" When I Smiled At An Invisible Person " !!!

Can I come in, Doctor ?? .. I heard a sweet voice and lost the smile the moment I raised my head from the journal I was reading..
She was already sitting on the chair. Huh ??
Looking for my junior who was busy on the phone with her friend I rather reluctantly
asked... " Well... You have and felt at home.. Now tell me what is the Problem ? " She was around
45-47 years and appeared so very calm to me.
" I have shaky teeth. I am scared of losing them " !! :rolleyes:Was I thrilled to hear it .. when you hardly find people wanting to save their teeth at her age. Still looking for my junior and amazed with the fact that she hasnt stopped her yakking yet ! I wondered how long one talk about Salman Khan and his movies !! My junior could go on endlessly.
I made her comfortable on my chair and started examining.
Was surprised at her clean mouth . But her gums were red and furious !! Usually my junior's writes down patient's case history but now Salman Khan seemed more important.. I started throwing questions starting with her name. Now my junior rushed to inside the clinic on hearing me talk and came rather sheepishly near me..
" My name is Kushala, Doctor . I have been having
this pain for almost 15 days and my Husband didnt have the time to get me to a Dentist.. " Usually the medications taken over a long term has side-effects on our gums and mouth and we check this on Drug History. Most common is the ulcers/ blister like
wounds which we get on taking high dose of antibiotics. She said I take some tablets for headache. I asked her if she knew the name for which she said my husband knows it. Before I could say anything she pointed to my back. I turned around to find no one. I asked what she pointed to and quick came the reply
" MY HUSBAND " !! I looked back again and saw nothing but the sketch of Lord Krishna presented by my cousin at my clinic's 1st Anniversary. Thinking she must be smitten by spirituality so much that she calls the Lord her husband. I smiled and said" who Krishna Bhagwan ? " She said " No, though I like him who wants him as a husband, he has many girl frens !! " My junior giggled and was very happy to see me do the same. She must have thought " Ma'am will be in a lighter mood now " I said" then whom are you talking about ?" She again pointed her index finger and with an irritated voice said " My Husband who is standing behind you !!!!! " Now , being a Dentist is one thing and
facing the strange facts in life is another . I must admit I had a lil sweat on my nose by now. " There is no one there, Ma'am," my junior trembled !
Mrs. Kushala had no mood to listen to my junior and was busy in a hasty conversation with her " INVISIBLE HUBBY " !! I saw her rather gloomy after her gestures. Kushala, meant Happy in Sanskrit but why is her eyes filled with pain I thought. She said " even he does'nt remember the tablet name, Doctor. He is always forgetful " Now I was spechless and shocked but gathered myself quick and asked her if she has any residence number so that I could ask someone at her home. There was no other way I could get to talk to her family members I knew. She said " Yes, my daughter-in-law will be at home now. Maybe she can read out the name. My junior took the number and ran out of the working area in fear. I dont blame her if she thought Mrs. Kushala was haunted by a ghost !!

I have read somewhere " If you talk to God, you are Praying. But if God talks to you then you have
Schizophrenia " ! This is a very serious Brain disorder The patient is in Hallucination ( inspite of missing external factors the person assumes actions ) . People with schizophrenia may hear voices that other people cannot hear. They may believe others are reading their mind, controlling their thoughts, or conspiring against them. These experiences can make people with schizophrenia fearful and withdrawn, affecting their relationships with others.People with this disorder may sometimes be difficult to understand, and experience periods when they sit for hours without saying or doing much. Many have challenges holding a job and caring for themselves at times. As a result, schizophrenia can place a burden on both the people with the disorder and the people who care for them.

By now my junior asked me to step out to the consultation room for she had Mrs. Kushala's daughter-in-law on line.
I questioned , " Is she your mother-in-law ? She said " Yes , Doctor ! My Amma is Mad !! " I didnt like that word.. " All of us are, Lady and not just her , " I snapped !
Mrs. Kushala had lost her husband in a bus accident when they had gone to Tirupathi for their Wedding Anniversary. She has
been in this state since then. Imagine losing your husband on the day you actually became his !!
I could not stop my tears.
I asked her to come to my clinic with
Mrs. Kushala's medical reports and told her to be more cautious about letting her
mom-in-law out alone. She could cause danger to her own life. I got back to Mrs. Kushala and explained to her about the treatment like
just I do to any other patient and told that her daughter-in-law was coming to pick her and also to know the treatment expense.
She said " Yes, my husband is retired now, Madam ! " I choked.
As she thanked me for the prescription and was about to leave she said
" My Husband says Bye to you , Doctor ! " I looked at the empty space next to her and smiled
" BYE" , I said with a heavy sigh !
All that I could do for Mrs. Kushala who has to live with this " INVISIBLE HUSBAND " till she joins him again !!