The Inanimate Series
Part 4: Inanimate of the Month ~IOTM~
April 1, 2008 Sanjeevani.The locker room was abuzz with the lack of excitement, it was that day of the year again; arrived in many months – yes it was the day of the IOTM i.e. INANIMATE OF THE MONTH AWARD! The special reward for the hardest working 'inanimate' awarded every month according to the inanimate calendar, slightly different from the other world calendar. The previous winners had been in her own words -simple yet honest and extremely hard working Locker Riddhima and the once happy but always carefree Locker Armaan who was now just out of Ammy avataar back to the one between the carefree and the AmmyMan, the Purana Locker Armaan. Who would it be this time? As I had moved around the hospital earlier in the day, I had heard rumors of jury bias with these awards and now when I saw the Doctor Dean nodding as if passing an assurance to the Sister Pink who was sitting at the corner; my doubts were all but confirmed. IOTM was rigged!
As I looked around the room, it was full of interns and most of them looked unconcerned with the proceedings on the Dias (as if they knew they wouldn't win), where the sizzling Stethoscope Keerti was demanding their attention while the otherwise suave doctor cardiac was staring at her with dreamy eyes as if this was highschool and she was his favorite teacher.
At the back row sat the two interns, the Kada who was trying to weld its wounded wrist together while the ravishing Payal covered in bandage was trying desperately to put all its crushed fragments together. As they were busy in their own worlds, a visibly shaken Intern Comic came rushing towards them saying, 'I am leaving Sanjeevani, I heard what happened to you two. You don't know I am next on the list! Love you both! Please tell Doctor Keerti I am not coming back so Payal you don't need to come look for me, remember there is nothing between us and we aren't even friends!' and he took off.
The Intern DMG Frame, who had been quiet all this while jumped off his seat and followed Intern Comic saying 'Wait for me, I just realized I'm on the list too. I'm coming with you, wait!!'
Sanjeevani had already lost an able doctor in Locker Sapna, who had been so excited about the last IOTM three months ago that she had got a new dress made, when she didn't win, she gave up her medicine all together and quit. And now Intern Comic was leaving too? But what list was he talking about? Was there something else going on? Why on earth no one noticed that two interns at the back were injured and nursing wounds? Is everyone else blind?
As Locker Riddhima proudly displayed her award, an onlooker whispered to me, 'you know they only give out the trophy when she wins! Locker Armaan didn't get any trophy three months ago when the last IOTM was held'
'But why do they favor her so much?' I inquired.
'She's simple, hardworking, honest, straightforward, never rushed, and sensitive to everyone, always soft spoken and most importantly the Dean's favorite child!' He replied.
'But what about her capabilities as a doctor?' I asked.
He started laughing. 'You're asking me, I have been here for months for an appendicitis case, and she is my doctor!' He replied sarcastically as he took out an apple from his pocket and walked out of the room.
'Inanimate of the month award! no one deserves it more than you Locker Riddhima!' Locker Armaan mumbled as he strode out the room.