just back... had to go home... a tryst with the dentist... i'm not afraid of the trip to the dentist per se... i mean, what's the worst that could happen??? i've definitely met worse things and survived... so my pep talks work and i go settle down in the chair... there's a movable tray with all shiny, steel instruments that he pushes so it now blocks my way out of the chair... in case i decide to make a run for it... i prefer not knowing what instrument's going in next, but the doctor insists i keep my eyes open... he says it is coz he'd like to know if i've fainted out of fright, pain, exhaustion, boredom, etc... but i just thinks he loves an audience... things wouldn't be so bad if he didnt want to do so much talking... for eg, this time, with the pokers in place in my mouth, he looks deep into my eyes and asks me how tough these civil service exams are...
"hmm... hmmm" i reply as elaborately as i possibly can ...
"because you know, PG for dentists is tough and instead of spending 2-3 years studying for that, i could've become an IAS officer in the same while" he talks to me or himself (it's unclear) and is convinced of this infallible logic...
"hmm... hmmm", i thoroughly agree.... only coz disagreement would've meant more words than i could manage...
"so, which are the easiest subjects???" he waits for me to answer....
i look blankly at him, my mouth agape (not because i'm surprised... work's going on...)...
"how about public administration??" he offers a choice...
"hmm... hmmm" i agree without thinking....
"which books do i read for that???" he wants to know....
by that time, thankfully, the drilling, filling, tightening is done and i have regained control... it feels good... but there's a distinct after-taste from the disposable gloves though.... oh!! he'd asked something.... a book??? i knew i had that book...somewhere.... top shelf in the big-open-racks in the bedroom.... no! no!!! in the desk drawers in the living room.... naaa! not there... i just went through it last night... i didn't see it...wait, what did he want??? oh! the pub-ad book... i look blankly at him... i've forgotten!!! the name of one of the most important books i need to study.... and i've forgotten the author's name!!! i could kick myself... it's hard when i'm stuck in the chair with a restraining tray on top of it... but i give an honest attempt... forgot the author!!! and i'm supposed to remember names of obscure, never-use-them-again names like the IMF heads... oh, i remember that one... Dominique Strauss-Kahn...french... may run for president in 2011-12?? against Sarkozy....my train of thought escapes me again... i assure the doc that i'll look into it first thing when i get home... and walk out of the chair... until next month!!!
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