Top 10 - Diversity
Vidhi Patel has spent a large part of her childhood immersed in the world of politics. Now, after graduating from medical school and becoming a pediatrician, she has to make life-changing decisions. Get married and go down the pat...
Pacing nervously in the mildly filled emergency room, my nerves and panic meshed together to create the perfect cacophony of mental madness. The doors flew open as a doctor came barreling through to me and asked me to step into a side room. Complying, I followed him to the room where he closed the door and had me take a seat.
"Hello, Terrence. I'm Dr. Goodman, I'm taking care of Vidhi. I'm glad to report that due to the food already present in her system, the concoction of drugs had not been absorbed beyond a harmful point. The drugs have been taken out of her system, so she is resting right now." As he paused, a sigh of relief left me as all the worst case scenarios left with it.
But a new wave of panic surfaced as he said, "The main thing we are concerned about now is what triggered this. We've got her medical records and there are no indications of anything that would have pointed to a deliberate attempt at her life. We are calling in a psychologist, but we are wondering if you know anything that could help us make better decisions." Nodding, I recounted the entire day as he took notes.
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When the nurse gave me the go ahead, I opened the door and stood there, taken aback at the sight of Vidhi. My chest hurt as I sat beside her, taking in her fragility. Taking the hand that wasn't connected to the IV, I was glad to feel the warmth radiating from it.
As I tenderly caressed her hand, my phone screen lit up, announcing her father as the caller. Answering the phone, I held it with my unoccupied hand. Before I could even say anything, I heard the frantic voice of her father,
"Terrence, how is Vidhi doing? I'm getting there as soon as I can get through the rush hour traffic. The hospital called and didn't tell me what happened to her. I tried calling her phone, but she isn't answering! What's going on?"
Knowing he was driving, I figured that telling him such emotionally taxing news may not be the best course of action, so I assured him,
"I'm here with her. Since you are driving, drive safely here and let me know when you get here. I will bring you to her room and explain what happened. But she's okay now."
Agreeing, he hung up and I turned my attention back to Vidhi, whose hand was still in mine. I knew she was okay now, but letting go of her physically felt too much like the heart-stopping moment I stormed into her room to find her curled up.
When his call came through, 10 minutes after, I took another look Vidhi before leaving the room and quickly walked out to the waiting room. And there he was, anxiously holding his phone until he spotted me and hurried over, guilt and worry only two of the emotions apparent in his eyes. Gripping my hand, he asked,
"Where is Vidhi? What happened to her? Is she okay? Does she need anything?" As we walked into the emergency ward's observation rooms, I caught sight of Dr. Goodman and waved him over. Nodding in acknowledgment, he walked over and shook Raj's hand, introducing himself,
