The receptionist tried to size the girl up. She ‘seemed’ alright but then why on earth did she want an appointment with the psychiatrist? Was she mad? But she looked the perfect girl next door, no signs of being ‘off the rocker’…
‘Excuse me’ …the girl’s quiet voice interrupted her thoughts, ‘I want an appointment with Dr. Chatterjee’.
‘Umm…alright, take a seat’…the receptionist looked positively uncomfortable. The girl didn't seem much bothered; she was used to this sort of behavior; there were times when she had to deal with a lot worse…snide comments, rude remarks – she had endured it all.
Two hours passed. The buzzer rang. It was her turn. The doctor smiled as she entered. The same old cursory smile… “Ah, how are you? Are the medicines working?” …the girl nodded her assent.
“Hmm, you are sleeping alright? No more nightmares? No more suicidal thoughts?”…the girl shook her head.
“Alright…I have just adjusted the dosage for your medicines…”…the doctor gave that practised smile, signed off the prescription with a flourish and gave it to her with an expectant look. She took a 500 rupee note out of her bag and the doctor’s face lit up, this time with a genuine smile.
“Take care…” he was all smiles….
The girl came out of the doctor’s chamber and was just making her way down the corridor when she bumped into a relative. ‘Hiiiiii…what are you doing here?’ she got a quizzical look.
For the first time in the day the girl looked flustered. She tried making up an answer, failed and could just mumble that she was in a hurry. And then she just ran…yes, she was MAD, she didn't have the 'sanity' to understand the world around her...
This is nice...You always have your own style of narrating that's what I like the most and the way you depict everything..ekta chobi vese othe chokher samne..
ReplyDelete... but tell you what.. there must have been some problem with the relative as well.. otherwise he/she wouldn't have been there too.... but then visiting a psychiatrist doesn't mean one have to be mad.. sometimes it is good to tell things to a stranger rather than to someone who is close...
Good luck!!
Actually its just an attempt, a very small one to change the way society looks at things. People who visit shrinks or psychiatrist are not 'mad'...and should not be 'ostracized'...glad that you think the same way and like it :)
Deletegreat narrative...:)
ReplyDeletePeople less understood by the common mass usually are the genuine and creative. A lot of such people are termed as mad. One of the greatest scientist Nicola Tesla used to talk to pigeons, but no one credits him for the discoveries and inventions he had made, things like lightning arrester which as of now no one else could replicate. Thomas Edison was more of a marketeer who used the right timings and others' inventions, and hence we know more of him. Azim Premji is believed to have said that if your dreams are not big enough to make other think you are mad/crazy, you are not dreaming big enough.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if there is a reason to be upset about being differently enabled.
Anyways, its all my idea...but this was a good read.
Keep it up.
Thank you for the feedback and yes, I agree with whatever you said. I really wish that more and more people would start thinking on similar lines, and stop 'pitying' or 'avoiding' people like the girl in question. They should understand that empathy and not sympathy is needed. :)
DeleteI was left hungry for more, Curious about the Girl.
ReplyDeleteI want to know more about her, she intrigues me.
So maybe you'll let us know more about her.
Thank you so much Bijoyini :) and yes, now that you mention, I plan to pen down some more episodes from her life. will keep you posted :) and its indeed a pleasure to have an active reader like you
Deletei like the way u write..the vivid description...the peek into their mind....amazing! We want more girl....
ReplyDeleteI could picturize the scene in front of me :)
ReplyDeletevery vivid description!
pritha you really do have a different perception of humans...added to that the narrative was gr8...hope to read many more such writings of yours...
ReplyDeleteamazing!the narration,the style and your way of description is amazing!and all that in such less words! :)
ReplyDeletethank you Sourav...your appreciation counts :)
Delete