Karan whistled and rang his bicycle's bell standing in front of Ron's house. Within seconds Ron came out with his bicycle. "Did you speak with Mr. Situn?" Ron asked with curiosity.
"Yes, he said we don't need an appointment, as there isn't much rush after lunch. Their operations are conducted in the morning."
The two boys starting riding their bicycles.
Soon they reached the Vetora Hospital. The hospital was spread over a large area. It was made of several cottages, all attached with a long-running covered corridor. There were various departments, all marked with signboards.
The two boys parked their bicycles, systematically at the common bicycle stand and followed the arrows which directed them to the 'Dental Medical Camp'.
As they walked Ron asked Karan, "Have you been here before?"
"Yes. I usually come over here for the Blood Donation Camps, to donate my precious blood." Karan mentioned this with great pride.
"Does it hurt, when they take your blood?" Ron started looking at Karan with new admiration.
"No. Not at all. It is a simple process. And they also give you biscuits and coffee after the blood donation." Karan added more information to motivate Ron.
"Good, I too will do it someday. After all, It is for a noble cause." Ron seemed to be sincere.
"Why 'some' day? Let us do it just now. Come…" Karan started pulling Ron's hand for changing the direction.
"No. No. Not now. We must concentrate on our mission. Remember, Hard work, Focus, and Commitment." Ron was prompt in reacting.
"Oh, look at that? See how love makes a person literate." Karan smiled and continued, "Now remember, I will do all the talking over here. Don't get impatient and try to impress her father with your bla bla. Okay!"
"Okay, Yes Sir!"
They came to the quarters where the dental camp was taking place. Some people were sitting on the bench and chairs placed in the corridor. Karan and Ron walked inside the door and approached the registration desk. He filled the details in the register book, placed on the table. Karan asked the assistant, sitting at the table, about Mr. Situn's whereabouts. He was informed that he was coordinating with the Dentist, in the medical hall, helping in communicating with locals.
The two boys found a place to sit, till they were called. As Ron started looking around, Karan whispered in his ears, "She does not come over here, stop searching."
Ron got annoyed. "I was looking at how this corridor is shaped."
"Oh really!" Karan smiled mischievously.
Just then, the desk assistant called their names. Ron jumped up. Karan pulled his hand. "Don't get so impatient to meet her father. Remember, I am going in first, you follow, and behave like a nice obedient boy, which you are not."
The two boys walked into the medical hall. There stood a grand set-up of an orthodontic chair, fitted with dental engines, which served as a source of mechanical and pneumatic power gear. Ron was fascinated to see this.
"Come! come!" Mr. Situn called them. Just then Dr. Parker walked in, from the adjacent equipment sterilizing room. He greeted them with a smile. Mr. Situn started introducing him to the two boys, in the English language.
Dr. Parker instantly recognized Karan. He said, "I want to thank you again for your help at the railway station. Frankly speaking, I was really confused at that time. It was really kind of you to help us." Karan nodded and smiled politely, indicating that he understood that Dr. Parkar was thanking him for his good work.
Mr. Situn told Dr. Parker. "These boys are from one of the oldest families living in the town. His father runs a bookstore at the railway station. And this little fellow is his cousin. His mother is a school teacher and a good painter, and his father is an engineer, works in a company in the city."
Dr. Parker showed that he was impressed. "Oh, so you have brought your younger brother with you. I hope he is not scared." Ron had the urge of telling him, Jo's father, how brave he was. However, he preferred to obey Karan's given standing order.
Dr. Parker told Karan to take his seat on the special chair for conducting the check-up. Everything went on silently. As Dr. Parker started his inspection Ron observed how he was inserting small mirrors, inside Karan's mouth to examine his teeth from various angles. Whenever the doctor or patient spoke, Mr. Situn would make its quick translation. His, good command of the two languages was very impressive. There was no major problem with Karan's teeth. Dr. Parker jotted down the names of some medical drugs and gave them to Karan, with instructions.
Next was Ron's turn. He slowly asked Karan whether his experience was painful. "Nothing much. But keeping your jaws open wide for a long time really hurts." Karan told him in a low voice.
Ron had read and was fascinated by the idea that the driver of a battle tank does his job sleeping in this same position. He got inside the reclining comfortable chair. Dr. Parker adjusted the back of the chair, its apparatus, and the defused light overhead. Ron was ready for action.
Dr. Parker's told Ron, in English language to open his mouth wide. Mr. Situn immediately translated the instruction to Ron. Dr. Parker started inspecting Ron's teeth. Ron could now see his face, half-covered with the medical face mask, in close-up. Seeing his expressive eyes Ron felt like asking him "Does your daughter have eyes like you?" This idea made Ron giggle. He could not control himself. Dr. Parker immediately withdrew the small mirror.
"Don't worry, this won't hurt you." Assurances and their translations started pouring in. Finally, Ron asked in English "Can I have some water to drink?"
Karan was observing Ron's every act. He thought Ron was being a bit unruly. Giggling and speaking something junk. He moved forward to control Ron, but Dr. Parker stopped him.
"Wait! He spoke to me in English!"
"Do you know English?" Mr. Situn asked Ron. To which Ron nodded. "Yes, but not so good."
This was a 'short in the arm', even for Karan. "How do you know this language?" Dr. Parker was curious to know.
"In school. And also from my mother." Ron replied as Dr. Parker restarted his teeth examination.
"Tell him that his mother is an English language teacher," Karan told Mr. Situn. As Mr. Situn translated his message Karan added that Ron was an ardent student of fine arts and languages.
"He learns and practices with sincerity." Obviously Karan had picked up the opportunity to put Ron in the limelight.
The moment Dr. Parker withdrew the dentistry gadgets from his open mouth, Ron added, "I also read fat English books,… not just comics!" Both Dr. Parker and Mr. Situn were amused.
Dr. Parker turned towards Mr. Situn and said. "Mark my words; this little fellow is going to bring pride to this town, one day." Mr. Situn gave a positive node.
Dr. Parker went to his desk and wrote down some medicines on his writing pad. As he gave the list to Karan, he told Mr. Situn, "There was a small cavity which was getting developed on his seventh tooth, which I have cleaned. Obviously, he has been eating a lot of chocolates, I guess."
As Mr. Situn translated to Karan, Dr. Parker added, "In case if he has a toothache, I am also writing the name of a mild pain-killer tablet."
Ron slowly got down from his 'battle tank driver's seat'. He felt he had won a major war. But the victory was yet to come. Ron came forward and said a polite 'Thankyou' to the two, showing his good manners.
Dr. Parker placed his hand on Ron's shoulder and patted him. "Ron, you have your school in the morning, don't you?"
Ron nodded "Yes."
"Then, can you do me a favor?" As Dr. Parker said this Ron's heart started pounding.
"You see I have a daughter over here. She must be of your age. We call her Jo. She likes to move around and explore this wonderful place. But, unfortunately, Jo can't converse like you."
"Why?" Ron asked in his best innocent tone.
"I mean she doesn't understand the local language. Maybe she will learn later. And as you know, people over here, hardly understand her English language." Dr. Parker explained.
Mr. Situn explained to Karan what the Dentist was saying.
As they nodded, Ron and Karan had the same thought in their mind, "Sir, please come to the point…!"
He did. "So, I would like you to accompany Jo and show her this place and the neighborhood..." Dr. Parker finally came to the point. "….of course, after your school is over."
Karan had guessed what he was going to say. Ron was controlling his emotions. He slowly moved his eyes towards Karan. Karan took the cue and responded, before anything could go wrong, "Yes, yes! I think it is a good idea, Ron you must volunteer."
"You ask your mother, take her permission…" Dr. Parker continued.
Karan told Mr. Situn, "I will speak to her, she will not say no."
Karan started telling Ron, as if he may be reluctant to go out with this girl! "As it is Ron you spend your after-school hours sitting and studying at the bookshop. Have some change." Mr. Situn was also convinced.
Finally, Ron had to speak "where should I come?"
Mr. Situn, promptly replied, "At my place, or should we tell her to come...?"
"No need, I will be there tomorrow, at 12.30, after lunch. Okay." Ron could no more remain a patient, tolerant boy.
"Thanks, Ron." Dr. Parker felt obliged.
***
The two boys came out. They started walking coolly and slowly, on the long corridor of the hospital, as if nothing had happened. Once they knew that they were out of sight from the Dental Check-Up Camp, their behavior changed. Ron screamed and started running fast. Karan chased him. He grabbed him near the cycle stand ground and they got into a wrestling bout. Onlookers, people around watched the two wild boys, in horror.
***