Dr. Sheikh-Lots to learn each day in his dreamless slumber!

It was a cold afternoon, I was waiting outside the bus-stop near my college. Few people were standing all covered with coats and caps, protecting from the chill. I saw a fat, short man. I recollected, he too works at my place. I had heard him talking to others at work, but I could hardly understand his speech, it was very slow and broken....I found it boring . I was more desperate for the bus, so I asked him, 'At what time is the bus?' He slowly lifted his head, said in a monotonous voice,' We just missed it.' I told him, ' I guess we both work at same place,' I introduced myself and asked,' May I know your name?' he said in a slow, energy less voice,' Dr. Sheikh'.


He asked me,' How long are you here?' I told ,' Came recently.' He did not show any expression, so I repeated again. He told me,' Will you please come on my left-side, I can hear better.' So I did. We could now see the bus, waiting at the signal. The next moment it took a turn and stopped in front of us. Dr.Sheikh asked me to board first. I sat, now saw him, as he was struggling a bit while walking. He sat next to me. I started the conversation, but realised that I was sitting on the wrong-side again!!! After about 20 minutes we got down at the stop. Now, i waited for him, we walked slowly all the way, climbed to the subway platforms. Luckily the subway came, we boarded it... now he immediately asked me to sit on his left-side, before someone else grabs the seat!


He removed his cap. He opened his bag, took his lunch box, and started to eat the sandwich. He told me,' I cannot withstand hunger, my sugar levels fall immediately.' I asked him, ' What happened to your right ear?' He said,' Do you know acoustic neuroma?' I said ,' ya, I read about it in ENT. Its tumour of nerve cells that connect ear to brain .' Continuing his explanation,He said,' I was diagnosed with it, was operated by the best surgeon in city 20 years back.' I said,' I never met anyone with this condition, it means that the disease has a good prognosis, you are still able to have a good life after the operation.' He said,' Ya, sometime back, I suffered from stroke, so my lower-limb is weak, rest all is good.'


The subway was running as usual. We were now, comfortable at conversation. I asked,' Sir, how much time do you spend in travelling?' He said,' About 2 hours.' I asked him,' How long are you settled here?' He said,' Actually, I am from Egypt, I did my medicine from there, went to U.K in 1964, worked there in many hospitals. My wife, learned to cook many Indian recipes, as there were many Indian families staying in our neighborhood. Its difficult to get a work permit there, so came to USA in 1977. Since then, I am a Family practitioner here and associated with many medical schools.'


I could guess from the gray hair locks, that he is in his seventh decade. I asked about his family. He said, ' I have two kids. My son, who is an attorney ,now is married happily. My daughter is in Israel.' I asked him,' Is she married?' His face,suddenly became more serious. He said,' You know, she has hurt me a lot.' He continued,' She was my most lovable kid!! We had lots of family friends, we never put restrictions on our kids....may be she had some friends in school, she completed her law and was working in a prestigious firm in city. One day she came home, called everyone in the family and said,' I am converting my religion.' We were all shocked, couldn't believe what we were hearing. We tried a lot to explain her, rethink her decision, but all in vain. She was stubborn and had made her mind. She then left home, job everything and now is settled in Israel. She got married there too. I have not seen her, since long.'


I felt sorry for him. I asked,' Why are you working so hard?' He said,' I cannot sit at home. My wife is busy too, she is the head of geriatrics association in our town. So we have busy weekends with all different programmes. I have joined a part time management course too.' He continued,' Its a correspondence course, but I agree that now a days,the process of learning has changed,so am finding it a difficult course, but trying to cope-up, hhaahhah!!!'



'The next stop , is Times Square-42nd street, transfer is available to...bbbababbabllalall...' came the recorded announcement. We geared to get down, as the station approached. Dr. Sheikh was the last to come out. I waited for him. We slowly climbed down the stairs, he bid me good bye, as he was heading to catch another subway, travel an hour before he could reach home.


I too was walking on my way home. Thinking of a person, whom I perceived to be slow,boring, energy less and tired.....now was changing the shades from an undistinguished to a distinguished personality!! A 78 years man ,in spite of health issues and wrecked mind by close ones, was passing each day with lots of perseverance and determination. His each movement was as calm as a child in a dreamless slumber. I just felt pity of myself, to judge him wrongly!