And then you sit back and listen, as he talks for a while.
He talks about hair loss and the cracks on his heels,
Then he talks about chest pain and his flatulent meals.
He can talk about in-laws and his daughter’s test marks,
He may talk about neighbours or the street dog that barks.
You nod,… and you listen,…. and you gently just smile,
You try to look focused …..and make notes in his file.
She may link cancer to brinjal or eczema to rice,
She may firmly connect eating fried fish to lice.
She may use ..Vate on her face because “Aunty said so ! “,
But she doesn’t want laser ’cause ” What do YOU know ?”
She doesn’t want tablets ’cause her best friend just said
” Arre my mummy ate tablets, and then she was dead ”
You nod,… and you listen,…. and you gently just smile,
You try to look focused …..and make notes in her file.
She doesn’t want peels because she has read on the net,
And her cousin got burns by doing peels from the vet.
She doesn’t want ointments ’cause they are oily and greasy,
She doesn’t want anything…it’s that simple and easy.
“Don’t send out for lab tests , just guess if you can,
And while you’re consulting can you fix up my tan ? ”
You nod,… and you listen,…. and you gently just smile,
You try to look focused …..and make notes in her file.
And just see my baby , he has rash on the bum
No it’s not from the nappy !! I’m a very good mum.
Just check out my driver, he has dandruff and piles,
And he always gets boils when he’s driving for miles.
When you’ve finished all those …… just look at my cat,
And also do something to make me less fat !”
You nod,… and you listen,…. and you gently just smile,
You try to look focused …..and make notes in her file.
Thank you dear doctor, do I need to pay fees ?
Or if you want to thank me, then down on your knees.
Why can’t you learn from our Aamir – not charge any money,
Just wipe off a tear and then say something funny.
After all if you look now, I told YOU what to do,
And I gave you my company for half an hour too.
You nod,… and you listen,…. and you gently just smile,
You try to look focused …..and make notes in his file.
So see you good doc, my lawyer will call,
And tell you the good news while I shop in the mall.
I’m suing you for empathy and the time that you spent,
I’m also upset that my car has a dent.
So service, professional , all the taxes you pay
Will help you remember the only right way
You nod,… and you listen,…. and you gently just smile,
You try to look focused …..and swallow the bile.
“Ours not to reason why ” said Tennyson in rhyme,
Ours is a vocation and the rewards sublime.
Enjoy every moment, and Primum non nocere..
Do no harm is the motto, treat with empathy and care.
For every bad moment , we’ve got to make this our style..
You just nod and you listen and you gently just smile