AllFreeNovel
Share Us
So am I, I thought to myself, crossing my fingers. Where is the last copy of my CV stored? I will, of course, have to lie about this to Pitajee, or else I will never hear the end of how I was fired from my job for lying about an imaginary ear infection.
‘Yes, so what can we do?’ asked Mr Vijaywada.
I did not feel up to hearing it. Should I just run for the door and make a dash for it?
Dr Vijaywada looked at me for a moment. ‘Nothing can be done,’ he said.
‘What?’ exclaimed Mr Vijaywada.
Of course nothing could be done. There was nothing to be done. Come on, say it, Dr Vijaywada. I prepped myself for a hearty round of tears. Maybe they would help?
‘The eardrum has been irreparably damaged, I am afraid. Such episodes of deafness are generally cyclical in nature. In Kasturi’s case, they happen on Mondays and Fridays. All you can do, Bhai, is be as supportive as is possible.’
What? WHAT?
‘Are you sure, Bhaiyya?’ asked Mr Vijaywada, crestfallen.
‘Are you sure, Uncle?’ I asked in a small voice, just to confirm before I started the mental somersaults.
‘Bhaiyya, this poor girl is getting married in a few days. Which mother-in-law will put up with a half-deaf daughter-in-law? India may have progressed but still, girls are girls.’
I am sure the image of his four girls swam before Vijaywada’s eyes as he sniffed away a tear.
Dr Vijaywada sighed. ‘Doctors are not gods. This is incurable. I have seen a few cases before this and…’ he shook his head sadly, slowly, ‘… no, nothing can be done.’
‘Oh.’
I tried hard, very hard to look half as crestfallen as poor Mr Vijaywada.
‘You will have to be supportive. Please make sure you do not give her too much work on Mondays and Fridays,’ Dr Vijaywada said.
Mr Vijaywada nodded his head. ‘Of course I won’t, Bhaiyya.’
‘And the stress of making that weekly report on Thursdays does not help much either,’ I added helpfully.
Dr Vijaywada gave me a look.
‘But it’s fine! I deal with stress just fine,’ I said hurriedly.
Dr Vijaywada looked like he was about to smile.
‘Are you sure, Bhaiyya, that nothing can be done?’ Mr Vijaywada asked again.
‘Yes, I am quite sure.’ Dr Vijaywada turned towards me. ‘Kasturi?’
‘Yes Sir?’
‘Just add cod liver oil to your diet … it may help, but may not also. You know how tricky this illness can be.’
‘Yes, of course,’ I said, shrugging my shoulders barely able to keep my face straight.
‘I am sorry I could not be of more help,’ he said, shaking his head seriously.
‘It’s okay, Doctor Uncle. I have heard the same prognosis from too many doctors now for it to affect me much. I just want to thank you! Thank you so much, Dr Vijaywada,’ I said, meaning it.
Dr Vijaywada shook my hand solemnly. Just as I was about to turn and leave the room, he winked at me. ‘My brother talks rubbish all the time,’ he whispered in my ear. ‘Maybe I have just caught this disease from you.’
‘What?’ I exclaimed, my voice barely audible with the shock.
