The air was thick with excitement and stifled giggles. The prospective groom, Ranjit had arrived with his family to see Juhi, the eldest daughter of the house.
“He’s so handsome!” gushed her friends as they peered from the doorway and ran back to report to Juhi who sat demurely inside, waiting to be summoned.
Juhi adjusted her flowing dupatta and flicked back her long plait. “And he is a doctor,” she couldn’t help boasting.
“Doctor, my foot,” sneered Reeta, “he’s just a compounder. All he does is dispense medicines.”
“Rubbish!” Juhi’s sister was up in arms, “He is a doctor. We went to his clinic. There was a huge queue of patients.”
“He may call himself a doctor but I know the truth.” Reeta shot back.
“What truth?”
“That he is only a registered medical practitioner – an RMP, not a doctor.”
“It’s the same thing.”
“That’s what you think.”
“You are just jealous.”
“Why would I be jealous?” Reeta retorted. “I am going to marry a ‘real’ doctor in the city, not some remote village which doesn’t even have electricity.”
“It does have…”
“Juhi!” Her mother came bustling in trembling with excitement and nervousness, “come along. They want to see you. Now behave yourself. Keep your head down. Don’t forget to touch their feet. Speak but only when spoken to and speak softly….”
She led Juhi out, muttering instructions.
“What is your name?” The elderly man with the big mustache asked.
“Juhi.” Her voice was barely audible.
“Can you cook? And sew?”
Juhi inclined her head.
“Have you been to school?”
“Yes, I studied till Class 5.”
“Did you just go to school or can you also read and write?”
Juhi’s eyes flew up to meet Ranjit’s mocking eyes.
“I can.” She said.
“Which? Read or write?” He smirked. “Don’t mind but I am the only doctor in the entire village. I have a certain standard to live up to. My wife cannot be illiterate…”
“I can read and write.” She asserted.
He pushed forward a notepad. “How about a little test?”
She looked at her mother, who nodded encouragingly. “I know only Hindi.” She said.
“Don’t worry. I don’t have such high expectations!” They laughed.
Ranjit began the dictation.
Juhi bent her head and laboriously wrote them down with her tongue sticking out from one corner of her mouth.
After the dictation was over, everyone held their collective breaths as he scanned the notebook.
After an eon, he lifted his head and smiled. “She passed the test.” He looked at his father. “We may put her on the shortlist…”
“Wait a minute,” Juhi spoke up, ignoring the gasps, “I want you to also take the test.”
“Me?”
“Yes.” She looked at him in the eye. “Please take down my dictation.”
He went red. He looked at his father for guidance and support in dealing with the unheard of insult.
Her mother nudged her. “Juhi! Apologize this very instant.”
But the groom’s father laughed and slapped him on the back. “Go ahead son and show her who you are – a respected and highly educated doctor.
Ranjit gave in and accepted the challenge. But not before his eyes had burned into hers, promising retribution.
“Please check it, Madamji.” He said mockingly as he handed the diary back to her after the dictation was done. “Happy?” He turned to his father and declared, “I like her spirit. Can we finalize her?”
“You may.” Juhi spoke up. Her eyes were glittering. “But I refuse to marry you.”
There was pin drop silence.
She held up the diary. “He failed the test.”
***
Written for the Daily Post’s one word prompt – Better
A/N This story was inspired by a incident reported in the news last week. Hats off to her.
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Yet another doctor 😀 nice story, D. I like such kind of stories which shows that though society opposes, girls fight for what is right and sensible 🙂
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Thanks Rekha. I do hope she doesnt have to pay too high a price for her temerity – fingers crossed.
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But hey – he was just a pretend doc 😉
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Hehe. Still.. many compounders think they are better than doctors, just like that suppandi joke 😀
Na, she ll find someone better 🙂 fingers crossed.
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Tit for tat and more than just that. He totally deserved it. Had I been in her place,I would have laid one on him too
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Yep! I bet his ego took a huge blow 😀 Thanks for reading Pradita
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You’re welcome. 😊
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Brilliant
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She is something, isnt she? Thanks for reading 🙂
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That’s a beautifully written story – your prose is immaculate and the way you keep interest is superb – well done. 🙂
I’d say you passed the test. 😉
Kindness – Robert.
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Oh wow! Thanks so much for the encouraging compliment 🙂
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You’re very welcome. 🙂
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May be he had already failed when he had asked for a ‘test’!
Awesome story.. 🙂
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Yes quite true – she must have been insulted and when he didnt measure up it was just the final nail – thanks for reading 🙂
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Woah!..such things do happen in real!😳..a complete jerk he is and what a befitting response that was!👏🏼Yes, hats off to her!…
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🙂
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i salute her, if half of women begin to even think like her we can change the way we are looked as….
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And Amen to that!
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More power to her! I once had a school mate who insisted on carrying a check list and ‘grading’ his prospective brides. I thought this was highly regressive in this day and age and was thrilled when a friend refused to be assessed in this manner….
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Serve him right! I wonder how he fared with his finalist😆 thanks a lot for reading and sharing your thoughts
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He didn’t fare too well but that may just have been his destiny
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I loved the little details Dahlia, like Juhi sticking out her tongue when writing down. It made me smile! A great entertaining story. I wonder what her test was ? 🙂
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Sampada so good to see you here! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Some tough words in Hindi. If u click on the click on the link even the words are mentioned. Look forward to seeing more of you😊
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That is quite the necessity in the rural India… may be at times in urban too… Wonder what she asked him to write? Did she reject seeing his handwriting? Confirming whether he is a doc or a compounder… as they say doc’s writing are only legible to the compounder/pharmacist… Did the seeds sown by Reeta gave her the courage to combat? Good one Dahlia…
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I know you said a news report was the inspiration…
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I was terribly impressed by her😀👍
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