I was 14 when I was diagnosed with PRE-B-ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC
LEUKEMIA at Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore. It was a hard time
for my parents to manage a household in an unknown city where an unfamiliar
tongue was in power where as I enjoyed all the luxuries of a private room in
the pediatric ward. But then came my aunt with her one year old daughter,
Anusha, to my parent’s rescue. She managed the household chores which mainly
included preparing the dishes that I demanded, my Dad took care of the official
paper work at the hospital and my Mom somehow managed to handle my tantrums in
ward.
Becoming a doctor was never my ambition, not even for the
essay writing in school. But my stay in Vellore among all the doctors somehow
inspired me to become one even though I sucked at biology. I went back to school, chose biology as my
main paper in high school and I am glad that I could at least get a first
division in the board exam. By the end of my schooling, I knew very well that
there is no way that I am going to be the doctor I once wished to be.
My dad applied my name for almost all the government run
institutions in India for MBBS. Having no hope in pursuing the degree I had
given up studying when one day Anusha, then 5years old, sent me a mail. Half sleepy half awake I checked the mail hoping it to be another of her cute
poems/drawings for me. We had bonded like soul sisters in our days shared in
Vellore and the bond still continues, the 13 years age difference doesn’t
matter. So anyway the attachment in the mail said that-
Dear Akankshya Di, if you find
anyone sad then please do this- Tingle them for 3 minutes in the morning, then
in the afternoon hug them tight, then at night cuddle for 2 minutes, Please do this
for 5days till they are happy.
If you’re
sad then do these to yourself. Ask your mom to tingle you, hug you and cuddle
with you and if you’re still sad then call me and I will tell you a good joke.
If you
do these then you’ll become Dr. Akankshya, the Happylogist.
I was awestruck and speechless after reading these words
coming from a 5year old. I had lost all my hope in becoming a doctor but this
awesome sister of mine filled me with optimism when there was none in me. Her
words, probably spoken in the innocence of her age, inspired me to make another
effort and not give up in what I once wanted to be. This morning I woke up
dreaming about her and I knew right then to write this article. She is the one
who gave me hope when all the elders scolded me for my carelessness regarding
studies, she is the one who gossips with me over phone about our mothers, she
is the one who can turn poor jokes into great ones by supporting them with her
Horse-like laughter, or so my aunt says. She is the sister I love with all my
heart. Even though I went on to become a student of literature, her wise words
of becoming a Happylogist still stay with me when I am sad, her words bring
back my lost hope in life.
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