A couple of months ago, I was chatting with my friend who is a medical student. She is like the most intelligent person I've ever met, a person who can hold a quality conversation about almost any topic on earth, solve many a quiz on just the first attempt.

Sumaiya and I go way back. We knew each other since the time we used to compete to gain knowledge beyond the textbook back in school. But somehow my urge to do the same fizzled out after she changed schools. Probably because there was no one else who could question me about great things and expect an answer. Or maybe because there was no feeling of contentment, no sense of achievement after she left.

Even though our paths separated, we still kept in touch. At least to an extent that we didn't become complete strangers. There was still some sort of invisible connection binding us, not letting us wipe the memories of each other clean.

She is not someone I'd like to forget.

So this time when I was texting her, I was enquiring about college since I knew she never wanted to do medicine in the first place. Sumaiya had dreams that she knew she could accomplish. Her dreams were in no way unachievable for someone as strong as her. She wanted to become a civil engineer, build houses, achieve things. Someday, she wanted to design one of her own.

But somewhere in between our dreams and destination, life happens and like most desi kids, she gave into the pressure and chose medicine.

"Since you've entered your second year, you needn't deal with any dead bodies. That would be such a relief right?"

"Nah", she texted back with an emoji which let me catch a glimpse of her distaste. "At least dead bodies used to lie down straight. Dead bodies didn't have a mouth to torture us with."

Among the many things she was good at, Sumai was also a sarcasm queen alright.

******

Any medicos out there?