Doctoring Days

Contrary to my initial plans for the year, I've begun working at a nearby hospital until the seat allotment is finalized. While last year, the PG courses began by May 1st, this year has been unpredictable for the most part. I thought it would be a good change to get back into the hospital atmosphere and clinical set up since I've mostly spent the whole of last year on building my theoretical knowledge. The process of applying was fairly simple thanks to the resume building skills provided by my friend Dr. Sanjana! I also realized that even with just an MBBS Degree, it IS possible to get some employment, and that too on a temporary basis!

Chitra and I

After I found out that Chitra was also looking for a similar opportunity, we teamed up and applied together. After an interview with the HR and Dr S, we were formally given a position. Our first day was more of an introduction-orientation of sorts. We were taken around the hospitals, across the various departments and we also met several consultants. Most of them were very friendly and asked us about our plans ahead. They also advised us to take all precautions while examining the patients and briefed us on the existing protocols in place. Since we were working 9-5 on our first day, we spent the day taking histories of the in-patients and filling any details in the case-sheets. Finally, some amazing Corner House Ice-cream with the enthu cutlet genius Chitra brought an end to an interesting day with new beginnings! 

The next day, I got to meet Dr D, a pulmonologist with vast experience and also had a short interaction with Dr A, a budding nephrologist and she told me about the pros and cons of specializing post and MD as well as the increased number of super specialists in a big city like Bangalore. (Fangirl alert!) Day 3 was the morning shift and after the initial lull, cases began to trickle in steadily ranging from COPD cases, asthma exacerbations to anaemia under evaluation. The ward cases had several in the onco department, a psychiatry case, a few ortho post-ops and even an AKI (Acute Kidney Injury) due to ?Connective Tissue Disorder. A visit to the ICU with Dr S revealed a grim scenario. Communicating to a patient's attenders about a poor prognosis and end of life care is never easy and sometimes we must consider all clinical as well as non clinical aspects before taking any decision. Truly, an overwhelming situation for both the one delivering and receiving such information but such is the profession..

We soon got N95 Masks, Face Shields and ID Cards to induct us formally into the setup and glad though I am to have received some protective gear, it is certainly not a pleasant experience to have the masks tightly fitted for the entire duration of the shift and move around too. I also got to see cases in the OPD with Dr S, most patients have been coming to her since the last few years and she has an eye for detail which helps her spot uncommon presentations. There were cases of sarcoidosis, hemoptysis under evaluation, respiratory failure as well as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea presenting in the OPD which were all worked up as required and subsequently treated. There was also the case of young Ms D, born with bicuspid aortic valve, resulting in Aortic Stenosis which prompted a Balloon Valvuloplasty about 9 years ago. She also had anemia and GERD. The patient had new complaints of breathlessness and severe fatigue. After considering her clinical features as well as the laboratory correlation, the cardiologists in the hospital suspected that it coule be a case of Infective Endocarditis and decided that she must be referred to a higher centre and did the needful soon. 

Terrace views. :)

While the evening shift of 2-8 might initially seem to be "free", cases do keep popping in and out, a call from the wards or sometimes the ER too. Be it the case of obstructed ventral hernia that was taken up for surgery on Sunday evening or the post robotic surgery (for prostate cancer) patient who came for a hormonal injection (Degarelix), there is definitely a wide range of cases (baring ObG and Paeds). 

One that I will probably remember for a long time is of Mrs UK who was diagnosed with carcinoma of the gall bladder about six months ago and underwent cholecystectomy and a course or chemotherapy as well. But statistics do not favour the gall bladder cancer which is usually diagnosed only in the late stages and has an aggressive course. While we started a blood transfusion and albumin infusion to correct the anaemia and hypoproteinemia, the renal function was also compromised because of some of the chemotherapeutic drugs and the liver function, too, was deranged. Midway through the transfusion, her breathing became laborious since the ascitic fluid was obstructing her normal breathing. After we explained the situation to the patient's son, we shifted her to the ICU to monitor her vitals continuously and drained the ascitic fluid under USG guidance. While I was familiar with the procedure from internship days, a year's gap made me nervous to handle the "3-way" but I was guided patiently by Dr S2.

While it's important to know procedures, it is more crucial to know when to implement them and using the best techniques (when available). It also made think about how vastly different any theory is from the realities or clinical practice. Often, our clinical findings take precedence to make decisions over what the laboratory values might suggest. Ultimately, there is a cohesion between what we read, how we percieve and diagnose a case and how we explain the condition, treatment and progress to the patient's attenders. All these are three completely different skills to be developed over time in order to provide the best possible care, as a doctor, or should I say, to be a "successful" doctor. I'm also in the process of understanding how the government setup and private set up differ in some of their protocols and standard of care. There is probably no system which is completely without flaws but we must try and do the best we can in the set up we are in. 

It's been a week here and I'm not sure what's in the coming weeks/months but I'm trying to go with the flow and take this as yet another experience. There is always a take-away from everything we attempt and to be honest, my reasons for joining work were also to have a change from home so I'll just take things as they come, for now. :)

Covid Conversations.

Day 1.
Although the lockdown officially began all over India at 9pm on March 24th, I've been mostly indoors, only stepping out for any essentials since March 16th.

Staying indoor isn't something new to me; I spent most of last year either in an AC lecture hall or inside my room, preparing for PG. In fact, I was just beginning to go on long walks to another area, play badminton in nearby courts, attend gym amd aerobics when slowly but surely, a clamp down was enforced, across the city, state and eventually the entire country.

Covid-19 is something none of us planned for, none of us had any leeway for in our airtight plans for life, so it does come as a sudden displacement of all our carefully crafted plans. Promotions, retirements are postponed, competitive exams; the great way of determining the path to be taken by Indian students have been derailed indefinitely and so has every other plan that people have made for themselves. For once, we are at the mercy of a microscopic entity that scientists once fought over as being living or non-living; a Virus.

It makes you wonder, how fragile life really is. But it also makes you realize that life does go on, through deviations, detours and sometimes roadblocks. That's the beauty of creation.
Countries rebuild themselves, economies will slowly but surely rise and families will tide over the crisis with strength of the human spirit.

Until then, things are changing, yes, but this too shall pass. :')

Day 3.

So how are families as a unit coping with the lockdown ? While it's easy for individuals to busy themselves in social media challenges/ workout sessions and other ways of productivity, when you look at the entire family being together for extended periods of time, you'll begin to realize that it requires a team effort for smooth functioning of day to day activities. We also begin to realize how we depend on so many individuals for our day to day activities; be it the milk man, flower seller, vegetable vendor and pourakarmikas. 

Yes, there is a lot of uncertainty over when things will get back to "normal" again but it's also a time to reflect on how much "In control" we really are. Mankind has always believed in progress and we believe that as the superior species, we have tamed the forces of nature, but clearly, we were mistaken, as is evidenced by the raging spread of this nanomolecular virus.

As I walk across the now empty park to get some milk, I see the growing carpet of dry leaves on the pavement, a layer of flowers lies untended across the park while birds seem to have made a comeback with their daily chirping. While one species grapples with this virus,the rest of the planet, is strangely, re-emerging from the shadows that we've pushed them to. Perhaps, this is a wake up call to care more for the planet that has given us everything.

Another interesting thing is the amount of conspiracy theories, memes and forwards that are bombarding the internet these days. I think my dad has successfully completed a course from WhatsApp University.

And lastly, the Painting that I began almost 3 months ago is finally completed in a way (there are a few more things but that'll have to wait until the lockdown has ended...) and I'm filled with relief, more than anything else. I'd still recommend anyone interested in Tanjore Painting to learn it from a teacher, rather than on YouTube, because all said and done, there's nothing like learning the finer details from someone experienced.

Day 30.

It's been a month of lockdown and we're nowhere near the end of this. While the US and Europe have had larger numbers to grapple with, the economic price we'll have to pay for this extended quarantine isn't hard to imagine. While I sit at home and think about what activity to engage myself in, many others (including my dad), are figuring out how to keep the business running with minimal contact and travel. This hits hard especially on the industries that require human interactions, on factories that depend on manpower and any sector that involves travel and social interaction. 

Nevertheless, "learn as you go" kind of process as most countries learn by trial and error and each others' mistakes while trying to establish an evolving protocol. While the Spanish Flu of 1918 (coincidentally, I also found a reference to this in the British period drama Downton Abbey) surprisingly affected the younger population more, it was also partly overshadowed by the military activities of World War I. The name Spanish Flu does not refer to its Spanish origin but it was more prominently publicized in the Spanish media, since Spain was a neutral party in the ongoing war.

The foreseeable future will probably have us cautiously walking back towards normalcy, at every step, taking precautions that we don't create a resurgence of the untamed virus. Perhaps, this signifies that our efforts need to be better channelized; medical research over nuclear policies, vaccine development over artificial intelligence and affordable healthcare over high-end medical facilities. 

For now, we only know that the curve must be flattened in order to reach a manageable state. Surely, these times too shall pass and we shall look back and wonder how we made it. :)

Day 63

Honestly didn't expect that the lockdown would be extended as far as this but to be honest, is this really a "lockdown"? Most stores are reopening with "maximum safety measures", buses are operating on supposed limited capacity and flights have resumed amidst chaos on the ground! Not far from all this,patients are multiplying everyday while the government resources are being stretched and the private hospitals are charging exorbitant rates to provide a standard level care. Does every individual have a fair chance of surviving the pandemic? The answer is, an uncomfortable but resounding NO!

Why?

Because I've realized not everyone can afford the highest level of care provided by the best corporate hospitals. 

Which would leave a disproportionate number seeking the facilities of the government set up. 

Which obviously is not equipped with sufficient ventilators or support staff to help every sick patient. 

Which would mean they would use their limited resources only upon those that are likely to recover earlier, thanks to their younger age and absence of comorbidities. 

Which leaves an uncomfortable silence about the rest.

The way forward is uncertain but we've got to bounce back, one way or the other. We can't wish the virus away, but we can take caution in our social interactions. In a way, it puts into perspective how "cohesive" our social structure actually is. So bringing about this distancing on a longer term,is a challenge but perhaps we will find innovative solutions to connect despite the distance. :)

The Walk Home.

My father said we were to pack up soon,

A long walk; because I wasn't born with a silver spoon.

I asked if I could bring my bat and ball,

But he said I would get one when they would reopen the mall.

I waved goodbye to my friends at the site,

The construction workers with whom I spent every night.

The mother carried the heaviest load among us,

After all, didn't she carry bricks without a fuss?

My father said we were to walk home to the village,

Yet my blistered feet did not give much mileage.

He said we would work in the fields and harvest,

But I was hungry and in need of rest.

My mother says a virus is here to stay,

To remain indoors is the only way,

But my father asks, what about our monthly pay,

And so I'm walking; to a place far away.

Musings of May

The Time Machine.

To travel back in time, how I yearn!

Ancient scripts and hieroglyphics to discern,

For glimpses of dynasties and an era gone by,

I'd hop onto a time machine and fly!

Amidst the aristocratic royals at the Promenade,

Perhaps a British earl to serenade,

Beyond the Iron Curtain in an oriental landscape,

Living in exotic castles with trapdoors to escape.

With zest and zeal, I join the Industrial Revolution,

While the world grapples with illnesses having no solution.

The rise of modern era, the decline of an Empire,

Enslaved nations begin to rebel and aspire.

Through the freedom struggles, I stride,

As a new nation is born, I watch with pride.

Through riots, wars, poverty and disease we emerge,

At the dawn of the millenium, we surge.

As I pass through stamped post cards and ringing telephones,

I pause and reflect at this moment of peace,

If only this instant, I could capture and seize;

And not go back to a virus spreading with ease!

Dreaming of cherry blossoms in Japan,

While looking at rotations of my fan.

Scrolling through meadows and mountains afar,

As dust gathers on our unused car.

Building castles in the air,

About when I could go out without a care!

An Ode To Imagination.

On flying chariots and winged unicorns I travel,

Even as spell binding tales of wizards and witches unravel,

On broomsticks and carpets I fly into the starry night,

Or perhaps shuttle across the galaxy, hold tight!

With birds and beasts as companions, I explore,

Unknown lands and mystic folklore,

On other days, I live in a futuristic universe,

With gadgets and gizmos that speak in verse.

They say we lack magic and superpower,

But have you ever stopped to marvel at the mind,

Spinning yarns of places you could never find,

Of creatures and creations beyond our kind?

Neither the past or future we hold,

We can only watch as history shall unfold,

Yet, Imagination, with no threshold,

Is perhaps worth its weight in gold! 

.

//To the creativity of every fantasy book you've read, sci-fi thriller you've watched or the latest imaginative series you're bingeing on!//.

.

Attempts of April.

I'm probably not going to find a lot of support in this but I'm managing to get through the lockdown without any frustration. 'Is that even normal?' is a valid question at this point but all I'm saying is, I like how I'm getting this time to do everything I've wanted to do.

• I've watched The Office, Money Heist, (most of) Downton Abbey, Pushpavalli, a few good movies here and there. 
• I've been trying to practice some music everyday and it's great to revisit all the songs I learnt more than 10 years ago. 
• There's also some time for art that I have the freedom to attempt thanks to my mom's supplies. I'm also tinkering around in the kitchen these days and the results aren't too bad. 
• After a year of sitting in front of a study table piled with books and being absolutely inactive, it's a great feeling to get some workout within the comfort of my own home, thanks to Cult! (never thought I'd join the cult of Cult followers but there it is! This has really been a boon during this lockdown) 
• The icing on the cake is the new entrant; the Quarantine Quizzing sessions every night that I've joined since the last fortnight. Although the questions are mostly very difficult and my scores are abysmally low, it's a lot like the quizzes I would attend back in school and there's always some interesting trivia to take away from these. 

I've tried to pick up on my reading habit but its a lot slower these days to be honest and that's probably because of my attention span.

• Tell Me Your Dreams : Sidney Sheldon (A book I had wanted to read for a long time now. Unlikely murders, a mental illness and a courtroom drama)
• Nothing Ventured : Jeffrey Archer (The usual tale of twists and turns about a detective out to expose a suave fraudster)
• Fragile Lives: Professor Stephen Westaby (A British Cardiac Surgeon's experience over the years in his profession)
• A Doctor's Chronicles: Dr. Bharath Reddy (A paediatrician sharing is diverse experience of working with kids)
• The Girl On The Train: Paula Hawkins (This is still in progress but it appears to be a thriller set in Britain. As you can see, it hasn't reached the point of being a page-turner yet.)

I've also tried to write, after what seems like ages and although it's far from perfect, I'm really happy with myself for making a start! After drowning in writer's block for ages, this is a breath of fresh air and I'm happy to be making these imperfect attempts at poetry. :)

What would you be?

If you were the wind wafting across the flowers,

Would you caress the flowers, leaving them quivering?

If you were the sturdy tree in the woods,

Would you give a lost soul a humble dwelling?

If you were the ripples in the blue sea,

Would you clutch at the grains of sands anyway?

If you were the raindrops falling from the sky,

Would you sit gently and shimmer on the cobwebs?

If you were the warm crackling fire,

Would your embers give solace to the hillside vagrant?

If you could just be yourself in this world,

Wouldn't it make a difference in the Universe?

The Procrastinating Bibliophile.

To all the books that lie unread,

Purchased once with eagerness,

Yet overlooked for another book instead,

Know that I still love you no less.

To all the books that wait their turn,

Patiently lined up in my shelf,

For a sleek Kindle, I shall never spurn,

Next time, I always tell my lazy self.

To all my books, eager to be read,

Yet, tossed away for a shiny new find,

One fine day, in your path I shall tread,

Until that time, don't you ever mind!

To The White Army.

To my brethren that bleeds elsewhere,

Know that you are precious and rare.

To my comrades without their armour,

Our battles are not one but plenty.

To heal and help we began our journey,

In your recovery, we found our reflected glory.

The nights spent over patients aplenty,

Were worthwhile when they walked out healthy.

While we take on a microscopic enemy,

'Keep Us Safe' being our only plea,

Yet today we stand aghast and helpless,

For mankind can be violent and ruthless.

To my brethren that bleeds elsewhere,

Perhaps not all is lost in despair,

We shall live to see better days,

Humanity shall get through this dark phase.

Jaychu's Kitchen :)

 
 

 

Artistic Attempts :P

 

So that's all for now. Perhaps, there shall be something more interesting coming up in the next blogposts. ;)

Marching through the month.

To the places you've always wanted to see,
To the person you want to be,
To the castles you've built in the air,
Have you given a moment to spare?

What if you wake up and want differently one day?
What if Life chooses another way?
Carefully crafted plans in disarray.
No dreamy castles but a cottage to stay.

Would you find joy in Life's voyage?
Or perhaps muster all your courage,
And go forth in search of belonging?
With us, our dreams constantly evolving.

What Summer Was, Once Upon A Time.

On cycles chasing rainbows,
Calling out through the windows,
The summer of my childhood,
Spent running round the neighborhood.

On strangers' rooftops and trees we climbed,
Setting up camp with new kids we could find,
Games of our kind, rules to put others in a bind,
Not knowing what was 'peace of mind'.

Picnics and silly pranks at the park, 
Ludo and other board games after it grew dark;
Rasna and candies on the good days,
Ice-creams for the occasional Sundays.

Tinkles and Champaks surprised us every fortnight,
Summer specials were our only birthright!
Penpals and other strange experiments under the sun.
We never realised that it was truly fun.

New Arrivals.

Hope and mischief in their eyes,
They're here to explore the world,
With unsteady feet planted on the ground,
These toddlers are blissfully unconcerned.

With a heart filled with pure love,
Babbling in their own native tongue,
They're here to grow on this Earth
Where humanity is in dearth.

Perhaps we shall awaken at last,
Maybe we can change the bleak forecast,
May we work together for better days,
May we leave this world as a better place.



March has been a rollercoaster for literally everyone across the globe. What began with morning gym, afternoon badminton and evening walks or aerobics was also accompanied by spontaneous attempts at cooking and art. There was the college visiting session of IG, BMC and MMC.

Here are a few samples of my creations this month.

  

  

 

 Times are changing as we speak and the pandemic gripping the world will go down in the annals of history. It's essential that we take the precautions seriously, not panic and remain hopeful.
The next 3 weeks shall feature posts on life in times of a pandemic as it happens. Here's hoping that we emerge unscathed and stronger at the end of this.

Cheers,
J

The Journey through NEET PG 2020

This post is solely for those who are targeting the upcoming PG Entrance exams and this is only about my experience so far. Many others might have used better methods to crack the exam and get ranks in the top 100 or top 1000 but I hope this will help someone starting out to reach their goal.

Background: I did my MBBS in a private college via a General Merit Seat. Academics were given importance and we did participate in quizzes at intra-college and inter-college level. The patient load was just adequate and much lesser than your average medical college. For my internship, I worked at Hassan District Hospital for 10 months under all the departments (minus the stipend though) where there was significant workload and opportunity to do procedures, assist in surgeries and conduct deliveries (due to the absence of PGs in most branches).

After this, I joined DBMCI, Bangalore for the regular classes on weekends. I was also a Plan C User of Marrow. The classes were well organized with the best faculties conducting the classes from 8 to 8 or likewise. Each subject class was followed by a few days gap and a test on the same subject in the next week after which we began the next subject. I attended VIBE and found it to be extremely useful for an Image Based revision.

After the classes got over around September, I began my revision as per a timetable and tried to complete 3 revisions. I attended the Central Institute exams as well and tried to improve after exam. I got 192 in NIMHANS, 2338 in AIIMS, 935 in JIPMER and 2093 in NEET PG.

So, here’s the deal:

I’m pretty much an average student and I think my memory fails me more often than I like to admit. But that meant I had to figure out ways to overcome this.

My father and I sat down and worked out the ranks required for the branches I’m interested in and the marks that correspond to it. I had a target to score above 800 in order to make it under 2000.

1.       Do your research.

Please sit down and look at the cut-offs for the colleges your branch of interest based on the last two years. Now look at the marks scored for these ranks. Essentially 800+ is needed for something in 2000 and under. If you are looking at Radio/ Dermat at a top college, you might have to push it a notch higher.

2.       Follow a Time table.

Be it DBMCI/ DAMS or Marrow, follow the test schedule religiously. Plan to finish that subject in the time period given and also revise it once on the last day. Take your tests seriously.

3.       Notes are important.

I cannot emphasize the important of good notes. You will thank yourself for writing things neatly, legibly and in a way that you can understand even 6-8 months later. If you missed something/ fail to understand something, make sure to clarify it in the same session or during the break. If you are one who remembers by examples and similes used by the teacher, don’t hesitate to write those down in your notes. It always made things simpler for me when I was reading the subject after a long gap.

4.       Go back and read. The same day.

This is probably the single most important suggestion given to me by a senior. I found this very hard but I tried to follow it. No matter what time your class gets over or begins, it’s important to go back and read the day’s topics and even solve MCQs on it, if possible. During the gap, read slowly and try to make sure the idea is clear in your head. If needed, refer a different source for an explanation. If there are some IMPORTANT topics left out (which are usually very few to none), add it to your notes in a few words. I solved MCQs from a few Subject books and also from Marrow QBank.

5.       Take GTs.

Now this may seem like a controversial point but I think it would be an early exposure to the length and pattern. I began taking GTs for AIIMs in April and the NEET Pattern from May using both Bhatia and Marrow as my sources. My initial scores were very low but I plotted a graph that showed my growth over the months. This graph can be a boon or bane. I Initially saw good progress but after August, the growth rate was much slower (I was stuck at getting 180-190 qs right) and also fluctuated often. Nevertheless, use it as a reminder to show yourself that you’ve come this far and to motivate yourself to go further.

6.       Read well, revise more.

Again, you might wonder why do people stress this point so much, because it’s 100000% true! It’s easy to read something once but when asked to recall it when asked in a twisted manner 6 months later, you realize what they mean. Focus on revising in between your subjects, taking GTs as a way of testing yourself. Revision should not be a passive process: It would be more effective when it is retrieval of already encoded information rather than creating a new memory of the same. 

What does that mean? 

Say you read Amino Acid Metabolism in April. One way to revise it in June would be to sit and recall whatever you can from One carbon Metabolism to Phenylketonuria to the polarity of the amino acids. When you actually sit and recall, you find gaps in your memory and then you fill it up by revising the entire chapter but at a slightly faster speed.

Personally, I found this very, very hard. I found it more convenient to just read the whole thing again but it was only few months later that I realized how important this was and began to do this, even if it meant more time. I used a white board where I started recalling everything I knew on that subject. Initially, this really affected my confidence but I realized it was the only way I would test myself before the exam.

7.       Sources are plenty, trust your own.

The truth is, there are plenty of sources for the same content. Stick to what you have and go by it. Don’t dwell on controversies. I chose Bhatia Faculty and many of the teachers overlapped with the Marrow teachers. I personally found them to be relevant, concept oriented and very helpful. I think other institutes are also equally good at what they do so just believe in what you’ve joined. I referred the Marrow videos when I had doubts in my notes in a few areas. Of course, there are going to be new points in every source you read, but you’ll have to draw a line somewhere and decide how much of it can you actually remember at the end of the year.

8.       Schedule

For the average student, a good plan is essential to get through the maze of preparation. Target the AIIMS exam. Believe me, it isn’t as hard as you think it to be. You can target your revision such that you have given a good first revision by AIIMS. Practical knowledge and common sense are two things you should remember to carry with you on the day of the exam! Plan every single day before hand, plan for the upcoming exam such that you have a few days leeway to revise high yielding points in the last 3-4 days. Make sure you’ve gone through the previous year papers well because the central institutes always have a few repeats or similar questions which you wouldn’t want to miss.

9.       Traps.

Stay on your own path, don’t dwell on comparisons with your friends or random Telegram groups. Don’t get discouraged by plateauing scores; identify where and why you are going wrong. I categorized my mistakes into 3:

·         New topic,

·         Known topic but did not read properly (reduce these by clearing the concept such that any way it is asked, you don’t fumble)

·         Known topic and silly mistake (work on eliminating these)

Don’t go chasing different sources. Keep to yourself and keep the morale high. Rejuvenate yourself with good music. A regular 15-minute walk can get you some fresh air and a change from being indoors all day. Track the number of hours, if it helps. Some days are good, some are not so good. Don’t dwell and hate yourself for the bad days but try to make the next day a better one. It's equally important to have a good support system. I'm grateful my parents stood by me through the year and for the friends who helped in making it seem less daunting. I often felt we were all in this boat together, going through the rough seas.

10.   Belief.

At the end of the day, it’s a long and tough journey. You’re running a marathon and you will need refreshments along the way to stay hydrated. You can’t afford to burn out towards the end, in fact, you need to have the ‘josh’ to push yourself even more towards the end. You need to remind yourself EVERY SINGLE DAY that you want this, and work on making the most of THAT DAY. An important line by a topper that remained with me is that if you want to score a century, you don’t think about that all the time, instead, you focus on each ball that is being bowled at you. Likewise, get down from the lofty dreams and focus on making the most of EACH DAY. At the end of the day, when you go to bed, you need to try to have the satisfaction that you made the most of that day and tried to use it as effectively as possible. Don’t look at the gap year as a struggle, but as a chance to a create a better life for yourself and your family. I am forever indebted to Dr. Thameem Sir and Dr. Apurv Mehra for their motivation and never-give up attitude.

At the end of the day, give it your best. If you can afford to prepare full time for PG, please do so. Give it everything in you. Whatever be the result, prepare such that you had no regrets or ‘what if I had read a bit more’.

Best wishes to everyone beginning this journey.

Quarter of a Century.

Uncertainties and doubts loom large

But it was time for the annual recharge.

They say nature has the power to heal

With renewed vigour and zeal,

I set off towards yet another climb,

Except this was one was past bedtime!

Through the city we trudged for an hour or so,

And then we began our trek underneath the starry glow.

Puffing and panting, I was breathless in minutes,

Looking down, I could see the lights of the nearby rustic huts.

Why go through this, I asked my sedentary self plenty

But perhaps this is Nature's cashless fee.

As the cold winds taunted us towards the edge,

I knew this was a test I could not sledge.

Settling down into a sleeping bag on the hilltop

I realized there are so many things in Life I cannot stop

But the beauty of the nightsky was mine to cherish

The whizzing shooting stars were mine to wish.

Waking up to an ethereal streak of colour

That slowly grew into shades of pink and amber,

A peacock screamed lustily in the distance,

And Nature thus showcased her brilliance.

In the midst of the uncertainty that lies ahead

Not knowing the upcoming paths I shall tread,

This moment would be mine for eternity

Nature demands, but also unconditionally provides.

A New Decade.

10. Makhna - Drive 

9. Naznina

8. Manzar Hai Ye Naya - Uri

7. Believer

6. Fight Song

5. Hall of Fame

4. A Million Dreams

3. The Fighter

2. Challa - Uri

1. And recently - Malang Malang

And some more songs that gave me a lot of peace. It's almost like a routine to begin the day with some of the invigorating hymns of Shiva/ Hanuman/Durga.

There's a lot uncertainty about the road ahead and it's hard to deal with this cloud hovering above but we can only hope that there's going to be sunshine soon. If not, try to create my own happiness and take what life has to offer with gratitude.

The 2019 was a year that was a challenging transition; from the routine of hostel life to adapting to one at home. It's been a bittersweet experience but one that is perhaps necessary to progress to the next phase of life.

Here's summing up the journey through the subjects that I love and the ones that I have grown to love.

Biochemistry's cycles and pathways have a similar destiny,
Molecules interact within our body with the sole aim of energy.
The hand and foot are an Anatomist's prized tricks,
Leaving us baffled with overlapping muscles and intricate vessels.

Physiology attempts to simplify the complexities of our body,
With flowcharts, formulae and graphs.
While Psychiatry divides the maladies of the mind,
Based on myriad symptoms and specific durations.

Worms and their larva, but some with their operculated egg,
Don't even get me started on identifying mites and ticks by their leg!
Viruses with their myriad shapes and sizes arrive,
Only to be silenced by vaccines; killed and alive.

Through mosquito stats and sanitation facts we sojourn,
While nutrition facts and occupational hazards cause some heart burn.
Through charts and graphs we hope for some reprieve,
But the normal distribution curve has several tricks up its sleeve!

The pathways of disease were dealt in Pathology,
Mechanisms inside the microscopic cell lead to macroscopic changes!
With its artistic histopath slides in 50 shades of Purple and Pink,
Every tissue marker seemed to have a link!

Transporting us to the Labor Room,
OBG thrived on giving us scenarios in the womb.
From interpreting the partograms of obstructed labor,
To staging ovarian and endometrial carcinomas,
This subject surely couldn't be ignored!

What begins with audiograms and tympanograms,
Escalates into a variety of -plasties in tiny orifices.
ENT has its tuning fork tests and hearing devices,
Even as we fumble with the inner ear diagrams.

Cunningly similar, yet subtle differences emerge,
Fundoscopies of the eye have seen a recent surge.
Ophthalm explores beyond the mundane cataracts and conjunctivitis
Into the realm of corneal ulcers, dystrophies and uveitis.

Be it the tall and tented T Waves of Potassium excess,
Or the giant a waves of tricuspid stenosis,
The ST elevations of an MI to its exact artery involved,
Waves of all kinds are always favoured.

If splints and tractions of Ortho fill you to the brim,
Wait for the named fractures of every limb,
In Dermat, you navigate through the many layers of your skin,
Fungal infections and STDs are its kith and kin!

Milestones from a neonate to an unsteady toddler,
Abundant Syndromes like Turner, Edward and Potter.
Facts and figures, scores and cancer stages,
IPCs and CrPCs fill our pages,
A race against time, a chance, perhaps of a lifetime!

.

The last of the trees of my neighborhood.

The last tree in my street was axed today,
In a matter of minutes, she was brought to the ground.
By an electric saw that ripped across her broad trunk,
The tree that saw me through my childhood breathed it's last.

The tree that welcomed me 16 years ago into this quaint neighborhood,
Was a royal Gulmohar that bloomed every season.
A carpet of red draped the roads,
Even as families of birds perched above.
The morning melody of their chirps
Will only be a thing of the forgotten past.

She lived older than I will ever live,
And humbly gave herself as a home
To myriad creatures aplenty
But she also gave shelter to a little girl's dream,
Even as I sat underneath her broad trunk with a million thoughts agleam.


In fond memory of the Gulmohar trees that were successively put down over the years.