second assignment

Tick..tick..tick..

BEEP! BEEP!
Reminder : your vacation starts today!
Date : 5th september 2020


Its the day! The day finally has arrived! After ten months of working without break, the day where my two weeks leave has finally come. nothing is better than this. Im tired, im exhausted, my brain already signalling me saying it needs to rest. my heart pumping slower and slower telling me it needs to energize. And my legs..they go wobbly telling me to sit down.Well, good news,body! You will get your scrumptious reward starting today!

"Doctor, there's massive haemorrhage at bed 3"
"Doctor, your liver function test that you had requested is here"
"Doctor, for how long should ive waited? who do you think you are to keep me waiting? im a Datuk you know! I can get you easily fired!"


Ouh, those buzzing flies. Im sorry but I have to ignore you this time.I need to be selfish. I hope you can find my replacement. As i managed to get through the buzz, I see flashes of light down the hall. Its calling out my name. Yes, KEDAH..here I come!


The sky is bright and blue, and the trees seem to be smiling at me. everything goes well until..
*honkhonk*
*pinpin*
"hoii, lembab laa!jalan la woii!"
"wei tepi la! dah tau lembab masok lane kanan buat apa?"
"chi sin aa!"
"you muthaf**king b****!move aside!"

Those cursing, evil words diminish the serenity Im enjoying. What has got into these people? What happen to the courtesy and tolerance that their ancestors taught them? Where are the moral values that their kindergarten teacher taught them? Well, simple. All of the goodness in human being are gone, disappear, zero. Im stucked in the traffic jam. The whole one kilometres are congested.

Within this short distance, I see variants in human race. BMWs changing lanes like their father own the road, Kancils try their best to squeeze in among the Mercedes and SUVs, Yamaha and Modenas move forward freely in their own world inspite of the hustle and bustle.What a reflections of what the world is facing now.

After 3hours of gruelling journey in that packed city of concrete, Im finally free. The grey-black tall monsters turn into green-yellowish humble creations. No more cursing, no more pushing and shoving. Just an empty road with a wonderful feelings. The cheerful birds chirping me a joyous songs. How could my emotions not flushed away with this atmosphere?

The sun is coming down.the melancholic high rushes down my spine. I let down the window and feel the soft breeze of zephyr. Its been so long I havent let the fresh air into my weakened lungs. No, the asthmatic drugs doesnt do any better than this. Another evidence of God's gift.

I glance to the left side.

The notice board reads : SUSUR KELUAR KE SG PETANI 5KM.

I screamed out of joy. Kedah, Im finally here! sorry to make you wait for such a long period. The unfamiliar wrinkled faces greeted me. The ladies wave their hands to me. I have neither met nor say a word to them. Strangely enough, they made me feel as a family. Another priceless emotion.

5 hours of my life had passed. Im finally reached my destination. I honk mildly. A figure emerges. With a worn out kain batik and a flowery baju kurung kedah, she looks so beautiful, more beautiful and sexier than Jennifer Lopez. She looks puzzled, and then smiles. The sweetest smile Ive ever seen.

"La,Milla rupanya. Awat hang tak habaq nak balik?". I straight away get out from the car to embrace that courage woman. The person that faught for her life just to get me out to see the world.

Suddenly all the tenses, the depressions, the negative aura inside my body just vanish. The brain says it feel strong, the heart says it feel energetic, and the legs say they could run for a thousand miles! Then, another figure come out.

"Yang hang dok bawak keta tengah2malam ni buat pa?Hang ni memang ketegaq btui!". I grab the hands that used to cradle and put me to sleep. His keep on babbling, but deep inside I know how excited he is to see me home. Yes, that word..home. The place where i grew up. the place where i belong to.

*KRINGGGG*

The alarm goes off. Hey, where are the peace and quietness had gone? I lift my bottom heavily, with a deep sigh. Im dreaming of the good old days again. Though for a short period, that vacation turned out to be the perfect therapy for me. Enough of that, I have obligations to be done. Standing in front of the tiny mirror, I take out my solemn face with a happy one. I deserve to get the award for the best actress.

On the nurses counter, I see a big white envelope with my name on it. This couldnt be right. This couldnt be happening. I flip it up, make a thorough check. There is a big writings : The Ministry of Health. Anxiety builds up. Firming my grip, I open it up. What a long introduction. Come on, where's the big news? Then i saw this one line which reads, 'Your application to be transferred to Sg Petani Hospital is approved'. There must be some kind of mistake. I've been applying for thirty times before. None of them were successful. But not this time. Ive made it!

I straightly go to the chief of the hospital to acknowledge him about my transfer. The chief sat down. The room breaks into silence. He deeply apologize as he cant let me go. There is only one neurosurgeon in the hospital. The neurology will have to be shut down if I walk away. Thats absurd! Im sure there is a lot of great doctors who can take up my position! The chief said there is no backup neurosurgeon at the moment. However, he couldnt force me to stay. He has no rights to do that. All he can do is to persuade me. I resist. Ive reached my limit. I need a more suitable environment to work. Be it in a deep jungle, or a middle of nowhere. Im fine with it! Anywhere but here. He gives me time to reconsider my decision. Frustratedly, i walk out.

As I stroll down the neurological ward, I see many hopeful faces. Pakcik Said has been comatose for 2 years now. Lily, the bubbly girl who recently diagnosed with brain cancer. Despite the deadly disease, she still manage to be happy. Oh I wish I could be that strong. As I drifting away with my mixed up emotions, an old lady kneels down and grabbed my hand. She's begging me to save his son's life. She takes out a gold bracelet, handed in to me, with a strong plea. im speechless. The tears on that wrinkled cheek touches my heart.

I just couldnt leave these innocent hearts for my own benefit. They have no one to go to. I rather to struck by a raging bull than crushing their hopes to pieces. As the Hippocratic Oath saids :

"in every house where i come i will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves. I will keep them from harm and injustice"

The white envelope that Ive been holding tight, I read it for the last time. With a heavy heart, I tear them apart. I just tear up my dreams. Taking the old lady's hand, and looking straight into her eyes, assuring her that I will definately try the very best to save his son's life. She smiles widely like a beggar who had won a million worth of lottery.

That smile confirms that I have made the most right decision of my life.