too Cold in Vienna: Love Short Story

too Cold in Vienna: Love Short Story

[It's too Cold in Vienna - Love Short Story]

A temporary badge tied on my wrist read, “Kr. Nr. 2003/005669803″.

Orthopaedic surgeon just came on round and told his verdict in a loud but broken English, “We made your ankle again. Operation go gut. You must not komm out bed naxte three week”.

I could not hear any more. Few tears slid from my dizzy eyes and wetted my dried cheeks. There was none to see these useless H2O molecules. Even Herr Arzt (Mr. Doctor) had left the room along with bunch of young Aerzte and Aerztinnen to visit his other patients. My friends would also have already left for Vienna. ICE (Intercity Express) was scheduled to leave Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Main Railway Station) by 17:00 hr. How could I forget the timings? I read whole itinerary more than hundred times in our flight from Chennai to Paris.

It was already 18:00 Uhr (hr) in a digital watch lying on side-table of room number 307 of St. Hedwig Krankenhaus (St. Hedwig Hospital) of Berlin.

When we started from Madras Medical College, we were fifteen — eight Aerztinnen (we girls) and seven Aerzte (boys). But I was left alone as I broke my ankle when I slipped from escalator of Berlin Hauptbahnhof while rushing to catch ICE to Prague. We students planned Europe trip during summer holiday. It was once in a life time opportunity for a girl like me who belonged to a conservative middle class family. It took me more than a month to pursue Appa (father) for his approval especially when he came to know that there were seven male students in the team.

I could not be more selfish. Already my classmates sacrificed their trip to beautiful Prague because of my hospitalization. I insisted them to continue their trip as there was no need of any attendant in the hospital. However they decided to stay until I was operated.

It was 20:58. I could hear footsteps towards my room. Perhaps a junior Arzt or Aerztin of Herr Arzt would be coming for my regular check up. Finally door opened. It was Indian Arzt – Mani – Dr. Violinist. His carry bag was on his shoulder. He laid his violin box on floor as it was too difficult for him to juggle bag, violin and a colourful bouquet.

I was shocked to know that he did not go to “His” Vienna along with the team. Before we started in Chennai, I heard that he tried very hard to somehow manage appointment in famous Vienna Imperial Academy of Music to show his music talent to professor. I could not believe at all. Seeing me in shocking state, he giggled at door,

“I heard at railway station that it is getting colder in Vienna and I have only one summer jacket.”

Today, exactly after eight years, I could not stopped myself to laugh loudly when Dr. Mani Subramanian (Mani Dr. Violinist) told to his wife (that is me) while taking off his jacket, “It’s too hot even in Europe”.

We were waiting at Berlin Hauptbahnhof for 17:00 Uhr ICE to Vienna. Last week we married in Vadapalani Temple in Chennai.