The Paradigm Shift

The doctor had just informed me that they would be putting my grandmother back on the ventilator after 36 hours of struggle and signs of improvement. I felt bitterly disappointed. I stepped out of the hospital along with my mother to digest this news over a cup of chai from the street vendor.

As we were ordering the chai, the parking guy approached us and started complaining that we had paid him Rs 10/- less the last time we had parked the car.

“This is not the time for discussion.  Come later.”

“But I want my Rs 10, “he persisted.

I lost my temper. I yelled at him. He went away. I was seething with anger. My grandmother was battling with death and all he was worried about was his Rs 10/-.

Later at night, when I had calmed down, I felt guilty for having spoken to him so rudely.

So when I saw him again, I told him, “I am sorry that I spoke to you so rudely. We had just received some really bad news about my grandmother admitted in the hospital. It was just not the time to discuss money.”

“Aah! I can understand. I am sorry. It is bad for all of us though. I work hard 20 hours a day to put together the money for the treatment of my 3 year old daughter who is suffering from cancer. She has already gone through three rounds of chemotherapy at AIIMS. Each ten rupee is important for me.”

I was dumbstruck. It was a paradigm shift for me.

I keep getting amazed with the resilience of the human spirit. The challenges and the pain that we deal with willingly and happily!