Dentist story 1
'This can't be true. I must be dreaming...' it felt like someone shook the ground beneath her feet. 'Can life be so cruel? Now what? ' before she fainted she sank into a chair. It was only when her daughter came and shook her crying loudly 'amma are you fine? How can you be sleeping now? It's time for my dance class, come drop me'. She felt sweat beads formed on her forehead. Wiping them quickly she got up and went into the kitchen to drink a glass of water. She poured cold water to her face and washed her face in an attempt to drive away the worries which were haunting her from within.
She promptly left her daughter in the dance class and took her son to the nearby park. The walk was quiet unlike the usual days when she would chatter away laughing with her children. As her son got busy with playing with other children in the park, Dhatri sat on the lawn. The minute she was alone her mind raced again to the impending doom. 'everything was perfect in my life. But why now are you punishing me God?' she asked looking at the sky. It was a clear blue sky, birds flew in twos and threes, enjoying the warmth of the evening sun. They flew up and then in a circle and then back down to the point where they started. Dhatri stared at the free birds, free from captivity but following a pattern of flight out of their own wish. 'their lives are so simple and trouble free'. She felt a lump in her throat, her tears were ready to flow. She looked around her before she started crying. No one was watching it seemed. Her son, Hari was still playing. She closed her eyes and started to sob. Tear drops were so large she could not even see what lay ahead of her now.
Roars of laughter from the children playing some feet away from her awoke her. She wiped her face with her kerchief and listened to the children voices. One little girl said to the rest 'now I am going to stay home and cook. You go to the office.' her mind raced to the past. She exactly told her husband the same words after her first child was born. She stayed back home and cared for her daughter while her husband earned for the family. She thought it was a temporary situation, without giving much thought to how she is going to proceed she let go a good career as a dentist. Though they didn't live lavishly, they had a respectable income for a family of three. She sold her clinic to a junior dentist who promised to take good care of her previous patients. She felt relieved after hearing him say that. After all, she had built a good practice in the area and had a good reputation. She opened her clinic the same year she was married off. Life changed quickly, she was busy with her patients and clinic management and her husband was busy with his corporate job. Everything was fine. 'Now, you be at home and I will go to office.' said the same little girl. The other girl obliged and stayed home. 'so naive kids are. What innocence!' Dhatri told herself. She checked on her son 'he's forgotten the world in his childish games ' Dhatri mumbled to herself. yeah, she truly had forgotten how hard she worked towards her goal, to establish herself as a reputed dental practitioner. Things weren't easy in the beginning when the clinic opened. The first few months saw only a few patients 3 - 4per day. But she waited patiently and worked incessantly. She utilised the free time to study and learn new techniques in dentistry. She made contacts with a dental lab and conducted many free dental camps and patient education programmes. Her endless efforts brought success as her clinic picked up steadily and patients started visiting her in increased number. There reached a time when her practice was so successful that patients would que up before she opened the clinic and wait for her. Her husband was her constant support and wholeheartedly praised her in front of other family members. Life sailed smoothly over the sea of any difficulty. Now when she looked back she realised that her husband respected her a lot and would include her in all discussions regarding even trivial matters to investment matters. Presently the situation looked different. He took his decisions without consulting her and she would be only informed of the final decision, more like a formality. Dhatri went back to her memories. Today they came to her and beckoned her like a long forgotten friend. It was a bit overwhelming but she did not resist it today. She wanted to escape to her past, hide in the blanket of memories and never return to the present.'what do you want to become when you grow up' Dhatri was asked in her school by her teacher. 'doctor' mam she replied quickly. 'you will reach your goal dear' blessed her teacher. The dream of becoming a doctor came true when Dhatri enrolled for bachelor degree in dental college. It was a proud moment for her parents. She worked hard and stayed one pointedly on the road to success. After finishing her bachelor degree she enrolled for masters degree in postgraduate college. Her mind was fixed that she will make her name BIG in field of dentistry. Now she thought 'how could I have given up my dreams so easily'? She had never regretted her decision until now. She looked up at the sky and sought for a sign. 'why am I regretting now? The anchor of my life is my family. What can I do now after so many years have gone by?' the birds began their landing, from the sky back to the earth. 'Dhatri, we all return to where we truly belong' her inner voice echoed. She felt her burden lifted that moment. Her son came back running to her arms, panting for breath. 'let's go amma. I am done for today' he said.'let's go dear. I am ready for my second innings' Dhatri said and got up. They both walked hand in hand with a triumphant stride. Dhatri decided strongly that she's going to explore her work options, her husband had called from office in the morning. He was fired from his corporate job. All day long Dhatri pondered about the problem but forgot she was equipped with a masters degree. She also considered exploring additional sources of income to bring stability to the family. The setting sun waved goodbye and vanished into the dark night. She told her husband 'I am ready for my second innings'. Her husband patted her back and they stared at the stars on that no moon day.
She promptly left her daughter in the dance class and took her son to the nearby park. The walk was quiet unlike the usual days when she would chatter away laughing with her children. As her son got busy with playing with other children in the park, Dhatri sat on the lawn. The minute she was alone her mind raced again to the impending doom. 'everything was perfect in my life. But why now are you punishing me God?' she asked looking at the sky. It was a clear blue sky, birds flew in twos and threes, enjoying the warmth of the evening sun. They flew up and then in a circle and then back down to the point where they started. Dhatri stared at the free birds, free from captivity but following a pattern of flight out of their own wish. 'their lives are so simple and trouble free'. She felt a lump in her throat, her tears were ready to flow. She looked around her before she started crying. No one was watching it seemed. Her son, Hari was still playing. She closed her eyes and started to sob. Tear drops were so large she could not even see what lay ahead of her now.
Roars of laughter from the children playing some feet away from her awoke her. She wiped her face with her kerchief and listened to the children voices. One little girl said to the rest 'now I am going to stay home and cook. You go to the office.' her mind raced to the past. She exactly told her husband the same words after her first child was born. She stayed back home and cared for her daughter while her husband earned for the family. She thought it was a temporary situation, without giving much thought to how she is going to proceed she let go a good career as a dentist. Though they didn't live lavishly, they had a respectable income for a family of three. She sold her clinic to a junior dentist who promised to take good care of her previous patients. She felt relieved after hearing him say that. After all, she had built a good practice in the area and had a good reputation. She opened her clinic the same year she was married off. Life changed quickly, she was busy with her patients and clinic management and her husband was busy with his corporate job. Everything was fine. 'Now, you be at home and I will go to office.' said the same little girl. The other girl obliged and stayed home. 'so naive kids are. What innocence!' Dhatri told herself. She checked on her son 'he's forgotten the world in his childish games ' Dhatri mumbled to herself. yeah, she truly had forgotten how hard she worked towards her goal, to establish herself as a reputed dental practitioner. Things weren't easy in the beginning when the clinic opened. The first few months saw only a few patients 3 - 4per day. But she waited patiently and worked incessantly. She utilised the free time to study and learn new techniques in dentistry. She made contacts with a dental lab and conducted many free dental camps and patient education programmes. Her endless efforts brought success as her clinic picked up steadily and patients started visiting her in increased number. There reached a time when her practice was so successful that patients would que up before she opened the clinic and wait for her. Her husband was her constant support and wholeheartedly praised her in front of other family members. Life sailed smoothly over the sea of any difficulty. Now when she looked back she realised that her husband respected her a lot and would include her in all discussions regarding even trivial matters to investment matters. Presently the situation looked different. He took his decisions without consulting her and she would be only informed of the final decision, more like a formality. Dhatri went back to her memories. Today they came to her and beckoned her like a long forgotten friend. It was a bit overwhelming but she did not resist it today. She wanted to escape to her past, hide in the blanket of memories and never return to the present.'what do you want to become when you grow up' Dhatri was asked in her school by her teacher. 'doctor' mam she replied quickly. 'you will reach your goal dear' blessed her teacher. The dream of becoming a doctor came true when Dhatri enrolled for bachelor degree in dental college. It was a proud moment for her parents. She worked hard and stayed one pointedly on the road to success. After finishing her bachelor degree she enrolled for masters degree in postgraduate college. Her mind was fixed that she will make her name BIG in field of dentistry. Now she thought 'how could I have given up my dreams so easily'? She had never regretted her decision until now. She looked up at the sky and sought for a sign. 'why am I regretting now? The anchor of my life is my family. What can I do now after so many years have gone by?' the birds began their landing, from the sky back to the earth. 'Dhatri, we all return to where we truly belong' her inner voice echoed. She felt her burden lifted that moment. Her son came back running to her arms, panting for breath. 'let's go amma. I am done for today' he said.'let's go dear. I am ready for my second innings' Dhatri said and got up. They both walked hand in hand with a triumphant stride. Dhatri decided strongly that she's going to explore her work options, her husband had called from office in the morning. He was fired from his corporate job. All day long Dhatri pondered about the problem but forgot she was equipped with a masters degree. She also considered exploring additional sources of income to bring stability to the family. The setting sun waved goodbye and vanished into the dark night. She told her husband 'I am ready for my second innings'. Her husband patted her back and they stared at the stars on that no moon day.
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