Guilty Favours

In a crowded Kashmir hospital, a young woman's call for help leads to guilt, reflection, and a brush with invisible rules of fairness and favour.

- Aisha Hasnain

The neurologist came late. My turn was going to get delayed by about two hours. The same fateful day, I got my period after over two months. My back was aching and my stamina was dropping.

I have been feeling quite terrible for the past month, feeling empty in my heart, crying a few times, holding back at other. When I finally got my period, it occurred to me that the disruptions in my mood could have been a consequence of some hormonal disturbances which led to the delay in my monthly cycle.

I am trying to do things independently as Baba has a lot to take care of already. I asked my younger sibling to accompany me to the hospital. It is a private hospital. I was on time but upon arrival, I came to know that the doctor had seen only a few patients. I was angry. To make things worse, the hospital was full and I did not have a place to sit. I took the support from the backrest of the hospital bench while standing and waiting.