I've always had a sort of phobia of needles and knives on the skin. Like, surgery, injections...you get the drift.
And, had always
hoped I wouldn't have to face it, EVER.
But, well, there's a first time for everything. (In this case, hopefully, 'the first and the last time').
It so happened-
Morning, around 09:15hrs of the 6th of February, 2012. Had just got up, and was mildly sleepy, disoriented. (What d'you expect after having sleep for just a span of four hours, anyway?! It was NOT my fault. The sleepiness, I mean).
My room-mate asked me to go keep the dustbins down. I nodded in agreement. There was one pink dustbin and two plastic bags (all the three full). The garbage truck was evidently in a hurry (I didn't see it, the others were screaming about it, and considering, it missed the dustbins, anyway), so, I picked up all the three, and started descending the steps.
My habit dictates a comparatively fast descent, and, on the third last step, I slipped. BUT, I regained my balance, and reached the last step. THEN, there was a sudden imbalance and disorientation, and the next thing I know, the pink dustbin was lying to my left, in a similar stance.
Still, for the sake of responsibility, I didn't bother checking what hurt, and 'safely' placed the three things near the gate. Coming back, was feeling dizzy, so sat down on the very same staircase. A little blotch of rust colour, that smelled like blood, on the track-pant on my right knee, made me even dizzier. I wasn't feeling any physical pain, anyway, just the dizziness.
Enter the room-mate who'd given me the job.
"What's wrong? Why're you sitting here like this? And what was that sound? Did you fall off the stairs? Or, did you drop the bin?"
"Fell, yeah..."
"What?! Are you hurt? I've TOLD you millions over, not to speed down the staircase like that! But, you NEVER listen, do you!"
"My knees, probably scratches..."
"Show me!"
Then, there was a collective gasp and horror-struck faces surrounding me. I didn't even look at the source of it all.
"It's almost half an inch deep!"
"Why isn't there any blood?!"
"If it would have happened to me, I'd be howling in pain!"
The next thing, there were paper tapes on the wound, and I was being rushed to a near-by general hospital.
"Will need stitches" - The doctor.
NOW I was completely aware. 'Stitches'? Did he just say 'Stitches'? That meant needles, and injections, and....NO!!!
Step one-
Clean up. Didn't hurt a bit. Just a little burning sensation.
Step two-
The most painful in the whole procedure. Anaesthesia injection!!
"Is it over yet?" I asked.
"
"Err, no, just a few more minutes."
Step three-
The stitches. Not a feeling.
Step four-
Tetanus injection. That hurt.
Anyway, in all the above steps, except the fourth one, my friends remained by my side, distracting me, making me laugh. Touche. :)
A few comments by the Doc-
"People 'cry' (not literally) in such cases, and you're laughing (literally)".
"Thank YOU," when I'd thanked him while leaving. :P
Observations-
During the 'stitching' procedure, a needle got bent.
My skin is hard, apparently.
Just THREE stitches. =/ Disappointing, in a way.
Conclusions-
Helped facing my fear.
Helped me realize the value of friends. (Special mention to all present- Rucha Nair, Komal Patil, Kritina Ramteke, Rohan Shinde, Sohan Shinde, Chandrashekhar Thakur, Sonnal Tambe, Prachi Warade). Expression of genuine gratitude. :)
Aftermath-
'Joblessness is the mother of all invention'.
Future-
Eight days trying to keep that knee from bending much.
Overview-
What an experience, sir ji! :D