WTF.uzz

Extracted from my old archive,

What to do when ears stop listening and your eyes are the best senses to trust. I have always been involved in social gathering for being a listener and a speaker but those 2 days, I was more of an observer than anything. Why? Because my ear canal got bruised, and when I attempted to clean with Ear Buds (which I wish I wouldn’t have) I deteriorated the condition. 2 days I can listen to the sounds of silence, the hush of traffic – calm & quiet, the lips wide open but nothing coming out of it … That experience was one of a kind; one, I would not like to experience again.

Sunday, the day when Bangalore takes rest, and so much of a rest that shops and clinics are all closed. Hospitals have Emergency and Causality services open but you go and say – ‘I want to meet an ENT specialist’ and they just giggle and murmur – ‘Today is Sunday, only Emergency services.’ Hello? There can be any kind of emergency apropos Ear, Nose, Throat – aren’t they integral sense organs? ENT Dept. should be open in Emergency time too. Anyways, I tried all the kind of self medication and measures to get rid of ear blockage but all in vain. I had to spend one more peaceful night, and Monday morning was the only option I had.

Monday strikes, and my Bio Clock woke me at sharp 9:00 (its late but well, okay). After refreshing, I went straight to the ENT Clinic where a lady greeted me. What she asked/said was hardly audible, but something about my appointment. I whispered I am a walk-in as I couldn’t take an appointment on phone, for barely I could hear my cell. She made me sit in the waiting area and will call me at my turn. That was ironic! Now, I am sitting looking her face and trying to see her lip moments to figure out if that’s my name. Finally I could feel my name being called, don’t know it was an intuition or have some listening ability left in me. I was guided straight to the doctor’s cabin. Here he is – a gentleman in his 40s, nicely dressed, and a confident calm face (first impression does matter of a doctor). He asked my problem, and then opened his gadget box for some lenses, torch, and mirrors … something to find a route in the cave of my ear. Checked both the ears, and said (perhaps would have yelled, as I heard him well) – ‘Did you try something with Ear buds, and self medication?’ My answer was obvious yes! coz I was a little frustrated with 2 days of silence. He said – ‘You have actually injured your ear, so please wait at the Operation Theatre. I will be there in 20 mins’. I was feeling as if some stone age men have drawn creations and artifacts on the walls of my ear cave.

I was a little puzzled, and trying to believe what I heard. The thought of stepping towards OT sent a shiver in my spine. By God’s grace, I have never been to hospital for any of my ailment till date, and on my first visit I get a redirection to OT. To confirm it, a lady came and handed me an apron to wear and guided me to the OT. Only 1 question was bouncing in my head – Is it in the ear canal or anything related to ear drum or internal ear (pretty scary). I called by best friend, had a chat with her on the things I could barely listen (even on high volume) and she was like – Don’t worry, things will be fine. Her voice, and her words regained my confidence, and soon the doc came, called me inside, asked me wear off my shoes out. He made me relax on a stretcher and that very moment I asked him my query. He said it’s only the ear canal, no problems! It will hurt somewhat, and if I want he can give me an injection. But I preferred to go on without any numb feeling. He and his co surgeons, all well suited, well equipped worked closely on my ear and then comes a popping sound – a sound that cleared the track of my right ear. I was able to listen, I gave them a smile and said – ‘Whispers changed to Voices’ and he marked me as a funny man! And, so the other ear … A 1/2 an hour work and I could listen again.

I then realized how good is to listen, and appreciate the sounds around you – birds chirping, people speaking, traffic horns .. everything. But, within these sounds you often forget the sounds of silence, the sounds of calm mind, the sounds of inner self .. the sounds that make you come closer to your own self and understand the world in a new dimension! I have experienced it. An experience, worth to remember, and a gift worth to cherish.

Thanks to the doc & my adorable friend. Cheers!

*I didn’t mention about how I was gossiped during a lunch meet with friends on Sunday. lol*