Reward of Patience

Reward of Patience

 

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 It was a hot& humid evening of September in Lahore. Temperature was very low at Mr. Rashid big & newly renovated residence in DHA. The male servants were arranging new furniture and decorative items. Female staff was cleaning new bathroom sets and new tiled floors of rooms. Mrs. Rashid while sitting on an expensive sofa was giving instructions with mixed feelings and at the same time recalling past years of life. 

The married life of Mrs. Rashid had started from a very small house in a middle-class society. At that time Mr. Rashid was a small trader. The couple struggled & worked hard for a healthy environment and good education of their children Hassan & Reema. By the grace of Allah business of Mr. Rashid grew with passage of time and then a time came when he was among the front-line businessmen of country.

She always stood with her husband and also showed concern on many issues. She at times   found herself helpless. Now this huge amount spent on renovation of their latest designed bungalow was also against her will. 

Their children had enjoyed their childhood despite different habits & likings. Mr. Rashid loved Reema too much and often called her a lucky child. He never objected or rejected any of her choices or desires. All this extra love had made Reema a high headed & stubborn girl. She became status and brand conscious. On the contrary Hassan was more intelligent and liked simple way of life. He had all friends from middle class and had acquired all education on merit. Reema despite being youngest in family tried to have an upper hand which Mrs. Rashid did not like. 

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich: https://www.pexels.com/photo/smiling-boy-in-white-crew-neck-shirt-holding-a-medal-6668817/

That day all final touches were being given to welcome Reema who was returning from abroad after completing education in Business Administration. She had insisted to get education from abroad. Hassan had recently completed his house job after MBBS and had got job in a big government hospital of city. His selection of education line was never liked by his father as he wanted his participation in business. Mrs. Rashid came out of past thoughts & worries when cook told that dinner was ready.  

At night Reema returned home and was amused with all the new changes at home. She was glad that her father had accepted her another desire. Everyone at home welcomed Reema with a smiling face but at same time was worried about unpredictable mood of Reema. On meeting Hassan, she started criticizing his clothing and almost shouted on his old fashion hair style. Hassan kept quiet for some time but then left room under protest. Mrs. Rashid got worried& an unknown fear was quite visible in her eyes but her husband was totally relaxed.  

In next day’s Reema started going to their factory along her beloved father and took matters in her peculiar style. Hassan was preparing for specialization in neurosurgery. Distance between brother & sister widened with passage of time. 

One night at dinner Hassan informed about his liking for Dr. Hina. She was doing house job in another hospital and wished to be a General Physician. He   requested his parents to go to her house to meet her parents. On hearing it his mother smiled but Reema at once rejected it and said that they did not need another low-income doctor in their home. Hassan ignored her comments and carried on to convince his parents. He said   that he knew Hina for last some years as she was junior to him. Her father was employed in a government department. On hearing this Mr. Rashid became furious and expressed his disliking. He explained Hassan about their high status in society. At the end he told in plain words that it was impossible for them to have a relationship with a middle-class family just because of his liking. On this Hassan left the table quietly.  

A few days later Reema visited hospital   where Hina was doing her house job. After some difficulty she managed to trace Hina and then not only abused her in loud voice but also slapped in front of patients & other doctors. She accused& blamed her of trapping her innocent brother  Hassan because of our wealth & status. These were very embarrassing moments for Hina.  She had seen & met Reema for first time so could not decide how to react at that awkward situation.   

On knowing about that incident, Hassan protested a lot at home. Everyone was surprised to see that angle of his personality because he was a very cool minded person. Reema flatly refused to apologies. Hassan after some time threatened to leave the house in case the family did not accept Hina as family member.   

That night Mrs. Rashid sat with her husband for hours to convince to meet Hina’s parents for sake of their son. Mr. Rashid at last agreed but Reema refused to join. Some days later the couple went to Hina’s parents’ home. It was the same locality where they lived after marriage.  

The condition and environment of the locality had gone more worse over these years. The house was in small lane, so they had to park their car in a comparatively broad street. Soon their expensive car was surrounded by many small dirty children. They had to take many steps in uneven lanes before entering in a small house. Mr. Rashid was in bad mood and had covered his mouth with his costly handkerchief.  

Mrs. Rashid was pleased to see Hina as she found her to be good looking, slim & smart even in average clothes. She was of course educated and above all was choice of her son. Mr. Rashid on the other hand was not relaxed and sat in an uneasy style. He refused to take even cup of tea and was in hurry to conclude meeting.     Everything was decided including marriage date in same short sitting as Mr. Rashid did not want to visit that small house again.  

A simple function was arranged and in that too Reema did not participate whole heartedly & did not welcome Hina in house. She felt insulted that Hina had been able to enter their large house in spite of her disliking& veto. Next weeks were very tough& hard for Hina because of total change of setup, noncooperation of family members & disgraceful attitude of Reema and father-in-law.  

Hina tried her best to adjust despite hectic hospital duties and Hassan also sat many times with parents to sort out things. At last Hassan decided to shift Hina to her parents’ house for some days. It was a difficult decision for newly wedded couple. Mrs. Rashid tried hard to avoid this situation but her daughter & husband were least interested.  

She & all servants were very upset when Hina left. Months passed and Hassan came home only for sleeping. He made a habit of visiting Hina on weekends to enjoy & relax. He ensured full attention & care for her. Hina also realized the situation and responded in mature way.  

It was a foggy winter midnight of January.  Reema was driving alone to home from a function. On that night also, she had insisted to go alone. Visibility was less than half kilometer. Suddenly she noticed that something was in front of her car but it was too late.  Her car smashed in dumper with a big noise. It was a horrible accident but unluckily there was no one nearby to give her attention. The dumper driver also left spot soon after accident. All shops were closed and very thin traffic on road. She lay in car alone in unconscious condition for several minutes. An unknown person showed mercy and dropped her in Services hospital’s emergency ward.   

Medical staff immediately attended badly wounded patient. From clothes she looked from a good family but there was no other recognition that someone could be intimated. That night by chance Dr. Hina was on duty. She was asked to rush to emergency ward. By that time, she had completed house job and was a permanent employee there. In very less time she had gained a good reputation because of her hard work, intelligence & polite behavior with patients & para medical staff.  

When she approached bed, the nurses were giving first aid to patient. First priority of Dr. Hina was to stop bleeding from skull as already a lot of blood had been wasted. Trouser of lady patient was also wet and full of blood which meant that leg was also badly injured. Dr. Hina along her work politely took off jewelry and secured it as it could have been stolen in this rush. She called senior neuro surgeon and shared initial reports of patient. After some time, she felt current in her body as she felt that patient lying in front of her was none other but Reema. She could not recognize earlier as whole face was badly swelled and bandaged. Patient had fatal injuries and her life was at risk. She was shocked.   

She tried to contact Hassan but his number was switched off as he was busy in operation theatre. He had called her half an hour ago to inform before switching off cell.

She thought for a while and then intimated Mrs. Rashid through her colleague. Within half an hour the couple reached hospital.  

They could not go near patient bed as was surrounded by medical staff but sensed that condition was critical. They stood aside and watched patient being cared. A few minutes later they were stunned to see Hina herself inserting a drip in Reema’s arm. Within few minutes Senior neuro surgeon reached there and Hina started giving him the details. Emergency call was also sent to orthopedic and plastic surgeon for the multiple injuries. In a very short while it was decided to shift patient to ICU. Mr. & Mrs. Rashid saw the stretcher being dragged away in a hurry. Hina quickly followed them with file. She saw the couple while leaving emergency ward but decided not to go near them. She neither had the time nor was aware of possible reaction from them.  

Mr. Rashid also could not step forward. He had never thought of the time when he & his daughter would be helpless in presence of Hina.  

Hassan reached hospital after Fajr. In stairs he called Hina and informed her about his arrival.  He saw his parents sitting outside ICU. He embraced them and stood there to share the information which Hina had shared with him. Reema had severe head injury, four ribs cracked, injuries on face and left leg badly fractured at two points.

Soon Hina joined them and gave small plastic envelope having jewellery to her mother-in-law. to her mother-in-law. Mrs. Rashid took her in her arms but said nothing. Hina slowly briefed Hassan and walked with him towards ICU. She then took to senior doctor’s room for discussion.  Head surgery was planned after second CT scan report. On coming out Hassan briefed his parents about bad condition in hidden words. Mr. Rashid insisted to take Reema abroad but Hassan said that condition was not suitable for travel. He also told that Services Hospital had all modern facilities moreover it was their good luck that Hina was present there and all doctors could be easily approached. During that time Hina struggled to arrange a VIP room for her in law parents to relax there. They were already tired of sitting on wooden bench.   

Hours later fresh CT scan and tests were held and surgery was finalized to try removal of blood clot. Life was at further risk in case clot moved its position. Patient had not gained conscious. Hassan briefed his parents about the decision. He did not tell his father about risks during surgery as his father had already reservations about medical facilities in hospital. At this stage Hina stepped forward and said: Allah will take care of Reema and she will soon get well.:

The parents sent their daughter’s stretcher to operation theatre with wet eyes. As expected, it was a long surgery which lasted for many hours. Hassan remained in operation theatre with senior doctors whereas Hina sat in post-operative room continuously in touch with theatre and in laws.

 

At last Hassan came out after more than eight hours and congratulated his parents about successful surgery but told that another 48 hours were crucial till she gained conscious and open eyes. Hina stood by side of her husband when he briefed. She knew that there were chances that Reema might lose any organ like hearing or eye sight but did not have courage to say anything. Mrs. Rashid smelled something between lines. She wept a lot while taking Hina in arms. Mr.  Rashid did not have anything to say.

Next hours were very hard for family. They just sat in room praying or going to ICU to get some good news. At last, Reema opened eyes. All her senses were in order. Doctors were relieved. Pain killers & heavy antibiotics continued for another two days during her stay in ICU. During this period whenever Reema opened eyes, she found Hina standing or sitting near her bed. Those were happy moments for family when Reema was shifted to room although her fracture of ribs & leg still existed. 

Next evening Reema took semi liquid food in room. Hina told Hassan in low voice that she wanted to go to her parent’s house for some time to get fresh. She had not changed dress since Reema had come to hospital. Hassan took his cell to arrange Taxi but Mr.  Rashid immediately called his driver waiting in lobby and instructed him to take madam where ever she wanted. Mrs. Rashid was relieved on change of attitude.  

Condition of Reema slowly improved in days to come and then she started speaking in low tone.  

One morning when nurse had given her daily medicines, she signaled Hina to come close to her and said in a weak low voice: I am sorry.: It was unbelievable as Reema had never uttered these words. She paused for a while and continued: we will go home together:  Her mother saw this and immediately came near her bed and took hands of both Reema & Hina in her hand. Tears flowed from her eyes. Hina wiped her tears with tissue.  

Mr. Rashid who had been closely watching all this and at once called house staff to clean& arrange Hina’s room. He got up and placed his hand on Hina’s head. On holding her with his right hand spoke softly with wet eyes” Please forgive us”. After a small pause he said “You are best choice of my son. I mistook you. I am proud to have two daughters and would wish Reema to be like you.”