Love....a weapon of choice

A friend had asked me to help write a piece on unforgettable incident. I thought long and hard and invented this piece about a relationship that is tragically separated by circumstances.... This story I am about to relate is a figment of my imagination.

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I adored this person as he is both mentally stimulating and emotionally intriguing.

A true Gemini in his thinking and talking and sometimes amazingly telepathic. He has this ability to complete my sentence and caught up with my thoughts even before I could find the right words to express the way I feel about things and situations . I am no expert in zodiac and star signs but this Gemini certainly have photographic memory and could remember every minute detail of things related to him, and keep them in his memory box for months to come. The way he compartmentalised all the info and able to relate everything without missing a single detail is definitely an admirable skill.

The Gemini had made a promise and hoped to keep it but the girl has stopped believing Gemini is the best thing that ever happened to her. Gemini nurtured this lost soul through the worst phase of her life and kept this girl going. As a result, he suffered in silence and when he could no longer tolerated the pain caused by the one person he truly adored, he brought himself away from it all. He had painstakingly exhausted all avenues to erase her from his memory and finally he came to accept the fact that he would need to live with the memory and pray that time will lessen his pain.
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I had a clear memory of how I met the one person I truly trusted. This incident occurred a decade ago. That person has truly touched my heart like no other human ever did. From that day on, our relationship blossomed. He became my closest friend, my confidant. He was my punching bag, the person I vent my anger to, share my disappointments with, expose my flaws to, rejoice my success with and I was so proud to address him as my special friend. He would be the first person I turned to for advice, the one that made me see things in a different light, the one who made me realize how lucky I was to have what I had, the person who would cheer me up when times are tough, when troubles are abundant, when challenges are aplenty.

I met him during the course of my work after I had just left university. The first encounter with this strange person was when I was waiting in line at the bank. He looked pretty decent and I was taken aback when he would wait for me in the evenings just to watch me drive off to go home from work. He would be the first face to greet me in the morning as I got out of my car to go into my office block. We had an opportunity to be introduced to one another and all along the introduction phase, the topic was mostly about my family. Now I realized it was all about me and none about him. Yes, I was self-absorbed. The more I talked about myself, the less I know about him.

Then it happened.... 2 months down the road there was an opportunity for a job in Penang. Frankly speaking, I did not fear the worst as I had thought it would be for the best. He was really into settling down while I was not sure of what I wanted in my life then. My first job was not the career I had dreamt of having and the second job I took was not the career of choice either. It was all about me and how I wanted to chart my life. I wanted something stable, something I could be proud of and I truly wanted him to feel proud of having me as life partner rather than be a liability to him. I was not ready to settle for simplicity. I felt that I was cut out for something bigger. So I agreed for him to accept the job offer with the thought that it would only be temporary, just till I get to where I wanted to be… a distinct career.

My wishes came through but at the expense of maternal bliss. I was not being able to share those achievements with the one I truly loved. My single-mindedness brought me to where I am today, I am thankful for what I owned and I know there are plenty of people who would not mind trading places with me. I never have to worry about spending too much or not being able to pay for things. Being a "Trust Fund" baby certainly had its priviledges but I don't lead an exuberant lifestyle. I remained a low key as I wanted people to know the person I really am, at least be their true friends and live a normal life.

This person had known me and accepted me for what I am and what I am not. My bank account and my family tree had not mattered to him. To him, I was just as human as any other living creature in flesh and blood.

He is definitely the pillar of my strength for I have not met another human being which has touched my life so deeply . He gave me the emotional freedom to express the way I feel about all things I liked and what I truly hated. I openly disclose my flaws,expressed my fears and my inferiority. I am at ease talking to him, and best of all, I can always count on him for perspective on life, work, politics and numerous other issues. We would always discuss endlessly on certain issues and fought rigorously over our different views and never reach a common ground. Although I always refuse to see things his way and give in, deep down in my own ways, I respected his opinions and endlessly sought his advice for all things worthy of discussion.

It is not everyday I meet a person of such stature and look up to him as a brother figure. He encouraged me to take risks so that I could be more human and not live a sheltered life. He never blamed me for the bad decisions I made but is always there with words of wisdom to keep my spirits high and my pride intact. He is a true friend indeed.

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So the girl and the Gemini lived an individual life and supported one another through thick and thin. Gemini lets the girl live her life the way she wanted for he had known her to be a free spirit and full of life. Gemini would always be there to listen to her endless tales of how her relationships gone bad and he would let her cry out so that she will feel better after that. He knows at the end of every tear she will be herself again . Only this Gemini knows how to make her laugh again after she is done crying.

Consent

I read with great interest an article written by Dr Yunus Gul titled "Consent" which was uploded on MMC's website. The description of the case was apt as it addresses the pertinent issue of patient's right to all relevant information (i.e. medical information) communicated in a comprehensible manner. I very much concur to the need for an explanation by the physician on the procedure to be undertaken and its inherent risks and benefits. The physician should be conversant enough to explain the medical jargons in non-technical terms to facilitate understanding, hence, enlighten the patient as to what lies ahead during surgery and post-surgical treatment.

It is not uncommon for patient to disagree to the recommended procedure but a patient who is in pain would just agree to the proposed treatment, without agreeing to seek a second opinion . The article suggested that signature in the consent form merely indicated the patient had made informed decision about undergoing proposed treatment. Thefore, the call for physicians to explain about the treatment in a manner that promotes understanding would somehow reduce the risks of claim or complaint by the patient on the physician, although at most times, physicians are acting in the best interest of the patient.

Sirah Junjungan Musical Theatre

I had the chance to watch Sirah Junjungan musical theatre last week and was really touched by the storyline. The seats in Istana Budaya was not full compared to the days of PGL musical. But this musical produced by Erma Fatima was indeed a success as it managed to touched the hearts of the audience. I was informed that the producer had difficulty finding sponsors for this musical and that however, did not deter her from producing a remarkable musical. Well done Kak Erma!