It was one of those days when you are to put to test….a test that would test your patience threshold…calamity surfing threshold..and courage threshold!

It all started with a phone call on one lazy afternoon …An emergency call from one of my aunts that she was in severe abdominal pain.It struck like a thunderbolt…up and dashing towards the exit door my dad and I raced towards her house that was a few kilometers away..but not without informing 108 emergency service to reach there with paramedics.

I wasn’t sure in which condition I would find my aunt but luckily when we arrived she was able to sit up and utter a few weak words.Packing some of her things we waited for the ‘emergency’ service to arrive.

Seconds turned into minutes but no sign of the Ambulance.Franctically I called them again and they said they were on their way…

In the meantime the neighbours flocked and started throwing a 100 questions at the poor lady and wouldn’t let her breathe..

“For God’s sake..let her breathe..this is an ‘emergency’!!! screamed I

One old lady even went into the kitchen and brought some honey water..some grandma ka medicine..

“For God’s sake the poor lady will puke…leave her alone”screamed I

Minutes  and minutes later..the ‘emergency’ people called back and said they were ‘lost’…For god’s sake!!! This was sure getting to my arteries and nerves…

We decided that we should wait no longer and helped her into our car and started driving away when we saw the ambulance still roaming the nearby lanes.At last we managed to stop them.With the siren now off…two wiry looking men came slowly walking towards our car .

‘where the hell is the stretcher?’ I screamed.

‘we thought she could walk towards the ambulance’ said one emergency guy

‘what???’ I was so shocked when I heard him..Now they are expecting emergency patients to  WALK upto the ambulance?? For God’s sake!!!

Poor aunt walked a few steps and a lil bit of screaming from me made the ‘unprofessional’ service people finally move their lazy bodies and bring out the stretcher.

I climbed into the ambulance first and was waiting for the stretcher to be placed inside when the ambulance wala started driving away with me…leaving the patient on the road sleeping on the stretcher…

‘what the hell!!!”

It was his adjustment with the vehicle he clarifies..whatever…..

Finally the Ambulance with it’s typical siren waded through the busy roads to the hospital…a very 'renowned' hospital in the city.

.

The patient was taken to the ‘emergency’ wing and after a few initial questions the shocking news was told me me that the

‘emergency’ doc for that particular ailment took an ‘emergency’ leave…

HELLL…..!!!! Can u believe this is happening???

Now the ‘emergency’ ambulance walas were not willing to take her to another hospital because it was not their zone…they have to deal with other ‘emergencies’…so we took the poor lady in our own old uncomfortable car to another hospital.

The doc concerned with that speciality was yet to come and the mobiles screamed and screamed as the patient was being led into the ICU.

Near and dear ones from far off places kept calling by the dozen…some enquiring…some ‘advising’ and some just curious and most importantly disturbing our sanity.

It is during these times that our adrenalin levels shoot up and our mind is completely stressed…

As I wait outside the ICU ,I see another patient being taken into the’emergency’ ward..his family running after the stretcher and worry clearly written on their faces….I can now relate to them so well…

What they must have underwent with the’emergency’ service and situations…

Being a doc myself ,only then did I realize how it is to be on the other side of 'THE EMERGENCY'….