I want to share something with you, not to boast but simply to convey something that happened to me recently.
I was told that I was the best medical student this year (and in many years) to graduate from Imperial College. My grade average was about 96%. Even the Dean of Imperial would on occasion personally write to me to congratulate me for my achievements. Nevertheless, I never felt my academic achievements were as important as being a dedicated doctor was for me.
So now it was my graduation day and I was off to the Royal Albert Hall. I rolled over in my mind about the past few demanding months at the Chelsea Westminster, but alhamdulillah I know I’m coping well with the rigours of being a Junior House Officer. So this day is going to be special for me, a time to meet old friends and let my guard down a little.
The walkway between Kings Cross and Kings Cross Thameslink is a long walk, but no matter, it’s only a small distance compared to my daily commute in and out of London, and compared to my last six years in med school its not really “¦ Wait!! Suddenly my mind stopped in its tracks, but I kept walking “¦ I felt something was wrong “¦ problem is, I knew it was coming, those quick footsteps behind me, it just wasn’t the pace of a hurried pedestrian …
Even though my head smacking against the tunnel wall hurt, I don’t remember it well. It was while my knees were giving way that I realised ““ I had just got mugged. A few moments later I heard the commotion, some people were shouting, some were asking me if I was OK. But I was the doctor and I knew something was wrong. It was my knees, maybe a torn ligament or maybe a small fracture, I wasn’t sure, but the act of trying to sit up sent shearing bolts of pain through my legs.
The graduation ceremony seemed far off now. The poster of the happy family advertising a cheap rail ticket offered a little consolation. I just wanted to go home now and be with my family; most of all I thank Allah that I’m alive”¦
“The above was told to me by my mother. It happened to the daughter of one our closest family friends two days ago. I felt I had to write the above, as a tribute and respect to her. May Allah give you the strength to stand up and walk tall sister Parisha.” Afs-M
October 31st, 2005 at 9:30 pm
I hope shes okay inshallah
November 1st, 2005 at 5:15 am
Alhamdulillah, she’s alot better now.
When her classmates found out she couldn’t attend, they boycotted the ceremony. Amazingly the uni agreed, and the date is being given for a time after she will have recovered.
November 1st, 2005 at 6:26 pm
Alhamdulillah. Glad shes okay.
Wow, that was good of her friends and even better for Imperial.
November 1st, 2005 at 10:00 pm
wow. it’s important to realize not all is safe in the world…my naïve existence often leaves me believing otherwise.
i have this terrible habit of walking alone at night, through the dodgy and the well-lit streets. i simply stroll where ever i desire, not considering the fear i should have of those around me nor the hour of the twilight. i’m very alert and quite perceptive, but most of the time i simply don’t care of the men around me.
reading about Parisha reminded me how important it is to be prepared at all times.
i’m a woman, if you haven’t figured that much out. a bit younger than Parisha, a lot more callous. a man approached me the other day and made a lewd gesture with his tongue. my first impulse was to grab him and hit him, but instead i made a curt remark and walked past him. then i grew angry, then enraged at him and his gall to insult me. in my moment of fury i stopped, turned around and decided to track him down. i followed him into a side alleyway, where he had confronted another woman, a tall blond. i walked directly towards him, he startled to see me walking in a stright path looked at me somewhat bewildered.
i gave him such a verbal thrashing that the end he felt the shame he was lacking and to my surprise he looked at me sheepishly and apologized. at the time i felt really good about myself, and better yet that i had humiliated him in front of another woman to further his disgrace. however, hearing about Parisha reminds me that i need to be on guard and not so eager to confront those who agitate me (either that or buy the micro-uzi i’ve been desiring for quite some time:).
i hope she’s well. i can’t believe Imperial changed the graduation date!