WE WERE returning to Nagpur after offering prayers and obeisance to our family deity at Saptashrungi Garh, Nashik. The train was running at a cyclonic speed as if guarding the integrity of the prefix ‘super fast’ tagged to its name. Though it was horridly hot and humid outside, nothing could match the perfectly conditioned chill inside our coach. In the nippy momentum, I was eager to end the tiresome day with a quality sleep. Just then, I saw outside our compartment, a young man in severe distress repeatedly pointing to his right hand and explaining something to the RPF (Railway Police Force) personnel on board.

 

 

On inquiry, I was told that the man was in excruciating pain as his right ring finger had ballooned (swelled) around the gold ring, the ring was tightly and painfully stuck on his finger. Excessive and prolonged pressure of either his head or body on the finger had caused the trouble. Gripped with pain and panic the agonised gentleman eagerly wished that his wedding ring be cut with a cutter, pliers or a knife. In the first instance, I positively assured the man that I was a medico and soon a solution would be found for his problem. I checked the finger which looked red and much bloated with no other alarming signs. Everyone around looked very concerned and worried for the fellow’s intense sufferings, a few advised the man to apply soap and water to the finger. That was not really going to help because there was no place for the ring to even move an inch.

 

 

Without much delay, I administered him a dose of homoeopathic medicine intended to reduce his terrible pain and swelling and also applied a soothing ointment to the affected part. All of us repeatedly assured him that he would be relieved of his misery soon. Yet, reassurances from us could not alleviate his anxiety and this unnerved person wanted the finger band to be cut anyhow. Well by any logic in the world at the odd hour of the night in the ‘no man’s land’ finding a metal cutter was a very distant possibility. Yet the deeply empathetic and duty conscious RPF personnel were determined to help the person and as soon as the train stopped at the next station, these devoted armed men in khaki stepped on the platform in search of a cutter. We followed them. The canteen men, sleeping vendors and stall owners were woken up from their slumber for the metal cutter but all in vain. While we were still on our mission, the train suddenly moved and we were advised to board the nearest coach which we did in a dying hurry.

 

 

It was 3.30 a.m. and to everyone’s amazement the pain and swelling of the finger had now moderately reduced. Yet, the edgy man continued being panicky and was keen on cutting the ring with a pair of available scissors. I firmly advised him against it and explained to him that a slightest error would lead to an active uncontrolled bleeding.

I assertively pressed him to have some sleep as now it was just a matter of two and a half hours for the train to reach its destination. He looked a bit assured and acted on my advice. By the time the train reached Nagpur, the ache and oedema had eased off considerably even obviating the urgent need to cut off the ring. The wedding ring, symbolic of a deep bond of trust, togetherness, regard, commitment and undying love between the happily married, is truly a priced possession. I really felt a time should never come in anyone’s life to cut this real treasure.

 

 

The unanticipated unusual occurrence bestowed me life’s two best lessons. The first lesson: We should be conscious and cautious not to put excessive and prolonged pressure of intense emotions, great expectations, high self-esteem, personal considerations, aspirations and possessiveness on our very personal bonds, else there was definite possibility of ballooning of negative emotions like anger, sadness, discouragement, envy, hatred, blocking the bond, causing great pain and ultimately leading to a situation where the bond needs to be cut off. The second lesson: And ever if our personal bonds get badly stuck giving us angst and anguish, we need not take a hasty decision to sever them. We need to positively and patiently wait for things to ease off. Hurried actions could be badly damaging. ‘Cutting the ring’ could never be a final solution to relieve the soreness and suffering emerging in a nuptial bond.