A CIRCLE in a SQUARE

Well I was the other day reading an article that appeared in a not too well known but a relatively classy magazine, when I say classy it’s not just in price but in actual content and contributors, each chipping in a little about life in a manner you do not expect from them. (Looks like I am deviating from the t check myself coz I often do it. Guilty as charged.). The article dealt with the plight of manholes in todays world.

The immediate reaction to this is quite predictable. What’s a manhole got to do in this modern era? Well my sentiments exactly and I continued reading. Interestingly enough the article actually managed to show a totally different perspective of the term manhole. These seemingly insignificant obstructions in our daily path are like small windows to a seamy under city that we are connected to but yet know very little about.

These maladjusted manholes add to the chaos of our daily routine in several ways that we rarely comprehend or rather come to realize. It is not very uncommon to notice a manhole stand out like a stub in a carriage. A seemingly innocent bump in the road that turns into a traffic jam, somewhere along the way we have infact become conditioned to accept such minor deterrents with a shrug over the shoulder and say, ”athu saramilla, athindae chittum poiyal mathi”(it not a problem, just go around it). Though seemingly harmless they are and can be cause of grave accidents.

If it is the traffic jams caused by these manholes that is a cause of concern then I think it would be a better idea if you are to look below and into these cavernous network of tunnels that transport the sewage of our city. A jarring truth that hits us in the face is the very fact that we lack planning. It is only the reason of maladjusted drainage do the manhole intrude into the footpath and roads turning out to be the root cause for all our daily problems.

Identifying the manhole is never a problem it nothing but a simple circle in a square.

A call to civility.

Well it’s the first time I’ve ever tried it and I must say it is painful…. Whew never knew that a needle prick could cause so much pain!!!

Yeowww….

The preparation to the whole process although a bit slow I must say was effective enough to hide thr gory truth. The intention although good enough and healthy I am told, the pain unbearable. Well since its my first time trying a hand at all this who am I to be a judge of events.

I know that you may not have realised or rather comprehended the topic I am writing about, well it is blood donation. The actual process of blood donation although noble in words and action is no way near the suffering one goes through whilst doing it… hardly one to comment on it as the process I did was platelet donation. I am told blood donation is far more easier and less painful.

From the time the news actually came for the donation I really don’t know how I got into the whole affair. Whew reaching the hospital I did have second thought about going along with the whole scene or act. Well I think it is the attitude of never give in instilled I me from a very young age(the motto of a rival school) that made me stick around and also a sense of civic duty. The frustrating part of the whole day I think is the form filling part which I think in todays world is and absolute joke.

Come to think of it we are forever yapping about the fact that we need to take the next step towards an electronic world blah blah blah….. and here we are even today with all the technology at our fingertips, filling forms. The irony of the situation is that a preson is lying just a few floors above waiting for us to donate so that he can live.

We are done with al the formalities and a long wait later we are escorted to the test lab. One look at my report and a glance at thedoctors gleeful face I knew for certain that a scapegoat was indeed identified. I was again given a form to fill in something authorsing the blood bank the rights to poke me with needles and extract my life fluids. The machine itself looked like a spacecraft that has just landed.. out of this world design… in a word WEIRD.

Got myself stabbed with a needful, one that went really deep, deep enough to actually inflict pain, excruciating as it may be to the onlooker it is but and innocent prick. The hour and a half I had to lie down infact did teach me a few things….
a. Being aware that O+ve is a universal donor - actually is not
b. Platelet transfusion is one pain in the wrong place
c. People with my blood composition is pretty rare.

After the whole thing was over and the needle pulled off your arm,It really is a relief. This I must say is not an experience that I am looking forward to in a very long time…. Very long time!!

Bringing in a cheeky thought to it – the applauds to the action really take you to cloud nine but would have rather, it had not happened. Cheerio!!!