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The doctor and the outlaw

6/18/2015

11 Comments

 
Stethoscope (Doctor)

Any dying man would be a doctor’s special concern. But this one was very special for my uncle. He sat close to the gasping man and whispered, “I am the one you sent for.”

He had just taken out the two bullets the police had used to take the man down and knew the damage was extensive and irreparable. All he could do now was to help reduce his pain and find out why he had specifically asked for him.

He knew the man as Ram, but almost certainly that wasn’t his real name. Three years ago some farmers had found Ram at the edge of their field, dying of bullet wounds, and had carried him to uncle’s country clinic. He was 65, a country doctor who had become a legend in his lifetime and drew patients from over twenty villages in eastern India. A large man, with silver hair and a walrus moustache, he was the calmest of listeners and gentlest of healers. He treated many of his poor patients free and I marveled to see his eyes mist when women or children spoke of their pain.

Ram had said that he had been robbed and then shot by hoodlums. He teetered on the verge of death for weeks before he recovered. Because he now walked with a limp and could not return to his work as a day laborer, my uncle hired him as a domestic. The children liked him, and he became a part of the family.

One day he disappeared, about as suddenly as he had originally appeared. My uncle missed him, but when others commented on Ram’s ingratitude in leaving without a word, he said, “We don’t know why he left so suddenly. We shouldn’t guess, and we shouldn’t judge until we know.”

A shattering blow came in less than a month.

Gun (Outlaw)
Ram, it turned out, was no day laborer. He led a notorious gang of outlaws who had been shot not by hoodlums, but by police in the course of a violent encounter. Worse, when he had left, he had stolen my uncle’s hunting rifle, using his position as a trusted domestic. Since rejoining his gang, Ram had shot and killed two policemen with the gun. Now my uncle was implicated, because the police presumed that he had allowed the misuse of his gun or at least been negligent in its safekeeping.

After grilling him for three days in the district court, the authorities let my uncle go but cancelled his gun license. The public humiliation was his worst punishment.

Now, after more than two years, a police car had fetched him to the bedside of a dying man who did not want any doctor but my uncle. 

Ram said, “Doctor, you saved my life once. In return, I stole from you.” He paused, and added, “Please forgive me if you can.” 

Those were his last words.

11 Comments
Alpana Ghosh
6/10/2015 21:12:41

The story 'The Doctor and the outlaw' reminds me of my father who was not only a doctor by profession like the author's uncle but temperamentally also he was very much like him. The story is so well written, it brought tears to my eyes.



Reply
Manish
6/12/2015 01:40:42

Thanks. I guess there were -- and probably are -- caring and compassionate doctors in many places. We are fortunate when we encounter them.

Reply
Ashoke Dasgupta
6/11/2015 07:03:35

A good story. It reminded me of Jean Valjean's theft of silverware from a priest in "Les Miserables." The dacoit (and Valjean) obviously believed in a different God from me.

I don't just believe in a God like that of Moses and Abraham. To me, God is all the psychological processes of living creatures plus the molecular processes of material things. A God like that of Moses and Abraham is, of course, a part of all that.

All around us, as in the Nepal earthquakes, we see evidence of what existentialists call "the benign indifference of the Universe."

Reply
Manish
6/12/2015 01:46:41

Our hope is that, even in the face of the 'benign indifference of the universe' some people care, and act on their impulse. That makes probably some difference in the lives of the people around them. Thanks for your comment.

Reply
Siraj Sirajuddin
6/11/2015 07:38:44

I think your uncle and Ram can be a part of every one of us. Fantastic story writing Manish!

Thanks and I look forward to more stories.

Reply
Manish
6/12/2015 01:48:16

Thank you. There will indeed be several additions in the days to come.

Reply
Prasad Challa
6/12/2015 01:12:35

Very interesting website. I loved each and every section.

I hope you will updating this website frequently.

Reply
Manish
6/12/2015 01:49:38

I expect to update the site regularly. Thank you for your comment.

Reply
Sanjukta
6/12/2015 21:02:58

Eloquent writing! This website wonderfully expresses chapters of your experiences. Look forward to reading more.

Reply
Manish
6/13/2015 14:07:24

Thank you so much for writing.

Reply
Alpana Ghosh
6/14/2015 18:17:48

What a beautiful style ! Of all your latest additions I like 'Rain' best. But of course, other stories are no less beautiful especially the one where you leave your country, your home, your job for someone whom you found to be very special . I spent the whole morning going through them. I was so engrossed that I missed an important appointment. Kudos!

Reply



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    Manish Nandy

    Writer, Speaker, Consultant
    Earlier: Diplomat, Executive


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