and grateful at the same time. I finished the last stitch and cut the thread. I applied some antiseptic and a bandage, then gave him a lollipop.

"Here you go, champ. You were very brave today. Now you can go home and rest. But remember, no more riding your bike without a helmet, okay?" I said, ruffling his hair.

He smiled and nodded, then hugged me. "Thank you, doctor. You're the best." He said.

I felt a warm glow in my chest. This was why I became a doctor. To help people, to heal them, to make them happy. I loved my job, even though it was exhausting and stressful at times. I loved working at this hospital, where I had learned so much from my mentors and colleagues. I loved living in this city, where I had grown up and where my parents still lived.

I checked my phone. It was a text message from Dr. Lee, the head of the International medical exchange program. I had applied for it a few months ago, hoping to get a chance to work abroad and learn from different cultures and practices. It was a highly competitive and prestigious program, and I had not expected to hear from them so soon.

I opened the message and read it. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

"Congratulations, Dr. Naya. You have been selected for the IMEP. You will be posted in Seoul, South Korea, for one year, starting from next month. Please reply to this message to confirm your acceptance and receive further details. We are looking forward to working with you."

I read the message again, then again, then again. I felt a surge of emotions. Shock, disbelief, joy, excitement, fear, doubt. I had been selected. I had been chosen. I had been given an opportunity of a lifetime.

I had always dreamed of working in South Korea, a country that was renowned for its advanced medical technology and innovation. I had always wanted to experience a different culture and lifestyle, to broaden my horizons and challenge myself. I had always hoped to make a difference in the world, to contribute to the global health and well-being.

But I also had a life here. A life that I loved and cherished. A life that I had worked hard to build and maintain. A life that included my parents, who were getting older and needed me more than ever.

My parents, who had sacrificed so much for me, who had supported me throughout my education and career, who had always been there for me. My parents, who were proud of me, who loved me, who wanted me to be happy.

How could I leave them? How could I go away for a year, maybe longer, maybe forever? How could I break their hearts? How could I be so selfish?

I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly, hoping no one had seen it. I looked around the hospital ward, where I had spent countless hours and days, where I had saved lives and lost lives, where I had made friends and enemies, where I had laughed and cried, where I had grown and learned. I felt a pang of nostalgia and sadness. I loved this place. I loved these people. I loved this work.