Anecdote #45

Day 2

In continuation with where I left off, I was not in the best of health. I did not carry too many antacids because honestly acidity, heartburn was a problem that I had not come across in my life. I knew I was in a position where I had to replenish the stock of those medicines so I went to the pharmacy. Unfortunately I went to the swankiest of them all which was Boots. I walked up to them very casually and asked them for my medicine. Their reaction was unexpected and jolting, they asked where the prescription was. I was taken aback. I had asked for a generic medicine and in India a prescription would never be demanded for it. How was I to get a Doctor’s prescription in Cambridge!

The stroke of bad luck made me feel dejected and I went back. As I was walking back falling into this pit of self-pity, I stopped in my tracks. I thought to myself who in the world gets the opportunity to spend a summer in Cambridge. I should not waste time complaining and try to remedy the situation.

 There was a sudden switch in my thinking and I got clarity.

First I decided to take everything that was happening around me lightly. I was in one of the most developed countries of this world there had to be a way where I could get my medicine. Clarity struck me and I recalled that I had seen an Indian looking man at a herbal pharmacy on my way to Boots. With some hope I walked into his shop. He only had natural medication which I had no knowledge about and had never taken. He sensed how I was feeling.

Miraculously he shared a trick with me. He told me to visit Superdrug, a more affordable drug store. The antacids, he said would be available on the aisles. Subsequently he finally shared the secret sauce, do not get it billed at the pharmaceutical section of the store, instead he told me to get it billed at the cosmetic section.

The trick worked!

For me that man is truly an angel. I do not know his name or his story, I did not even buy a thing from his store yet he was kind enough to empathise with my circumstances and lent a helping hand. It was on this day that I actually started to learn the meaning of the word gratitude.

The rest of the day was a breeze, I attended my classes had my meals and talked to a few people from different countries. It was very cordial but I had not found people with whom I struck a chord. It was only at dinner that I saw a two Indians, twins. Ah to see people from my country! I did not know how to approach them and at the time my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of home and my health.

In that moment I was unaware of the role they’d play in my stay. I only knew their names- Manmeen and Urmeen. I felt a strange kind of affinity, I couldn’t fathom what the feeling was.

Time would slowly unravel how they went on to become my best friends and my biggest support system.