Monday, 14 September 2015

A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 35



        She eyed her pen warily. What a formidable weapon it was!  So powerful!  It could make or break her protagonists' worlds.  On second thoughts, it was her fertile imagination at work.  Well then, if it was really so capable of conjuring images and events, why couldn’t it envisage even a shred of what her lover Norman looked like?  Why was it utterly quiet on that front?  Surely her personal life merited its attention too?
        That question brought her back to Arnold.  They were to visit the psychiatrist the next day.  She shivered in anticipation of the visit.  This would be her first visit to a ‘shrink’ as people often jokingly referred to a psychiatrist.  Would her sessions with him reveal any insight into the vagueness of her memory and dredge memories about Norman? If so, how soon? 
        She wondered about when Norman would be able to join her and whether his ex-wife Nancy would recover from her fatal illness.  She said a quick prayer to heal Nancy as quickly as possible or to at least make life pleasant for her in her last moments, if at all, she was destined to die soon!  She felt great empathy for that unknown lady.  She even admired Norman for being such a sensitive human being.
        Imagine leaving all your current responsibilities for an ex-wife whom one had not even seen since 20-25 years.  She doffed her hat off to him, mentally.  Yes, surely he was a fine person and she couldn’t wait to meet him.  She decided to call him the next day in the evening, after her return from the psychiatrist’s office.  Surely nothing could prevent her from reaching out to him! 
        She laughed as she realized that she could’ve done it earlier too.  But she guessed that every thing had a time and place, pre-destined in life.  She felt very light-hearted and happy and decided to turn in for the night in that relaxed state of mind.  She slept very peacefully that night; the last thought before sleep took over being, things would get sorted out nicely in the coming days.  She had no cause to worry!
        The next day she woke up, bright and fresh.  She dressed up in a grey and pink flower-patterned dress, gathered all her hair to one side, so that it fell behind her right ear, wore dainty pink pearls in her ears, sprayed a mild perfume on and hummed a pleasant tune as she did her chores and waited for Arnold.  She didn’t feel as though she was going to visit a psychiatrist.  She felt as if she was going out on a date.  It was ridiculous but true.  She had made a light lunch of salmon sandwiches, salad and dessert of rich chocolate pudding (her secret recipe); for both of them. 
        When he came in at 12.30 p.m., he sniffed appreciatively, complimented her effusively about her graceful attire (till she blushed) and ate with her, conversing wittily about this and that, till it was time to leave.
        When she sat beside him in his car, he saw a slightly nervous look in her blue-grey eyes and placed his hand over hers, before starting to drive.  She saw a calm confidence in his eyes coupled with affection and she relaxed and started enjoying the long 2 hour drive.
        Dr. Benedict Hussey was a tiny man of around 5 feet 2 inches, with a goatee that he kept touching as he talked in a clipped, yet unhurried tone.  He was soft-spoken, yet firm in his manner; just as a psychiatrist should be, thought Martha.  He ‘looked’ experienced and capable.  She was confident that he could be her confidante! 
        When he had clasped her hand firmly with his small palm in a handshake, she had been astonished at its strength, which was very surprising for a man of his build.  His sharp, piercing dark eyes had looked straight into her blue-grey ones, unflinching and meaning business. Boy, was Martha glad that Arnold had called him up the previous day and apologized for cancelling their appointment!  Dr. Hussey looked like a man who’d not like to be messed with.  She was sure that he’d brook no nonsense. 
        When he politely asked Arnold to wait outside and urged her gently to relax in her couch, she realized that she had started imagining him like one of the characters of her stories.  Here he was the boss!  She did as he told her to!  She’d have to be obedient for a change!
        She marveled at the softness of the couch.  She already felt sleepy.  As she closed her eyes slightly, Dr. Hussey started speaking.  “Ms. Peterson, you may relax, but not sleep!  We’ve to talk.  Can I hear about your problem please?”
        Martha jerked herself awake and started narrating the instances when she had forgotten about her present or mistaken someone for someone else and her confusion regarding people, lastly her complete inability to recollect her beau, Norman.
        Through her entire narration, the tiny doctor sat as still as a statue, keenly observing and listening, noting points and appearing like a sponge that soaked up all the moisture and still sat upright.  When she had nothing more to say, she fell silent, fascinated by the small and competent-looking man in front of her.  She wondered how he was going to help her but instinctively knew that he would!  He appeared to be one of those persons whom you could trust your life with!  Dependable and reliable!
        “May I suggest Ms. Peterson that your case is a common one?  Such forgetfulness often happens with people who are overworked or who multi-task to save time.  For starters, I’d suggest that you go slow with your rigid routine and involve yourself in outdoor exercises and games and be more sociable.  Loneliness can kill!  Ask me.  I feel lonely when I’m at home.  I’m happy only when I’m helping my patients.  They are my family and all that I have.  Now you are a part of my family too.  Ah, yes, please stop writing that novel of yours, for some months.  In fact, stop writing for some days and come into the real world for a change.  I’m sure that it’ll do wonders for you!”
        Martha and Arnold left the clinic in a positive frame of mind, joking and laughing like true buddies.  Arnold urged her to have coffee and pastries at a nearby cafe and then left her home.

To be continued..... 

The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

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