Those enchanted four and half years

Chapter 25

Along with the study of routine subjects of IIIrd/1st, we continued to have clinical postings of various clinical subjects. Our first posting was Ob-Gy (Obstetrics-Gynaecology). Ob-Gy was one of the subjects I hated, and of course not without reason. On the first day of our clinic, our clinical batch was divided into four groups. We were supposed to attend OPD, operation theatre(OT), wards and labour room (delivery room) by rotation. I, Sufee and Nayana had to attend OPD on the first day. As we stood in the busy OPD which was bustling with women, a gynaec resident called us into the examination room. Inside, a patient was lying on the examination table. "Examine her by the time I come," she said and hurried somewhere. I, Sufee and Nayana looked at each other. We were totally confused and disoriented.

"What are your complaints?" Nayana asked the patient. "I am getting a white discharge," she said. As we peeped to examine the type of discharge, we saw something yellowish clinging to her private parts. Causes of yellow discharge? We began scratching our heads. Just then the resident came inside. "Have you examined her?" she asked. "Ma'am, she complaints of white discharge, but here she has a yellow discharge," Sufee said. The resident took a look, and then looked at us. "Anatomy, girls, never forget your anatomy. See where it is coming from. This is not a discharge, this is stool," she said. As we looked at each other in embarrassment mixed with disgust, the patient said, "We have water shortage, so I couldn't wash it today." We literally ran out. I kept feeling like vomiting the whole day.

There was a professor in Ob-Gy, Dr. Khadse. He was very strict. There would be pin-drop silence in the OT whenever he would be operating. The nurses who would assist him would work with trembling hands. He would keep asking questions to residents who would assist him during surgery, and throw instruments at them if they answered wrong. He never allowed more than two medical students inside the OT. In short, he was a terror. One day, as per rotation, I and Nayana went to the OT to watch the surgeries. Khadse sir had not arrived yet. I and Nayana were standing near one of the OT tables, watching the surgery. I was standing behind Nayana. Suddenly I remembered I had forgotten my wallet in the changing room, and went to fetch it. Nayana was not aware of what had happened. However, she just looked behind slightly, and seeing the green OT dress, thought it was me. "Thank God, I thought it was Khadse sir, I felt so scared," she whispered to the person standing behind her. "And what are you feeling now?" a male voice asked her from behind. Shocked, she turned around to find herself face – to – face with Khadse sir! I bet she got the shock of her life!

In the labour room (delivery room) rotation, we had to do one night, i.e we were supposed to stay there one whole night and attend all deliveries. As per rotation, I, Nayana, Arun and Yash were supposed to do one night. As we went and stood in the labour room, the scene there was very ... disgusting! Women about to deliver, lying on tables, were shouting in various octaves; Gynaec residents were shouting at them in double octaves. The room was a mess, with blood, fluid and dirty sponges scattered everywhere. And the smell there – a mix of blood, sweat and faeces – started stimulating my vomiting reflex. I quickly left the room and sat in the adjacent room. Arun followed me. "I can't stay in there," I said, "It was suffocating inside." "We are supposed to stay there whole night," he said, "poor Yash; what a way to celebrate birthday!" "What? Today is Yash's birthday?" I asked. "No, it's tomorrow. Begins at 12 tonight," Arun said. "Then let's celebrate! Let's surprise him," I said, excited. "Here? In labour room?" Arun made a face. "Why not in this room? Better than doing nothing at all!" I suggested. Arun thought for a moment. "Okay," he said, "What's the plan?" As midnight approached, my excitement went on increasing. Inspite of standing in the labour room, I could not see or smell anything, as my mind was far off, anticipating the celebration. Yash was oblivious to everything. He couldn't get to know where Arun had suddenly disappeared for about half an hour (when he had rushed to buy a cake), or why he had been coaxed into taking a late night stroll in the hospital grounds (the time when I and Nayana decorated the adjacent room), or why we kept finding reasons to stop him from going into that room or why we kept exchanging smiles with the gynae resident (with whom we had shared our plan and invited in our celebration). Everything was going as planned. What could possibly go wrong?