He was a doctor who could remain afloat in the swimming pool

Here is the seventeenth unforgettable character in my life …

Doctors are supposed to practice what they preach and should lead by example. In those days the ill effects of smoking was not highlighted to the extent that it is done today. There were no bans and tobacco companies used to be the greatest advertisers and sponsors of major events with catch lines like ‘made for each other’, ‘good to the last puff’, and ‘live life king-size’. There was not so much restriction on smoking and this Doctor used to be a chain smoker. Even while he was on duty in the in-door ward of the hospital, he was never without his cigarette.

I have seen him in the swimming pool – he had the ability to remain afloat for a long time. This was an achievement because he had a bulky body. He was a specialist on heart diseases and, when I asked him about this smoking habit of his, he replied that he did what he thought best and there was no need to imitate him. Then he added with a smile – I can remain afloat for two hours. Can you do that?
The Doctor’s wife was a teacher in the school and they did not have any children. Therefore, they decided to go in for adoption. They adopted a sweet little girl and, no outsider ever knew that the kid was not theirs.
The Doctor’s father was an avid writer of letters. Every morning, he would walk down to the post office with an umbrella for company – a distance of around two kilometers up and another two kilometers down. He would usually be the first person at the counter of the post office which would open at 9am. He would drop the letters he had written the previous night into the letter box and purchase envelopes and stamps for continuing the letter writing the next day. He spoke little and kept to himself.
This Doctor friend was suddenly transferred to another unit of our organization. That disturbed his regular routine and affected not just him but other members of his family as well. Still, the transfer had to be accepted so off he went – into a sort of exile. His family followed him after a lapse of time. But, it was not easy for him to reconcile to the change. He suffered a stroke and passed away.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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My friends who used to sell saris

Here is the thirteenth unforgettable character in my life …

We stayed in the company quarters and, as is normal with colony life, he wanted to do some work in his off time to keep himself busy, and simultaneously augment his monthly income for his daily additional pack of cigarettes. He convinced one of his close buddies and, together, they embarked on a novel idea of selling saris. Since there were practically no overheads, they could sell these at cheaper rates and there was always a queue of customers in his quarter.
When he was on duty, his wife managed the show. They used to get their stocks on a monthly basis from neighboring Surat – one of them would go there on alternate weekends to replenish the stocks and bring in the latest designs.

Time does not wait for anyone. After some time, the business reached saturation point – also, their children grew up.
One’s son went into medicine and became a Doctor; the other’s son became an Engineer and moved over to the Gulf. They built their houses on adjacent plots of land which they had purchased when their business was on the up. They wanted to stay together because they had plenty in common. God however had other thoughts in mind.
Ego is one of the most terrible destructive forces. When it raises its head, it spares no one. They might have had close bonds but after superannuation, tiny differences began surfacing between the one-time bosom friends and one thing led to another. One of them is no more. A really sad state of affairs that proves the golden words – Man proposes, God disposes.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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