Between thoughts and words

I am a doctor doing general practice at a very basic level in a rural community. I see my work more as a human endeavour than a technical or scientific one. Therefore, most of the treatments that is available in our clinic is very basic. More than the technical aspect of medicine, we do a lot of talking, listening, sharing and emoting. I encounter some amazing human beings as part of my work. Suffering and pain bring out the worst as well as the best in people. My little clinic space has witnessed tears, laughter, angry outbursts, temper tantrums, jokes, insults, disgust, empathy, kindness and every possible human emotion there is. I have been writing small stories about these amazing human beings in this blog space. Once, I wrote about   a patient , who despite his own poverty, rescued me from potential humiliation by buying a bus ticket for me when he realized that I did not have change. I wrote about   a 70 year young man   who despite his severe heart ailment too...

It is not often that I get the chance to interact with a dance artist in my clinic. Yesterday was an exceptional day. Mrs. K came to visit me in the clinic. My consultation room is a big one and there are easily 10-12 steps between the door and the table where I am seated. I sit facing the door and so I can see patients as they step in and walk to my table. Even as I saw Mrs. K walking towards me, I knew she must be a dancer. There was grace in her steps and a natural rhythm in her walk. She was wearing an orange synthetic saree with bright yellow floral patterns. Thin built Mrs. K was impeccably groomed with a bright streak of kohl eyeliner. Her 60+ years of age showed in the bold creases across her forehead and around the corner of her eyes and mouth. She sat down in the chair assigned for patients.   “Good morning! What brings you to the clinic today?” I asked.  “Good morning doctor. I am having low back pain. It is very severe. In the mornings, I am unable to get up and mo...