DUMBNESS

oodles of it. i/we sometimes come across. because there was this incident. all of us were huddled together around a patient in the confines of Lady Goschen.
the fan turning at the rate of one rotation per minute. the mangalore humidity working its disgusting way on our skin.
bags, aprons, and books hanging by a finger, and dumb nursing students standing around like sheep in the middle of the city.
we're all in waiting for Dr. Priya Ballal. the most remarkable of our OBG profs. Himmat stands aside, quickly writing down his case sheet after rigourous reading the night before.
a little chatter here, a little chatter there, and a few yawns. the unit's beginning to get past phase two of the morning when suddenly Priya Ma'am appears.
Himmat runs and stands next to her, unsorted papers and books on his hands.
Dr. Priya: "who's presenting the case?"
himmat (hand raised up): "ma'am, me..!"
Himmat: "Renuka, age 26 yrs, beedi roller by occupation, hailing from mangalore..."
(vigorously turns the pages, scans through them quickly)
By this time Priya Ma'am's waiting for him to talk. a confused Himmat then says...
Himmat :".... came with chief complaints of... pregnancy..."
the whole unit erupted with laughter. Priya ma'am broke into a smile and started laughing too.

the second impressionable one was when i was in the med posting.
i was standing outside one of the inner rooms of Wenlock's OPD. a few of my unit mates were inside with a PG, when mr.X-lion, comes walking in late.
Mr. X: "what're they doing inside?"
Me: "neurological examination"
Mr. X: (thinks for a little while, cocks his head to one side and then says) : "its a CNS case na?"
(CNS= central nervous system)
i stare at him. all thought suspended for a second and nod my head quietly.
he walks in and i stand there, dumbfounded.