7/27/2019 I rest my case
1/2
I rest my caseSir, you have two choices, said the counselor.
She held out her palm and counted(What bigeyes I thought as they
flittedfrom her fingers to my
dads face).
Her dark-red painted lips mouthed the most important
conversation of the day
One, the bi-focal lens that will cost you x amount, and you will
have to wear glasses while reading.
And two, the multi-focal that costs y amount (more that the
former) and you wont need glasses ever.
(Ah! Wed just been catapulted from the dissection table to the
cash counter! Is there a reason these
made up dolls are given the task of convincing the sacrificial
goats? I wonder! But I noticed that this
conversation was necessary.)
We were at a hospital. I had accompanied my dad to fix up a date
for him with cataract surgery! (Im
sorry dad, didnt mean to be mean.)
Ill take the bi-focal lens, said my dad. I looked at him with
raised eyebrows. Any sane human being
wouldve chosen multi-focal dad, you have the liberty of not
wearing glasses! I whispered.
Yes, but Im used to wearing them, I want to wear glasses, he
retorted.
The medical fraternity in that room concluded that they would
give him a power-less lens to fulfill his
need after the surgery.
All that you do comes from a habit you inculcate as you go
through life, said my dad when he saw
me give him a flabbergasted look on our way back to the car.
Habit. Ah! Ididntneed to google that one!
When in school, everyday, we were woken up by 6:00 amand mind
you, according to my dad it was
really late! He gave us that early to bed and early to rise
blah. Thanks dad, its virtually impossible
for me now to wake up late on a holiday, becauseIm wide awake by
6 am!
Wear ironed clothes, or dont come out with us, my parents
warned. Thank you dad, mom, I just
hand over my paycheck to the isthiriwalanow!
We used to have a teacher who chewed on her hair. Whatever she
did , she had one chunk of hair in her
mouth. I wanted to throw up every time I saw it. Luckily I never
was in her class! Another victim of
habit.
Then there are people who make a habit of repeating words as
they speak, actually, I mean, you
see, well, okay, address another by the word ra, the Malaysian
la the list is endless!
That evening my dad and I were going out for a briskwalk. I took
my purse along. Why do you need
that? he asked. I answered, I need to hold something in my hand,
Im used to it.
Realization struck like lightning as I saw the look on my dads
face! Checkmate!!
I rest my case! he said.
Fine dad, I get it. You get to choose whichever lens you want!
Who am I to judge?
