THE EMPTY BENCH

The empty bench beckons

Come sit on me a while

Life is a hard journey

Of many a long, lonely mile....

 

Rest your weary shoulders

Enjoy the golden sunlight

Put aside all your battles

Another day to fight....

 

Watch the butterflies and the birds

The wind whispering through the tree

All those who need shelter

Come and rest it says to me...

 

Everyday I go and sit

On this empty bench

It fills the hunger in my soul

The thirst in my heart it does quench...

 

One day the bench will remain empty

We would have moved away

So store this beautiful memory

To warm your heart someday... 

Nimmou Nilakantan

27th March 2024

 

 

 

HOSPITAL OR HOTEL? A NEW PERSPECTIVE

 

Every time I enter a hospital I pretend I am checking into a five star hotel. The nurse greets me with utmost concern and loving care- much like the concierge of a five star hotel! I am given a gown to wear much like the robe hanging in the hotel bathroom except nobody is tempted to pack this when they leave. My food is taken care of- I do not have to summon a waiter or call the chef- the dietician comes to me and tailors a diet to suit my needs. The best part is I lose a couple of kilos doing nothing but lying in bed feeling sorry for myself!

I have a call button at my fingertips- I just press it and lo and behold! An angel dressed in white materializes.  No picking up the phone to order room service- here everything comes to you at the press of a button. Every morning highly qualified men (also known as Doctors) gather around me and hang onto every word I say – I do not have to trot to the front desk and wait to catch the eye of the Lobby Manager. An attender comes to sponge me, change my gown and all I gotta do is lie in bed and flick my fingers over the T.V remote or the nurses calling bell- sweet!

Oh and the freedom from running a house- no servants who boss over you while giving indifferent service, no long, dreary sessions of cooking healthy meals (and not lose a pound!) no endless battles with dust and grime or doorbells that need to be answered at the first ring. And where else can you get an endless supply of drugs which are perfectly legal and make the pain go away? Every day you swallow handfuls of pills and one also has an IV sticking into your arm for good measure.

Visitors who never darkened your doorstep when you were fine now show up with flowers and your Whatsapp is flooded with Get Well Soon messages. One feels like a celebrity but for the fundamental reason you are in hospital and not a hotel- your body packed up. Never mind- take care from now on and the next time go to a spa before you fall sick! Till then, just pretend you are in one- a little bit of fantasy makes the medicine go down! Here is wishing you a speedy recovery…Next stop- the Spa!

Nimmou Nilakantan

April 1^st 2024