....the IRU(Sun)rose softly penetrating the dawn, a hide and seek of yesterday notwthstanding , as the previous day was cyclonic with a modicum of gail lashing the Island ...the sea jet blank ink fuming and frothing as it lashed the coast , the high speed wind hitting the glasspanes with a thud.....the mercury dipping further and the puddles on the street generating a sprightly gait to the Clinic , where a trusted clientele waited patiently to be rendered a service ...its business as usual , the Island climatology well entrenched in our system now.....the second round of vaccination is due with stocks getting replenished ...the drive fairly successful , as Local council elections are round the corner .....the Island braced up for the event ....It has been a long time that we have visited anywhere as our internment continues and Children's exam holding us further....as a strong desire to visit fmly , post bereavement of my late Father in law , who fell prey to the pandemic on 13th instant ....Papa had visited the Island in 2015 athe ripe age of 80yrs stayed with us for ful 2 1/2 mnths , visiting local islands and resort ....the balcony wears a forlorn look as I fondly remember chatting with Him over a cup of tea regularly in the eve hrs prior to eve. OPD ...His stint in the Army medical corps and seeing action in 1962, dominated the discussions ....the posting in NEFA:North east frontier agency , now Arunachal Pradesh, Bomdilla , Tawang the places of posting ....His assessment of Gen Thimayya , Pt Nehru , His Jeep drive in the mountains all I savoured in all those animated discussions ...It was as if yesterday ....I met Him first in Medical hostel & I was in 2 nd prof 1989 ....He understood the hostel culture as He himself did his Medicine from Darbhanga medical college , in its halcyon days ...He was the topper in Matriculation in entire Shahabad district which was huge district , now bifurcated & by virtue of it gained easy entrance to DMCH , often travelling via Pahleja crossing the Ganges from his hometown of Dehri -On - sone. Heard a lot from Him about Dr Sheetal Prasad singh , a doyen of Medicine in Darbhanga , who was His examiner in Medicine , Dr Mohan Mishra an equally illustrious name in Darbhanga his senior colleague & Dr Sunil Bose who was his senior and practiced surgery in the same town as his. I had the opportunity to meet host many Papa's colleagues during my frequent visit to Dehri on sone from Patna , notably Dr M Pathak , whose TB sanatorium & clinic was famous in the entire region , Dr Awadh Bihari , noted eye surgeon , Dr Geeta Sinha his counterpart in Gynae. & Dr Awadesh , all neighbours and not to forget about Dr R D singh , senior consultant Physician and a closest family friend of the neighbourhood..... I heard a lot from Him of Dr Jagdish , an eminent physician, & Dr Darbari a veteran doctor of repute in the township. He used to talk eloquently about the good days of the industrial township of Dalmianagar , the twin city of Dehri- on - sone ...where He set up a practice of 40 yrs as a Consultant Pathologist, post His stint in AMC .I was drawn towards Him , because of His No nonsense , professional attitude & Dry honesty, & Discipline & a reservedness , impregnable , a straightforwardness & Candour, which kept people at a respectful distance from Him . I was the exception , mingling and giving Him a patient hearing always , in that , in Dec 2019 the last visit, the dreary cold , I sat at His bedside , chatting . At 85 He never needed a walking stick or was ever dependent ....in fact in my last 30 yrs of association I never found his routine changed , a clock like precision and in self sufficiency....needless to say I was more drawn to the fmly , the disciplined atmosphere , thanks to Papa...As We mourn His death , an obituary function to be held at His native home , I have reasons to believe , His memory is indelible ....well ensconced in our Hearts ...fighting the irreparable loss....Om Shanti...
