It was early morning in a January winter. Khokon just struggled out of the bed from underneath a thick blanket and put his favourite FM channel on. As a bachelor Khokon lives on couple of things and radio is one of them. He starts his day with radio and ends with songs of golden oldies again on radio. Sometimes he even forgets to switch off the radio before closing his eyes and gets up with early morning devotional music.
Today Khokon got little late for office and only the chilling cold to blame for that. It is almost eight, ten degree Celsius now a days in the morning. He rushed for a quick bath and came back with few mugs of water poured on. It was real fast; with one sleeve on, he put the frying pan on the burner and 2 bread slices in the toaster. Within five minutes Khokon’s favourite breakfast the “bread omelet” is ready.
The radio is on with 7.30 news, which he never misses.
“There is an immediate requirement of AB negative Blood in the City Civic hospital for a terminally ill patient.” There is an announcement after the news. “Since this is a rare group, those who have AB negative blood are requested to come to the hospital and donate at the earliest”
“AB negative? That is my blood group” Khokon soliloquies. “but blood donation? I never donated. It must be painful”
He left for office and reached around 9.
“Good Morning” His boss is already at the desk. “What’s up Khokon? You look little worried !”
“Nothing much. Tell me one thing, did you ever donate blood?”
“Yes, couple of times. Once for my friend’s mother and I think second time for my sister. What happened?” Boss asked.
“There is an urgent need for AB negative blood at City Civic hospital and I have that blood group”
“Then what are you waiting for? You should visit the hospital and donate immediately”
“But I am a bit scared; It will definitely pain me alot”
“Come on Khokon! It does not pain. When they prick the needle it’s like getting an injection and after that you won’t even realise something is happening.”
“Hmm, but you know I don’t even know the patient”
“So what? How does it matter?” said Boss “Don’t think much, go for it. It’s a good thing to do”
Khokon is in a dilemma. Gradually he moves to his desk and starts working and got busy in the daily chore.
Around one in the afternoon Khokon went up in to the cafeteria for lunch with two of his colleagues.
“Hey Khokon did you go finally? How was your experience?” Boss shouted from the table behind while taking lunch.
“No, not really! I mean there was so much of work, it in fact went off my head” Khokon stammered a bit.
“hmm…not really! Actually you got scared” said Boss laughingly. “You should have gone and donated Khokon. This is a question of someone’s life. Specially when the blood group is rare”
Khokon got little embarrassed. “Let me see if I can do while returning back home”
“Yes that’s the spirit” Boss said.
So finally around six in the evening Khokon reached the hospital reception.
“There was an announcement in the radio today morning that someone needs AB negative blood. I am of AB negative group and want to donate” Khokon told the lady in the front desk.
“Sir, so nice of you. Thanks for coming and showing interest for blood donation” said the lady, “however we are very sorry to say that the patient expired about an hour back due to lack of blood. Had she received the blood in the morning probably she would have survived”
Khokon could not utter a word and left the hospital with sadness.
“Khokon, you could have saved a life today if you had taken some initiative in the morning and were little responsible” he heard some voice but could not see anyone nearby. Probably it was his conscience.
Writer: Pinaki Chakraborty
BDST: 1643 HRS, APR 28, 2020
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