Sorry State of Affairs

It has been more than 3 years that I did something 'good for society.'

The best I used to do was give away few mls of my blood. Did that just thrice before, not more.

Recently I was asked by one of my friends if it was possible for me to donate platelets for his grandpa. I was more than ready.

The staff at Breach Candy was really very friendly, kind, gentle and humble. I felt good about the way the whole thing was carried out.

All this made me remember events that happened the day before.

I got a call from Think foundation, an NGO where I've registered myself as a blood/platelet donor, asking if I can go to KEM for an urgent platelet donation. I told them that can reach in about 2-3 hrs and reached KEM in 3 hrs flat.

I had never been to any civil hospital before and was little skeptical about facilities there. My first impression of the place didn't help much. Considering it a civil hospital, I choose to overlook the madding crowd, the dirt and filth around and found my way to the blood bank.

It looked neat and tidy, atleast on the outside.

Outside the designated room, where I was asked by the incharge to meet another person, a lady was waiting for her turn to get the 'valuable autograph'.

It was really precious for her as that would enable her to get blood from the blood bank.

I decided to wait for my turn, though I could have barged in (being the donor).

In she went, then another office wala, and out came the lady. I thought that her work is done and went in.

"Arre thaamba na baaher!! Ithe goshtha chalu aahe..."

(Roughly translated: Wait outside man!! We are discussing things in here.. though it was nothing but pure office gossip.)

"Mala te..." I tried to convey I'm here for donation. "Bolavto tula," (Will call u) pat came reply. I decided to wait, for another couple of minutes. 

The person out there was looking at me through the gap between the door and called me by hand gesture precisely after 3 mins.

"Haan, kaye pahije tula?" (Yes, what do you want?) in a little irritated tone.

"Mala te Ingole saahibane pathavla hota, te platelets paheji hote tumhala urgently..." (I was send by Ingole for some urgent requirement of platelets..)
He immediately got up from seat, "Ohh aap donor hai? Sorry sir!... baithiye na..." (ohh you are the donor? sorry sir, please have a seat.)

And this was the same man who shoved me away few mins ago!!

Unfortunately, the story doesn't end here.

I was offered clean water (its Civil Hospital, remember?) and garma-garam coffee.
After 5 minutes the guy apologized for the delay and told me that the pathologist has gone to 'attend a patient as there is an emergency.' Valid enough, I had no issues waiting.

After another 15 minutes, I realized something is wrong as the guy started saying things like, "We are so sorry, tumhala aamhi bolavle aaj, pan ithe problem jhala..." (Sorry we called you in today, but there is a issue here).
I was trying to be brave to listen to what he is gonna say next.
"Sir tithe kahi tari gadbad jhali, pathologist la khupach ushir hoil, tumhi udya yeu shakta kaye?"
(Sir there has been some issues, phathologist will be very late. Can you come tomorrow.)

Very first thing which struck my mind was, 'No dude!! I can not come this far, again. I have other plans.'

What I said instead was something like I have come today, you take some sample, do whatever testing you have to do, and let me know if I'm a healthy donor. If yes, I will come and donate next day.
He kept on telling me that is not possible because there is no pathologist available who can deal with platelets.
My mind went, 'You have to take a sample of my blood, right? Any pathologist/nurse is trained for that. Isn't it?'

Finally the guy made a call to the incharge, "Sir tumhala mahit aahe na ti tikde geli aahe? Saheb ithe basle aahet, tumhi bolta ka tyanchyashi?" (Sir you know that she has gone there? Can you talk to sir sitting over here.)

What this Mr. Incharge told me, I would like you all to go through yourself.

"We are extremely sorry, tumhala aamhi aaj bolavlo. Thank you for coming, sir. Actually aaj urgent requirement hoti, pan ji pathologist aahe aamchya barobar, ti ghari geli karan konacha tari lagna hota. Sir tumhi udya yeu shakta ka??..."
(We are extremely sorry we called you in today. Thank you for coming over. We had the urgent requirement today, but the pathologist who works with us has gone home because there was marriage or something. Can you please come tomorrow??)
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