Satinder Kaur Mahay

Working at the Civil Hospital in Jalandhar City is a world of its own. My name is Satinder Kaur Mahay, and if you look for me, that’s where you’ll find me. The hospital is always full of people from all over the area. It’s a big, old building that has seen everything you can imagine. It smells like medicine and floor cleaner most of the time. There is a lot of noise, from people calling out names to the sound of trolleys being pushed down the long hallways. It can be exhausting, but it’s the kind of work that feels necessary. I don’t have a private, quiet suite. I’m right there in the middle of the chaos like everyone else. Jalandhar is a busy city, and the Civil Hospital is like its heart. We see all kinds of cases every single day. Some people are worried, some are just waiting, and we just try to get to everyone as best as we can. It’s not about being fancy or having the newest furniture. It’s about being there when the shift starts and staying until the work is done. The benches in the waiting area are always full. I’ve spent a lot of my life within these walls, and it’s become very familiar to me. Even with the long hours and the crowds, it’s just what I do. It’s a practical, gritty place, and that’s the reality of it. You just keep going every day.