It was a Sunday, and the day was bright and sunny. I was the only doctor on duty in the emergency room that day. On Sundays, our hospital typically has only a few staff members present, as most are off for the holiday except for those who are on call.

Interestingly, there were only two patients in the ward that day. All the other patients had been discharged. For the first time, due to the very low number of patients, only four of us were on duty: me, Nurse Suzzane (Suzy), Nilo (housekeeping staff), and my favorite, Nazia Aapa, who is an aaya (the person who looks after patients and assists their attendants).

I was feeling anxious and fearful that day. I knew the main glass door of the hospital was open, as was the emergency exit, and I noticed that the security guards were nowhere to be found. I don’t know when I became so fearful; my nervous system seems to be constantly on high alert for any kind of danger. I startle easily at even the gentlest tap from someone. Perhaps the daily news about violence against women and the horrific stories of abuse in the city has made me overly cautious.

I often feel as if, at any moment, an aggressive patient or attendant could grab my arm, leaving me feeling helpless. Thankfully, all of this exists only in my mind.

Nazia Aapa and her comforting presence

Nazia Aapa is an interesting person. She is a very decent lady, extremely well-mannered, and polite. She is incredibly loving, and I feel comfortable around her. I don’t know what kind of aura she has, but I feel safe in her presence. It seems as if she is a source of support for me. Whenever I arrive for my duty, she hugs me as if I am her daughter, kisses my hands, and shows me affection in a way that she doesn’t show to anyone else. I don’t know why she does this every day.

I stated my concerns to those ladies, saying that at the very least, they should close the ER entrance; God forbid what would happen if there was no security present. They were quite daring, and they ignored my anxious concerns. They assured me that they had no fear of anyone and that there was no reason to be concerned.

It was a very relaxing day, so I opened a patient’s room, turned on the air conditioning, and began reading a book. I knew all three of my colleagues were in the main ER room and could call me if any patients arrived. The book was engaging, and I quickly became absorbed in it. Suddenly, the door to the room opened, and I saw Nazia Aapa bringing in a tray. I was overjoyed to see the tea and pakoras (fritters) that she had brought for me.

I hugged her for her love and generosity. She explained that since nobody else was around in the hospital and only female staff were on duty, she took the opportunity to use the kitchen. As a result, she prepared a delicious treat for all of us, made with her heartfelt care.

Managing an emergency

As I finished my tea, I heard the siren of an ambulance and Sister Suzy called me over. A young man had just been brought in with a firearm injury to his leg. He was accompanied by at least seven or eight young men who looked like goons.

Interestingly, the adrenaline rush from managing this acute emergency made me forget my fear of male violence, which can strike unexpectedly in our society.

We had a lot of work to do to stabilize him, as he was bleeding profusely and in a great deal of pain. The entire trauma protocol, including controlling the bleeding, managing his pain, conducting imaging, and completing medicolegal documentation, took almost two hours. After finishing all of that, I finally let out a sigh of relief.

That day taught me that girls can handle everything; they possess superpowers when the situation becomes unpredictable. The love and support of our colleagues can enable us to achieve things we never thought possible.

Damane Zehra is a radiation oncology resident in Pakistan.