An apple a day...

An excruciating pain in my knee (thanks to the fall I had in December) and an eye infection made it absolutely necessary for me to see a doctor. And since the one that I usually consult, is out for his annual vacation, I had to condescend to consult one of the lesser-known doctors in this area.

The dispensary was a small dingy space built in a godforsaken garage. The place was so full of grim looking people, as though they were mulling over some dreadful disease that they had contracted. It was as though they would be in for some grave punishment if they would smile. There were all sorts of people there ranging from an old frail looking woman, to a kid with a runny nose:P. All of them except the kid were staring non-stop at the floor as if they expected something to emerge out of it any instant. The only noise that could be heard was the intermittent whining of the kid, and the gloomy ticks of the clock, almost as if it was the final countdown to doomsday. ( I was tempted to crack a joke or something to break the silence)But the only things interested in a conversation were the mosquitoes buzzing all around the place. They were there, almost as if to ensure the inflow of patients, who would have to return to treat themselves for malaria or dengue:( ( Some novel marketing strategy, eh? Like the doctor in one of my previous posts)

The doctor was taking his own sweet time to examine each patient (I guess that was to build up a heavy waiting list in order to maintain his 'in demand' reputation. (Something I learnt from the book, As the Crow Flies -Jeffrey Archer. Go slow when there are a few customers, to make the place look full).

At last it was my turn to enter the doctor's den. The doctor was a douce, old man. After I told him about my eye, he fished out his magnifying glass. (yes, a magnifying glass) to have a closer look at it. He took his own time, pulling at my eyelids this way, and now that as if it was made of rubber. He prescribed a few medicines and with a somber look, directed me to meet the Compounder. On my way out, his Compounder (one of those thin men with oily hair, with drops of oil streaming down the forehead, and glasses so thick, that would put a soda bottle to shame) handed me a few queer looking pills, which he was packing neatly in small packets and marking them painstakingly and doling out lots of instructions at the same time.

To cut a long story short, I finally was able to get out of the sullen place they dared to call a dispensary. Whew! And boy, was I glad! We need more of those cheerful doctors, the kind that would drive an illness away with a lively smile?

I am taking a sabbatical from blogging until my eye heals. So there won't be any new posts from me for a few days. And as they say, "I'll be right back, after the break!!!"