Lab test

Previous chapter

Appointment

What this chapter covers

Birender's visit to the lab, to get his glucose levels checked.

This chapter

Birender was the first patient to walk into the PHC the next morning. He did not see Gayatri, but heard someone in the lab. He walked over, and saw a young man with a phone next to him. Birender recognized Mehdi Hassan's voice floating through the quiet morning. "Are you Kavi?". That was the name Gayatri had given him yesterday.

The young man turned, and bestowed an artless smile on Birender. "I am Aman Changezi, lab techician by day, poet by night."

While Birender was still absorbing this introduction, Aman continued, "Is your name Birender? Did you fast properly? Any tea in the morning? No? That's good. Did you drink water? What? You drank water? I'm joking, that's ok." Birender barely managed to nod along. "I thought kavis were supposed to be quiet and reticent, " he mused. Aman quickly located Birender's record, and asked him to take a seat.

With efficient, economical movements, covered with a deluge of words — Do you like Ghazals? Farida Khanum? She is a gem! My father says to me, 'Aman, stop woolgathering! Keep tabs on your bank account!' He has no soul. What use is a bank account without a soul? — Aman took a blood sample from Birender's left arm, placed a cotton swab on the injection site, and transferred the sample to a vial. Birender was mesmerized.

Aman emptied a glucose packet in a glass of water, and offered it to Birender. "2 hours! Please come back in 2 hours for another blood sample. And no tea!" Birender nods and exits the lab.

Two hours later, he was back. This time, the PHC was buzzing with activity. He checked in at Gayatri's desk. She asked him to take a seat on the bench outside the lab. 15 minutes later, he was back with Aman. Luckily, the hubbub prevents further discussion of music or souls. After the second blood draw — this time from his right arm — Aman gave Birender a curt nod, and said, "Report tomorrow! You will get an SMS."

Birender walked home, to himself, "Mohabbat karne waale..."

Next chapter

Consultation