A tale began in my mad, mischievous, carefree, Block days’
It was a fine afternoon, felt too good a day to get stuck in the Histology lab, A session I hated most, didn’t understand, nor knew a cell from a blob Parenchyma, fibroblast or an epithelial cell, too bizarre & looked the same Had a nice mid-day nap and came down from third floor, my room at Bloem
Table tennis table, outside the sub warden’s quarters, was quite tempting A racket on each end of the table, a ball nearby, yet no one was playing Studious mates do not cut practical sessions, their keenness, I was cursing Looking around near the ‘duck pond’, I saw a gentleman seated, relaxing
He looked serene, well healed, attired in a bow tie and a two piece beige suit Appeared bored, no one else was around, I guessed him, a parent of a student With the table tennis ball bouncing on one racket, to entice him, I approached Well, when hungry, any meat is beef, from old gent, ‘can you play TT’, I asked
To my innocent invitation, he looked utterly surprised, as well as bemused Stony silence no acceptance or denial but his piercing look got me worried I was in a dilemma over his stance my play hungry mind couldn’t comprehend Silence broken, making me uneasy, ‘shouldn’t you be at lectures’ he questioned
Because of his rather authoritative look, I did not have the courage to be impolite Yet mumbled to myself, ‘who the hell is he to tell me what to do’, I was a spoiled brat When turned back to get away from this, whom I thought, was an insignificant pest, Noticed, he getting up adjusting the trouser and on the chair, tidily placing his jacket
He caught up with me and asked, ‘so you want a partner to play table tennis’!
My flippant mouth opened, criticizing friends’ keenness to attend practical classes
Laughingly ‘told this old gent, ‘I think they all are competing to become professors,
Life is for enjoyment, I am still young and have no hesitation to cut a few sessions’
So we got on with the game I love, and to my surprise, found he wasn’t a pushover!
I won the two sets played, thanks to agility, flexibility & stamina, being much younger
He was appreciative saying, ‘you give a good game’ yet like a father saying to a naughty nipper
Told me, ‘young man do not let playfulness ruin your studies, if you want to have a bright future’
I saw from the corner of my eyes when I was playing Table Tennis
Few seniors who were looking cagily while passing to their rooms
Noticed Dr Kularatne our Sub warden on return was very respectful
To this decent looking gentleman whom I beat squarely in table tennis
Late Kandiah a veteran at Bloem came rushing to me and asked
Do you know who he was the man you sent in the TT table around
I was getting jittery but did not show, and said he gave me a good game
‘Yakko ! that is Ranaya!!!’ the Obstetrics Proff. you dealt with no reverence
Mind you I was only few months in the medical school, a raw fresher
Knew only Prof. Wass in anatomy, Prof Koch in Phys, & Prof Hoover
The story did not end there fast forward to as in my third or fourth year
I met My TT pal at DMH as a stupid student, and he was the professor
Rest is history I managed finals including O & G without a debacle
I’ii take you forward to internship at DMH Bunty and me with Menda
Already both of us had developed a shine towards Obst, and Gynae
Must say decision was easy we hero worshipped both prof & Menda
Year was nineteen seventy-one, the exam was MRCOG part one
For the first time RCOG decided to hold it in Colombo, Ceylon
When I came to know it only three days was left to send application
I panicked and gave a desperate telephone call to my ‘Obs. Guardian’
Professor Ranasinghe shouted at me and said there’s no time to lose
Write immediately your details as he was at that RCOG rep for Ceylon
It was a Saturday I could not get bank to organise fees to be attached
Good professor said I will put the money just post personal description
Exam fees was hundred and eighty rupees in early seventies
He sent my application putting his own money as my exam fees
Never accepted all my attempts to pay it back later occasions
Finally, he shut me, saying TT at Bloem, was worth a few bucks!
Ariya De Silva
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