November 18. “Where’s Dost? Has he gone somewhere?”

“He’s in Delhi for a couple of meetings.”

“And where were the three ladies this evening?”

“For your information, I went to see my dentist for a check-up after a long time and came back home immediately afterwards.”

“Why do you need to see a dentist?”

“For basic check-ups.”

“Aren’t these check-ups harmful? When he’s checking, he’ll tell you that you need to extract a tooth or two or do a root-canal or cap a tooth! It never ends in just a check-up!”

“You’re right but, every time he’s told me to do an extraction, I’ve fled.”

“Don’t you feel these check-ups also damage your teeth?”

“How?”

“Like chip your teeth or ruin them when you bleach them.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Whoever came up with the idea that dental check-ups are essential had a vested interest!”