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BY THE WAY….
Shreekumar Varma
We have to hand it to the modern woman. She juggles so many things, and still has her hands free for more. Take this lady and her daughter who went shopping in Pondy Bazaar recently. Their last stop was one of those places where they decorate your hands with mehendi. Sometimes, this comes at a cost and it’s a gift to appreciate your buying spree. An auto driver was somewhat disconcerted to find two frantic women gesticulating at him with both hands. When he finally approached them across the crowded street, they asked him to load all their shopping bags into his auto. Normally, that’s not something an auto driver will deign to do. But he took one look at their colourfully wet hands and smiled understandingly. He then watched in amusement as they hopped in, holding their hands aloft like Spiderman attempting a wall. The auto bumped and jumped its way through lumpy roads, and the women swayed dangerously, injuring their head and shoulders, but never holding on to anything for support. When they reached home after this courageous adventure, their designs were still in triumphant shape, but I wonder how they paid the auto driver.
The Good Doctor
Dr T J Cherian who passed away this week was nothing short of a legend. More than the national awards he picked up, it was the faith, trust and gratitude of his students, juniors and patients that kept him active well into his eighties. My father was a staunch patient and I was once his ’attendant’ in Devaki Hospital. Dr Cherian had his quarters close by, and would casually come and go, and we got so dangerously comfortable that my father was reluctant to be discharged. His methods were different. He’d watch Discovery Channel, hold the patient’s wrist, listen to a list of ailments and instruct his nurse, driver, and receptionist - all at the same time. Questioned about this, he said, "Those who know me will understand. The others may find it a little odd. But it will certainly relax them." First-time patients were charged higher at the reception than for subsequent visits. My father asked him what would happen if some smart patient claimed to be an old patient just to avoid the higher fees. With that familiar twinkle, Dr TJ replied, "I’ll ask him to continue with the medicine I’ve already prescribed!" His patients were a life-long commitment. A bachelor wedded to his work, his patients swore by him and thought he’d live forever.
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