Memorable patients

1.There was an old widowed Muslim woman who had come to diabetes opd ..she must have been more than 85 or so . She had such a nice aura and such kind moist eyes .. I asked her how she had come all alone .. She started telling me how she lived in her sisters house .. who treated  her really badly and made her do all the house work .. her daughters were married.. and that she dint like accepting anything from them .. she said how she would disappear for hours on end and make her sister search for her when she was angry and she winked when she said that .. and she used to just wander around mumbai on foot and take the bus .. so independent .. she had a naughty and fun streak in her which was so endearing .. and she kept referring to Allah the whole time .. I could tell how much faith she had and that kept her happy and going .. she belittled Every problem she had and just left it in His hands .. I don’t know why I just wanted to sit there and listen to her .. she was the last patient so I must have spent a good 20 mins with her .. and I’m the kind who doesn’t sit and talk to my own grandma who lives with me.. Sometimes a person may not have achieved anything “big” in their lives but they seem so sorted and content .. it’s just calming to be in their presence .. I think it’s the absence of ego and their understanding of the futility of material things that just frees them ... she took my hand and her eyes were soft and moist while she spoke .. I accompanied her down the stairs from the opd .. she asked me my name and blessed me .. don’t think I’ll forget her eyes and face in a jiffy

2. 76 years old man approached me in the Diabetes clinic, his file tremulous in his hands.  He was on insulin and he requested me to optimise his sugars with medicines only as there was no one home to administer insulin. He had developed tremors recently and he was unable to do it himself .. I felt bad as I always do for old people without any help at home and who hobble into the OPD on their own clutching their files to themselves .. they have this vulnerability and nervous smile, my heart goes out to them .. this old chap wasn't one to be disheartened though .. he had a twinkle in his eyes as he told me he was an artist and made sketches and designs for different companies .. he had been an art student at  JJ school of arts ... and he told me how a star of the yester-years had been his batchmate.. he then proceeded to tell me about the same actor's  womanizing ways ..  his chuckle very child like and infectious.. I let him speak as he recounted his younger years.
Coming back to his work I asked him how was it he was still working .. wasn't he considering retiring .. he simply told me he enjoyed the creativity, but with these tremors it was becoming difficult and he had to give up his assignments to his aides.. somehow they never performed to his satisfaction, he said with a resigned smile ..

A man who works with his hands and now his hands won't support him.. and yet his face was radiant and he was quite hopeful his hands would stop trembling soon and he would be back to his sketching easel ...he wasn't looking for it but I gave him an encouraging smile .. that's really the best I could do.