This story is a re-work of one of my previous stories – The girl is a doctor and guy is an engineer
“Ah the joy of working on technology. Nothing can bring in satisfaction like that work.”
“I refuse to believe it. Helping people in their most difficult times, when they are ill, is the most satisfying work. After all, you are helping a fellow human being recover. How could it not be better?”
This discussion was happening in a long distance train between two fellow passengers. Jay was reading a book, which caught Vi’s attention. It lead to them talking, and eventually debating. Each was adamant on their side being right. Both of them knew it was a pointless discussion, but maybe it was the fun of defending their side, or just to break in monotony of such a long transit, that was making them go on about it.
Jay sounded competitive while saying, “Taking care of people’s health should be their own responsibility. It is the advancement of human race that should be the focus of the world.”
Vi was matching his emotions with patience. “What use is the advancement of human race if there is no human race to go forth in the advancement? I agree that you should take care of your health yourself but certain situations are beyond anyone’s control. Like secondary smoking and skin cancer due to ultraviolet sun rays, both of which, by the way, are outcomes of technological advancements.”
“No one said technology did not have flaws. But that does not make it any less than medicine. The so-called medical procedures which are supposed to help people also has tremendous side effects.”
“Agreed. But those side effects are much better than the original ailments. Wouldn’t it be better to be bald and alive rather than let cancer eat up all of your body and die?”
“But you are here, traveling because of the technological advancements.”
“And you are sitting here healthy because of all the preventive medicines and medical shots you had taken in childhood.”
“… which is yet another contribution by technology. If it was not for technology, how could all those cures be invented?”
“If it was not for health, why else would those cures be invented?”
Both of them smiled. They had reached ‘the’ point where each was debating on the other’s debate point. They knew their debate and the related points were childish. But who could blame them? They were talking on topics which were apposite of their speciality. This moment of passe was bound to happen. And not a moment too soon, too, as their train was just about to reach their destination. They got up and collected their belongings.
Thus saying goodbye, both of them went their separate ways – Dr. Vivian to give a presentation on developing technology by merging science fiction to reality; Prof. Jay to a lecture on Present and Future of biotechnology in medicine – the engineer and doctor contributing successfully to their respective profession of medicine and technology.
