Nursing Students

Right across my apartment, in a smallish, two storey block, there live a bunch of nursing students. They have given me several hours of viewing pleasure as I sit on my balcony and watch them. Before you let any naughty thoughts cross your mind or declare me a pervert, let me tell you that most of these nursing students are male. And even then, the viewing pleasure I am referring to is the way these nursing students go about their everyday lives. Nothing more!

These nursing students moved into their apartment over a year ago. The previous owner, who was a very good friend, was moving to the suburbs as he could no longer stand the hustle and bustle of the city after his retirement. And like most of the people seemed to be doing in my block, he sold his apartment to a leading real estate developer. All of us were apprehensive that the real estate dealer would soon buy out most of the remaining residents, demolish all the old structures and erect a mammoth apartment complex. But the most unlikely of sources came to our rescue.

The nearby general hospital served as an educational institution as well as a full fledged hospital. As such, there were a number of nursing students who interned in the hospital. Being located in the heart of the city, there was very little affordable accommodation available for these nursing students. Which is where the savvy real estate dealer entered the picture. Over a period of time, he had acquired four or five houses and apartments in the area. He struck up a deal with the hospital management and offered to lease out these properties to nursing students. The deal had advantages for all the concerned. While the hospital was glad that they would no longer have to worry about the commuting times of their nursing students, the developer was glad that his properties would generate income. The nursing students themselves were thrilled to be able to live so close to the hospital as most them worked late and would relish the opportunity of walking a short distance to reach home, rather than travel for hours on crowded trains and buses.

If anyone was a trifle unhappy, it was the rest of the residents. Now we didn’t know about nursing students, but students in general were rather loud, obnoxious characters who lived life to the fullest and partied hard. Since most of us were retirees who sought calm and peace, we were not sure how these nursing students would fit into the picture. But a couple of weeks of watching them and out doubts were set to rest.

Never before have I seen a more hardworking bunch of people than these nursing students. They woke up early, exercised, kept their homes and surroundings clean, worked long hours at the hospital were generally cheery and well behaved and in short, were the kind of ideal neighbors we would have liked. Before the nursing students entered our community, we were an old, drab bunch of people. But with their friendly dispositions and helpful natures, they soon befriended us all.