एक कटिंग चाय ☕
बहुत सालों पहले, एक कटिंग चाय के बुलावे पर, चार यार चुटकियों में मिल जाते थे,बैठकर साथ उस कैंटीन में, किसी भी बात पर खुलकर हँस जाते थे। जोक चाहे लैंड हो या ना हो, हम इतना हँसते कि दिल के सारे तार खुल जाते …
Recent Posts
THE CADBURY GIRL
Well, I have been meaning to write this since the passing of Mr. Piyush Pandey, the advertising wizard of Ogilvy. Over the past few days, social media has been flooded with the unforgettable ads he created—each one a reminder of how he shaped our collective …
A PAGE FROM A DOCTOR’S DIARY
Blessings alone are not enough to keep the lights on
She entered my cabin with a bright smile, reminding me of our acquaintance from years ago.
She thanked me profusely for changing her daughter’s life—this time, it was her son she had brought along.
Between every sentence came a blessing, every pause filled with praise—you are so kind, you are so nice—it was truly overwhelming.
And then they walked out—without paying the consultation fee, despite being politely reminded.
As doctors, kindness is stitched into our DNA.
We don’t treat people for money—but kindness alone doesn’t pay the bills or the rent or the staff salaries.
My colleagues say, “Write it off—there’s not much you can do.”
Because the moment you ask for your dues, the society will turn you into a greedy and money-minded villain.
That’s the paradox—doctors are villainized in headlines and shortchanged so often in reality.
Where empty words of gratitude flow easily, but people’s hands hesitate to shell out a simple consultation fee.
Ironically, it’s not the truly poor who ask for discounts.
It’s the well-to-do, even the ones stepping out of luxury cars, dressed in designer labels, who do.
While those with little often pay in full—with dignity and grace.
It’s never about the money. It’s about attitude and respect.
Blessings are divine and always appreciated—but blessings alone are not enough to keep the lights on, my friends.
©️Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker
WHEN A CHILD IS PUNISHED FOR HER WEIGHT
She is just 13 years old.Six months ago, she weighed 153 kilos. Today, after 6 months of bariatric surgery, she weighs 112 kg. She has lost 25% of her total body weight—a remarkable achievement by any medical standard. Physically, she’s doing better than ever. Emotionally, …
A PAGE FROM A DOCTOR’S DIARY
The Uterus Dialogues Iska “uterus” to thik hai na? (Is her uterus alright?) I am not a gynecologist. So, it took me a few moments to digest this question. It was thrown at me by a young patient’s mother who had accompanied her. For a …
A PAGE FROM A DOCTOR’S DIARY
God does His bit too!
As surgeons, we are trained to give nothing but our best. In surgery, striving for perfection is a given- It is the ultimate non-negotiable aim. From the very beginning of our training, we are taught that the first time is the only time—the best time.
We are told that second chances are rare. The instinct is always to fix everything , to make things right, to find a way forward.
Yet, now and then, there are moments in the operating room when we feel horribly stuck—when every option seems to have been exhausted, and defeat stares us squarely in the eye.
In those moments, doubt creeps in, time seems to stretch, and the weight of responsibility feels heavier than ever.
In the early years of our careers, the urge is to fight for control, to act, to do something—anything—that will “fix” the situation.
But as time goes by and we gain experience, we realize that not everything needs to be forced into place. Many times, if left alone, things have a way of settling themselves.
Sometimes, not trying too hard is the best thing we can do for our patients.
Just as in life and relationships, many a time the wisest choice is to let it be, to accept, and to trust.
Better surgeons are those who have the maturity to know when to act and the wisdom to know when to wait.
Often, nature has its own plan. The body has a remarkable and an almost magical ability to heal, sometimes slowly, but almost always surely. And when science reaches its limits, faith steps in.
Doctors are not God, but we realize with time that every now and then, God does His bit too.
©️Dr. Aparna Govil Bhaskerr
The Ladies’ Doctor
As a lady doctor/surgeon, I end up having amusing experiences on some days. Today, a lady came in with a rectal prolapse. She’d already seen a male doctor but now wanted to consult a “lady doctor.” We spoke, I examined her, explained the condition, and …
THE SILENT STRUGGLES
Yesterday, a 44-year-old man living with a weight of 182 kg broke down in tears during the consultation. He did not cry because he was in any kind of physical pain. He cried because he felt utterly helpless—and scared. He cried because he could no …
BEYOND THE BALANCE SHEET
“How old are you?” I asked.
“42,” he said.
“What do you do for a living?”
“I used to work for one of the Big Fours. Now I’m retired.”
At 42?
Curious, I asked why.
“I couldn’t handle the #stress. I’ve lived with #depression for years.”
This wasn’t the first time I’d heard something like this.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen global business leaders glorify the 70- to 90-hour workweek.
They want the employees to relentlessly push the envelope, burn the midnight oil, and get the job done.
The bottom line is to meet the target and cross that ridiculous number on the balance sheet.
Work-life balance? That’s for the weak and soft. In today’s testosterone-charged corporate culture, #burnout is worn like a badge of honor.
Add to that the constant fear of being handed a pink slip or losing your job to the next round of cost cutting. Afraid to pause, employees are locked in a constant cycle of overwork and stress.
But here’s the truth we don’t want to hear:
Nearly 1 in 10 Indians live with depression, anxiety, or chronic stress.
Work-related stress is the leading cause of poor employee health.
It not only affects performance—it spills into families, communities, and long-term well-being.
Ten years ago, poor mental health was already costing companies an estimated $100 million annually. Imagine what that number looks like today.
Now add another layer— “obesity.”
Stress, long working hours, sleep deprivation, and poor food habits are all well-documented contributors to #weightgain.
Obesity, in turn, worsens mental health, increasing the risk of a dangerous vicious cycle.
And it doesn’t stop there. With rising obesity and stress levels, we are seeing a disturbing trend—an increase in early-onset #heartdisease.
Heart attacks in the 30s and 40s are no longer rare headlines; they’re becoming alarmingly common.
We often talk about performance, productivity, and passion—but not the price we pay for them.
It’s time we redefine what success truly means. Because no matter how impressive the balance sheet looks, it won’t matter if the numbers on your medical report are telling a different story.
Burnout isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a warning sign we can no longer afford to ignore.
©️Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker
PS- The image is AI generated
A PAGE FROM A DOCTOR’S DIARY
The Power of Communication Don’t come to see me again if you do not stop smoking and drinking alcohol! Seven years ago, I had said this to one of my patients. At that time, it came from good intent (and probably a little bit of …