From IV Drips to Ink Drops: My Alternative Reality

Life has a way of leading us down unexpected paths, often pushing us towards corners we never imagined. From the age of three, I was resolute—I would be a doctor, a psychiatrist no less! In my young mind, I could picture myself seated behind a desk, carefully listening to the woes of the world and offering solace. I was so determined that, even in grade 1, I dressed up as a doctor for a fancy dress competition. But then, science decided to knock on the door, and oh boy, did it knock hard! It turned my dream into a battlefield where I waved my white flag and found refuge in nursing. Not one to give up, I pursued M.Sc. Psychiatry, holding on to a sliver of my childhood aspirations.

But you know what? Life is a little like a dosa—you think you’re going to flip it perfectly, and then somehow, you end up with an unexpected fold. I may not be working as a psychiatrist now, but I’m still within the medical world, contributing in my own way. Sometimes, the dosa isn’t perfectly round, but it still tastes amazing, doesn’t it?

Back in my college days, I had a backup plan. If medicine didn’t pan out, I’d be a Kannada professor. Now, that was a dream wrapped in poetry, literature, and the joy of teaching. My love for the Kannada language is like a never-ending romance. There’s a certain magic in the way Kannada writers, poets, and humorists spin stories. Take this gem from Kuvempu: “Yavudannu kaledarenu, ellavudannu badukiddu?” (“What have you lost? You still have everything!”) It reminds me that no matter where life takes you, there’s always a way to find fulfillment.

I once imagined standing in front of a classroom, sharing my passion for literature with students, guiding them through the works of great poets like Kuvempu and Bendre. I couldn’t become a Kannada professor, but I did teach nursing students for four years, and that brought me immense satisfaction. And you know what? In my heart, I’m still that teacher, sharing knowledge in any form I can.

Life may not have followed the map I drew at three, but it’s written a story I’m proud of. After all, as the saying goes, “Ella maadi ella nodi” (Do everything, see everything).

So, here’s to the unexpected flips, the backup plans, and the poetry that keeps life sweet, even when it’s a little messy.