Bugs Bite

CHAPTER TWENTY: Parasite

Beep-beep.

‘Motherfucker,' Avish swore over the honk. 'Move on, will you?’

The car in front of him obeyed. Avish whizzed past it, sticking out the finger from the window and shouting 'So long, suckaaaaas!’ at the oblivious driver.

(just like your father)

Avish told the voice in his head to eat shit, but he knew what it stated was undeniably the truth. It was just a truth he wasn’t willing to accept.

___________________________________

‘It’s getting cold, eh?’ The young doctor eloquently removed his surgery gloves. In fact, Avish didn’t think there was anything the man did that was not eloquent. By doing pragmatically nothing, the young doctor had already warranted some respect in Avish’s books. After all, young or not, the guy was the head of his department around here. ‘Temperature’s plummeted by ten degrees. And cold doesn’t suit me.’

An eloquent sneeze.

‘I can see that,' Avish observed. ‘May I ask why you called me here today, doc?’

‘Please call me Rahul.’

What kind of a medical practitioner does not want to be called a doctor?

‘Of course.’

The young doctor took a seat in front of him. The tip of his nose was crimson entirely. Avish was bemused by the rapid change in his facial expressions as the doctor proceeded to sneeze again. Well, there’s that for not being eloquent. He's only human.

But why did it feel like he was trying to make Avish comfortable? Aren’t successful professionals in the medical line supposed to be all business and no stray?

‘Pardon,' the young doc excused.

'Bless you.’

Someone entered the room just then, a medical intern, by the look of it. Still, she somehow looked the same age as the doctor. One of the many miracles of the world.

'Later, Rosy,' the young doctor said, and Avish saw something in his eyes, a . . . warning? A request? What Avish saw was foreboding. He shook his head to clear those thoughts.

(brace yourself)

Avish had heard that voice before somewhere, but not in many, many, many years. It scared him. Scared him more than he could imagine. What was happening?

(there’s a storm coming)

‘Shush,' he told his head.

Rosy the supposed intern, meanwhile, exited and the doctor’s charming gaze fell again upon Avish again. 'Excuse me? I didn’t catch that.’

‘Oh, nothing,' Avish said, embarrassed.

‘Anyhow,' and now the young doctor donned a grim mask, 'I checked your chest X-ray.’

A sneeze. A cautious one this time.

‘Bless you. What's the matter, doc?’

Shoulda called him Rahul, he said so.
But did it make any difference?

‘I’m going to be very straightforward here,' Rahul said, indifferent as well.

'Appreciate that.’

‘I gather you had bronchitis at some point. Is that right?’

This can’t possibly mean well. Don’t screw with me, Rahul, what're you getting at?