CALLING HUMANITY
The Rona as many call it these days is running wild amongst us. I like to call the current mental state of the people as “passive pandemonium.” You see, the world may have seen worse in the past, but never have we been so populated. So this is more than just a casualty count anymore. We are almost at the cusp of a purge if it already hasn’t happened.
One feels we need to be more humane than ever before. Besides, being single gives me more time for social works. It makes me feel part of a bigger family. This is how it should be anyways. It reminds you that whatever problem you are going through, some people suffer worse.
A few nights ago, I received a WhatsApp forward message penned by a medical student who is looking for aid so that her father who is suffering from cerebral hemorrhage can undergo very complicated surgery. As I opened the link to the donation I found the supporting documents proving the authenticity and genuineness. To further confirm the same I called the hospital mentioned in the donation site. They said there has not been such a patient recorded in their data history. That was quite strange.
I reached back to the person who sent me the message to inform this. But they were sure about this as the girl making the plea is a common friend and a junior from the same college. So why did the hospital pretended to not know them? This is something to discuss at a more convenient time.
So I called the girl. It was past midnight, but this is something that couldn’t wait. A man’s life is at stake here. From her conversation, I understood the girl was a tigress. She is so determined to save her father. This anomalous situation on these unrivaled times can be challenging even for affluent people. Nehla’s father is an Islamic teacher who runs a small eatery. He does everything possible to provide his children with quality education. His younger son is an engineering student. Of course, providing quality education can be costly in India. What this means is there is not much of a saving in the bank to help them through these difficult times.
Nehla said that I can verify and see for myself the state her father is in. From her voice, it is clear to me that this is indeed a profound effort to save a father. I didn’t need to be convinced further but I decided to meet them in person so that I can lend my emotional support.
The next afternoon I met them. I quickly learned that her father needs the best treatment. Don’t forget that the virus is also spreading like anything. Being airborne, you can get it even if you choose to stay indoors. As I finally made it, I saw a sleep-deprived Nehla and her mother in a small room at a local hospital, situated 500 yards away from the multispeciality hospital where her father was initially treated. They couldn’t afford to keep him there. The man needs the best care, and the surgery as soon as possible.
Her father looks like he has lost one-third of his normal weight. I can’t possibly tell you what state he is in. Seeing this man with no consciousness merely surviving with the power of the human mind is staggering. I spend three hours with them. I can’t tell you what I witnessed there. The struggles of the whole family and the nuances they go through are something you can hardly bear to watch. Despite all this, her mother was kind, affectionate, warm-hearted, and nurturing.
The whole situation was so overwhelming that I couldn’t hide my tears. Whilst Nehla spends almost the entire time nursing her father, giving physiotherapy, cleaning him, and talking to him, I tried to divert her mother’s attention with the simpler things in life. I wanted to help her to take her mind off everything around her for at least a brief moment.
There are no right words to say here. It takes only $20,000 to help them do the surgery. That is like a thousand people offering their lunch money to save a family.
During our conversation, being the wife of a religious teacher, her mother asked me isn’t it mandatory for Muslims to help the sick? Well, yes but I wasn’t so sure if they would. I told her that if people remembered that then would they have let millions die in Syria?
From the moment I left that hospital, I literally begged thousands of people to help them. I asked hundreds of millionaires to do their teeny bit. The backlash I faced over this was not something that surprised me, but to be honest with you I froze for a good 20 minutes out of disdain.
I didn’t get one positive response. Some even threatened me. All this because I asked them to save a man’s life.
I feel numb today. Its been two days or so since I came back from visiting them. But my heart’s still there. There was a brief moment when her father was wiggling with pain. His wife tried to comfort him with soothing words. Then I remembered a verse from the Qur’an which says, “O my Rubb, Surely, distress has touched me, and You are the most Merciful of the merciful ones.” I chanted that aloud for his sake. Despite the pain, he eased out a bit, returning back to sleep. How do you explain that? The piety of this man is beyond me.
A man who only wishes to see a day when his children lead a happy life as an engineer and doctor.
A wife who takes pleasure in spending time with the children in the neighborhood. I was told that when those children come from school they don’t go to their respective homes, but storm to her kitchen for some delicacies. This was their life. Even in hardship, all they want in life is to return to their simple lives.
Nehla’s education has been compromised for now. She couldn’t pay the fees this year. She is a brilliant student who has not dropped a single paper to date. I can see from her eyes that she doesn’t care which state her father will be after the surgery. The love she has for her father is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. She says he’s her best friend. She just wants him to know that she has made it. Can you please do something about it?
Please find the link to donate: