ONE + ONE = THREE!

From private practice to academic practice, from a city that never sleeps to one where we were finally able to sleep peacefully, half a decade has passed. Harking back to our practice days, of which we have many fond memories, here's a gem my husband penned-


Dear cousins ,

Long time no messages from anybody on "Poduval Cousins". Anyway this is something that kept Jayita laughing for an hour after dinner today.The background is as follows:

A friend of mine sent me a patient at my clinic. After the consultation her mother started asking me if I would see her knees also, and inquired whether she would be charged. I said "of course!" and she looked disappointed; Jayita suggested that in the age of FREEBIES in the market the lady felt that “ek patient ke liye ek free offer hoga”. I then set out to make a plan to sell our wares to such patients in an ORTHO AND ENT HOSPITAL which we set up in Mira Road. [God forbid we have to really do it!]

Here is my pitch [small print is enlarged for free and is in brackets]!!!

1) For every tonsil removed the other will be removed for free.

    [conditions apply- tonsil essential to avail of free offer.Not transferable to any other individual]

2) For every bone fixed by us we will fix the next one for free.

    [not transferable- valid for limited period from date of surgery- condition of doctors apply]

3) For every injection you take we will give you another one free.

    [cost of materials excluded from offer- nursing charges apply]

4) Get a tonsillectomy for your little girl and we will pierce her ears for free and throw in a diamond stud as well.

    [condition of diamond not doctors' liability- original or real diamond not part of offer- we give American  diamond only subject to supply and demand]

5) For every four surgeries one operation free.

    [up to Rs 2000 only; not transferable to other patient or discipline i.e. for 4 ENT surgery one ENT surgery free for same patient up to Rs 2000 billing]

6) For every catheter passed we give the patient a free enema.

    [charges of consumables apply]

7) Free meals with every admission.

   [delivery charges applicable-no special meals-only snacks and breakfast supplied-valid for admissions in special and deluxe class only and for admissions predicted more than 10 days-valid on cash and non Mediclaim cases only]

8) Limited period inaugural offer: Free ear drops and pain- relieving ointment with every joint ENT and Ortho consultation- till samples last........!

9) Senior citizen package: Free balance testing with every audiometry and purchase of Siemens digital hearing aid, plus bone densitometry at 50% concession!! 

10) Best deal: You break a limb and get it fixed by us, we break the other and get it fixed for free, increases your compensation, more days of leave and better service, higher class admission at lower rates, and ideal for 'Mediclaim with disability' holders!!!

U WANT TO ADD ANY MORE         PLEASE DO    ALL IN HUMOR     NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE    COMMENTS WELCOME 

[Murali's Musings- a long, long time ago....]

MUSINGS OF A MOTHER

‘Hi, How do You do? Holiday today?’ 
A lady acquaintance was surprised to see me in the super market in the middle of the week. I gleefully replied, 'Not a holiday..I am on leave. My son’s Board exams.'..  Her initial friendly tone and expression suddenly turned sarcastic.
 'So? What are you doing?'

Though the question seemed meaningless to me, I answered in the same elated frame of mind, 'Nothing…, just be at home…and  take care of his needs.' Before I could finish she hastily dissented. ‘No. Rather, you are making him dependent…and spoiling him. You see, my daughter also went through Board exams while I was working. I never took leave. "All mothers are misguided”, she concluded with an emphatic statement. This puzzled me. Misguided? 

Is there a set of guidelines on how mothers the world over should feel for their children? The very thought was amusing. Anyhow, I didn’t find it necessary to enter into a debate. Without reacting, I bid her bye and moved on, consciously letting her deem me a dumb and outmoded mother. 

 I have come across quite a few people who feel that their choices, their practices and their beliefs are the most ideal ones. They just cannot expand their vision to accommodate others or allow for differences, still keeping their own personal space and choices. Well, how others feel is purely their personal choice. And I have no business to question their views. But the mother in me couldn't quite appreciate the concept of a ‘misguided mother’. The expression evoked strong emotions in me...

According to me, a mother’s innate love knows no rules and regulations.  It is out of an inborn instinct that she showers her relentless love and care on her child. But unfortunately, while it has become a passion and fashion to be eloquent about women who have excelled in their career, we almost ignore to appreciate the most tender, warm and beautiful aspects of a woman’s role as a mother. This divine bond is taken for granted. Very sad. Very sad that we need to announce a special day for the mother called ‘Mother’s day', to honor this divine role of a woman. But even more pathetic are such remarks from modern mothers, criticizing the little acts of love and support a mother provides to her child. They view these natural instincts of motherhood unhealthy for the child’s growth and self-reliance! They think that mothers are being overly concerned and protective about their children and spoiling them. I am not denying… there could be a few, whose love for their children almost blinds their reasoning, making the child a spoiled brat.  But ordinary mothers like me believe that through our love and moral support, we are not enslaving our children, but freeing their minds from all shackles of fear and superficial obedience.

 

Which mother does not want to provide a firm foundation for her child’s emotional, social and academic development?  Which mother doesn't want her child to grow into a self-reliant and successful individual? None. This doesn’t mean that she needs to break down rules and boundaries and give her child a free rein. I think, giving the children freedom to express without defining appropriate channels would only lead to total chaos in their mind. It may not lead to a healthy self-reliance.

A mother knows what kind of a role she occupies in her child’s mind. She doesn’t get this knowledge from books or latest studies on the subject.  It’s a god-given gift to motherhood. She can feel and express a basic trust in her child’s judgment and morality and it is this trust that keeps him on the right track. She can share the agonies and ecstasies of her child like no one else can. She always makes him feel that she is ever there to help and guide him to see another perspective in times of trouble.

This is not to alleviate the role of fatherhood, but dear dads, there is something beyond the comprehension of a man, when it comes to the bond with the child. Yet, what the mother can give to her child and the extent to which she can give depends on, apart from her innate instinct, the love, support, happiness and peace she gets from her husband.

The modern world might undermine the role of the mother. But can we afford to overlook the fact that it is the mother who strengthens the foundation of unconditional love and respect among family members?

Well, coming back to the context I started with, had I opted to react to the statement, I would have told her… '' you see, it is a matter of great satisfaction to me to be at home with my child offering my loving presence and encouragement. It helps him to look forward to the exams with confidence and enthusiasm."    

I guess it is the modern world which is under the wrong impression that mothers take leave during the exam period to spoon feed their children with theorems in Geometry and definitions in Science. Sorry, mothers like me beg to differ.

 [contributed by Smt Shailaja Kumar- our dear Shailachechi- model mum and extraordinary human being!]