“Your body is fresh in the morning. As we spend the day, pressure is bound to rise. Especially at your age.”
“This is normal then?”
She nodded, pushing the pole back and returning to her side.
“No checkup today?” He pointed to his chest.
“No. Don’t repeat all the tests next week, go for these three.” She grabbed her bag and pulled out the only letterhead pad she had carried to India. She listed down the tests. “Continue with your current medication. Have your GP take your BP twice a day. If not, get a BP machine at home and take it yourself. Anything above 140/90, and immediately report to him. I know a cardiologist in the suburbs who is known for…”
“I don’t want another cardiologist.”
“Mr. Patel…”
Her phone began to buzz. Maya. Ritu ignored it, signing the prescription and pushing it towards him. “A doctor-patient relationship cannot be like this. In all moral conscience, I will not treat you knowing how you act and how it can push me to rea…”
“So what? Difficult people do not get medical care?”
“There is no dearth of cardio…”
Her phone buzzed again. And buzzed continuously.
“Excuse me.” She picked up her mobile and toggled the answer button — “Hey, I am with a patient, can I…”
“Maasi!” Maya was crying.
“What happened?”
She was whimpering.
“Maya? Are you ok? Where is MM?”
“Maas… in her room… can’t get up.”
“What? Why?”
“I fell.”
“You fell?”
The man in front of her rose to his feet.
“I was up on a stool in the hall and slipped… Can’t get up, my back is frozen… MM is crying in her room… I can’t go to her… Maasi where are you?” She was sobbing. “G is also not picking up his phone.”
“Ok, stop crying. What is hurting?”
“Nothing… I can’t feel my back.”
“Alright, don’t turn or move. Lay back. Take deep breaths. I am on the line, and leaving from here.”
“Ok…”
Ritu hit mute, grabbed the intercom and dialled the reception.
“Yes, Doctor?”
“Anu Madam, do we have any emergency patients?”
“No, Doctor. Mr. Patel was the last for the day.”
