Woodland Hospital

Woodland Hospital is right near the Alipore Zoo in Kolkata. If the wind blows the right way, you might even hear a few animals, though usually it’s just the sound of cars and buses. It’s a busy area because of the zoo, so we get a lot of foot traffic outside. The hospital itself is a bit of a landmark for people around here. We’ve got several floors, and the windows are large, though they need a good wash most of the time. Inside, the atmosphere is pretty straightforward. People are waiting, nurses are walking fast, and there is always a faint smell of soap. We don’t have those big fancy lobbies with fountains. It’s just chairs and a desk where you give your name. The staff knows the local tea vendors well. We take turns going out for a quick bite. Sometimes it gets crowded in the hallways, and you have to squeeze past a trolley. The doctors are often seen huddled in corners talking about cases. We try to keep the place cool, but Kolkata heat is something else. It’s a practical place. We focus on the patients and the charts. Sometimes the computers are slow, and we have to write things down by hand. It’s just how it goes. Families sit together in the waiting area, sharing snacks they brought from home. We are just here, day in and day out, doing what needs doing near the zoo for the community.