Things Happen for a Reason

After a long, exhausting day at the hospital, Dr. Abha opened the door of her lake-view apartment and felt grateful for her success. Abha had made a name for herself and was a sought-after cardiac surgeon. About a year ago, she had been offered a position at a hospital, specializing in cardiology. She was one of a team of exceptional cardiac surgeons at this hospital. Patients came here from different regions of the country and the world, knowing they would be treated by the most skilled doctors. 

It had been six-months since she had moved into this apartment in a luxury condominium. Some of her belongings still lay unopened in cardboard boxes. Somehow days had turned to weeks, and weeks to months and yet she had not fully unpacked. As she glanced at the cartons strewn around the room, she reached into the open carton by the couch containing her collection of books over the years. She took some books out and put them in a pile on the coffee table. She decided she would make a cup of tea and then try to go through some books and arrange them in the wall-to-wall bookshelf. With a hot cup of Tetley tea in which she had put milk and sprinkled some cardamom powder, she returned to the couch. She gazed at the lake as she took the first few sips of tea and felt her tiredness recede.  Abha casually picked up the poem anthology from the pile of books and a letter fell out from the pages.

The address on the envelope was her student hostel address from the past. She recognized the writing, and it took her into yesteryears. It was a letter written fifteen years ago by her best friend, Reena. Abha and Reena had gone to school together and then joined the same college. Abha had taken the Science options and Reena was pursuing English Literature. They connected with each other in the morning before classes started, during breaks and at the end of the day. They shared their hopes and dreams with each other.

Abha had always wanted to become a doctor. When she got the letter of acceptance to a prestigious medical school in another town, her joy knew no bound. The fee was exorbitant, and she read that her scholarship application had been denied. She realized that she would never be able to fulfil her dream. Reena sat in a pensive mood not knowing how to console her friend.

Later in the week, Reena came to Abha’s house and gave her a cheque that would cover her fee but on one condition – that Abha would become an oncologist so that she could treat cancer patients in memory of Reena’s father who had died of cancer.  Abha was reluctant to take the money, but Reena would not take no for an answer. Finally, Abha took the money and promised Reena that not only would she study oncology, but she would also return the money once she completed her studies.

A few years passed. Reena and Abha stayed in constant touch through letters. Abha was doing well at medical school and when the time came for choosing her specialization in the M.D. program, Abha wanted to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Christiaan Barnard who had performed the world’s first human to human heart transplant in Cape Town, South Africa. She recognized that this would mean breaking her promise to Reena. In the true spirit of friendship and candour, she wrote to Reena about not being able to honour her wish and assuring her that she would still make her proud as a cardiac surgeon. When Abha did not hear back from Reena, she gathered that Reena was unhappy with her. Following this turn of events, the correspondence between the two friends stopped.

Re-reading one of Reena’s letters fifteen years later, Abha was reminded that she had become a successful cardiac surgeon only due to Reena’s motivation and financial support. She folded the letter gently and lay it on the coffee table. Over the next few months, she wrote three letters to Reena. By now, Abha was also in a position to return the money her friend had given her. When her letters went unanswered, she tried to find a phone contact number and also searched the internet for some clue but without luck. Each evening when she returned from the hospital, the letter on the coffee table served as a daily reminder to Abha that she needed to find Reena, her friend who had played a critical role in helping her to get where she was today.

On a Friday morning, Dr. Abha reached the hospital at 7 a.m. as usual. She entered the main reception area to cross the hall to get to her office. It was not very crowded and there were a few patients at that early hour.  As she walked purposefully, thinking of her appointments for the day, she heard someone call her name. She turned around and looked at the frail, petite, bright-eyed woman smiling at her. How could she ever forget that smile! It was Reena. Abha could not believe her eyes. The two friends embraced each other and Abha took Reena to her chamber.

It turned out that Reena had not received Abha’s letters as she had moved to Dubai. Abha asked Reena for her understanding and forgiveness for not pursuing oncology, the condition on which Reena had given her the fee for medical school. Abha also learnt that Reena was dealing with some serious heart health issues.  Reena smiled and said that sometimes things happen for a reason that is not often apparent to us. She held Abha’s hand, “You listened to your heart and passion years ago and have made a name for yourself in cardiology. I am glad that you did so, otherwise how would I have met you today?”

Reena continued, “I had listened to my heart fifteen years ago when I had the means to remove the one obstacle that stood in your way to become a doctor and today, I am listening to my heart again by entrusting you with my heart for the surgery. Will you be my cardiac surgeon?” Abha’s eyes brimmed with tears.