The Intricate Puzzles of the Human Body

I was staring at the enigmatic puzzle from all angles. The Rubik’s Cube seemed to be pleading with me to help arrange its disarrayed structure. The colours were mismatched and cried out for their proper alignment and location. I believed in communal harmony, but the colours were adamant; they wanted their sovereignty badly.

I tried twisting, rotating and revolving the cube to solve it, but after an hour’s effort, I gave up. I just could not concentrate and lacked further patience. I had to admit defeat to this particular small, inanimate cube. I kept it on my rack, gracefully accepting my failure.

I was never a whiz kid in my whole life, and now, at this greying stage of life, it seemed an insurmountable challenge. I reflected on my school days. I was a topper throughout my academic life, but I just could not fathom puzzles. I never taxed my brain to solve them. Chess was my proverbial Waterloo, where my opponents would defeat me in minutes. Surprisingly, I could deal with maths problems quickly. I never grumbled and grew up to become a doctor.

I deal with numerous patients daily and treat their ailments, much to their delight. When I encounter a difficult case that has not yet been diagnosed, I never give up chasing the diagnosis, come what may. My entire thought process revolves around the patient’s puzzling ailment, and throughout the day, the thought of the elusive diagnosis grips my mind. I may lie in bed with my eyes open, thinking about the patient. Sometimes, I dream about them too. I become preoccupied; nothing else seems to matter.

A clear, dedicated approach eventually bears fruit, and the healing process begins. That night, I sleep with my eyes closed, happily. My indoor patients’ reports remain intact in my memory. It does not take any extra effort.

God gives every individual on this planet the ability to solve complex puzzles. In my case, I solve the intricate puzzles of the human body. The multi-coloured Rubik’s Cube sits quietly on my rack in blissful disarray. I have understood my limitations and learnt to live with them. I think everybody should.

My five-month-old son gazes at the cube, picks it up gently with his little fingers and puts it in his salivating mouth. He bites it hard. I smile. Maybe, one fine day, he will solve it.