The doctor and the rose

Arriving in a BMW, he wore costly suits. He would always make sure he is dressed properly. That was his forte. But Dr A hardly spoke to anyone, unless it is necessary. He was quite moody. His staff knew his moods. Not that he didn’t carry out his duties, but there were times when he shouted at his staff.

His expertise was surgeries. He never seemed to believe that doctors should care more than cure. Without a speck of a smile, Doctor A would occupy himself curing the patient. If a surgery goes right, he goes straight away to his room and attends to his other chores. If a surgery goes wrong, he would be even ruder and won’t come to hospital for sometime. No one could blame him either.

He was above criticism. The hospital management could not find anyone better qualified than him.

The consultant maintained strict discipline in his ward. It has to be kept spick and span. If he spots any litter, he would again shout at the whole staff. Worse, he did it the first thing when he comes to work in the morning. That will be a bad for them. If the ward is clean, then that’s a sign; he would never point out any mistake.

The cleaner was about to leave. But he could not, as the doctor was fuming. He had spotted a piece of litter. It took time for everyone to notice his mood change. He rushed to his room, and rang the bell - fiercely. He wanted the cleaner to meet him immediately. As the cleaner made an appearance, the doctor pulled him by the neck and showed the piece of litter.

Majority of his patients were depressed. May be that took a toll on him, his staff were discussing. People come around with the same problem again and again. He never smiled with anyone. If some business needs to be done, he would do it quite rudely.

The new personal assistant knew nothing of this. It was his first day at the ward. He was a gardener, who always believed in a tomorrow. The everyday stress was unfamiliar to him. He retired from the previous job, as he wanted some change. They didn’t allow interior gardening.

No one warned him of his master. So the personal assistant brought a beautiful rose to keep on his desk. He wanted to freshen his first day at work.

Many in the staff thought of warning the young man. But experience is much better than advice, they thought. Let the young man learn through trial and error. But everybody appreciated it. They could not resist enjoying the fragrance of the rose.

Doctor entered the ward without smiling with anyone. He was rushing to his room. But suddenly he turned back. He was looking for something. And then his eyes stopped at the rose. Everybody shuddered for a while. Some repented they did not warn the personal assistant earlier.

Dr A rushed towards the rose. He bent to feel it. He enjoyed the fragrance of it. He took a moment to breathe in the fragrance. For the first time, he smiled.

“Why do people always have to go for drugs?”
Hardly anyone did understand. What did he mean to say?

“Who placed it here?”
“It’s me sir.”

The doctor touched him in shoulder.
“Good work, boy. You are my personal assistant, I guess. I’m Dr A”
“Yes sir.”

“Okay your first job is to call a meeting at 10, for the whole staff. Got it?”

The personal assistant had no idea how to do that. But he didn’t feel like asking the doctor how it should be done. This is his first task, and he will do it. This is his challenge. Within the two hours left, he got to know most of the staff. Then he knew how to make the doctor’s meeting known.

Doctor chaired the meeting.

“I thank my personal assistant, because he changed my day. I learned what it is to be intoxicant. I wonder why people go for drugs, when we have better intoxicants.”

He stood by the rose and felt its scent once more.
“I wish you all a good day.”

Saying so with a smile, the doctor made his way back to his room. The rose, knowing or ignorant of the impact it made, stood still like a sage.

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