Oh, what a relief it is…to be able to leave a body behind, and to wait for a new one! Freedom from bondage, at last!
I just finished a rather fulfilling life. I write this to convey my deep gratitude to the Divine for giving me this opportunity. Now, I aspire to be allotted a brand new body, so I may fulfil the rest of my desires as well.
In the past 48 years or so, I had my destined quota of joys and sorrows. I relished a wide variety of sweets and savouries. Right from the famous pedas of Mathura to sandes of Bengal and from kulfi of Amritsar to payasam of Tamil Nadu, I have relished them all. Delhi’s famous kulche-chhole were always a favourite, and so were Indore’s pohe-jalebi and maava-baati. Mumbai’s vada-pav and Agra’s aloo-ki-tikki are not easily forgotten either.
The body which I tried to assist for so many years is now inching close to 60 years of age. I vaguely remember having made my appearance when it was just about 12 years of age. I had an exciting youth, when I bit and cut into all kinds of foods the body was partaking then. For the first 35 years, I enjoyed biting into sumptuous vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes. Subsequently, with a focus on purely vegetarian fare, life became easier; the body gave up treating its stomach as a burial ground for all kinds of dead life forms.
I was one of the lower front teeth in the body. A dentist would typically refer to me as an ‘incisor’ tooth. The problem was that the upper front teeth did not like me at all. They kept hitting at me at all times. First, the jaw alignment was not right. Second, the person had an ‘A’ type personality. With a high level of anxiety in the system, he was often gnashing his teeth. Not surprisingly, he was diabetic and hypertensive. To add insult to injury, there was a strong addiction to tea.
Well, the result was that I lost my precious enamel and lustre pretty soon. My roots started getting exposed by the time the body was 55 years of age. Serious attempt was made to protect me by wearing various kinds of contraptions. However, time took its toll and finally I got so loose as to cause lot of discomfort to the body. Chewing became a difficult exercise. This resulted in digestive disorders. Through all this, I kept up a brave face and supported the body as long as I could.
Blissfully, my end came two weeks back, at a moment when the body was enjoying a delicious swiss chocolate, that too in the shadow of the Alps. I ensured that my parting with this body was sweet, harmonious and peaceful.
Much has been said about the painful experience of reclining in a dentist’s chair. However, I was lucky. Eventually, I had found a very compassionate and caring dentist. I shall be missing my visits to her clinic, which always had soft music playing in the background.
I know that my colleagues would be missing me by now. Even before I could come loose, another traumatized colleague of mine had gone underground; it still remains embedded in the gums. So, only 30 of them are now left behind. The front ones are already shaking in their foundations. I guess the body will get used to this new experience pretty soon, depending on the canines, pre-molars and molars to make the food digestible.
My gratitude is also due to the body assigned to me. It looked after my nourishment and hygienic needs rather well. I wish it well for as long as it lasts. If only it were to learn to smile more often, it would be happy to see its resemblance to the Bollywood legend, Dev Anand, who also had a front tooth missing!
Howsoever painful, it is not easy to let go of even a diseased part. I know how difficult it is for people to let go of their old habits, their fragile egos or their worldly possessions. Alas, a mere tooth like me is easily dispensable!
Just like me, there are diseased teeth in my country and in my society as well. There are rotten practices, evil thoughts and unpatriotic designs. There is inequality, corruption and mismanagement of resources. These are holding back my countrymen from enjoying prosperity and happiness.
On the upcoming occasion of India’s 65th Independence Day, I wish there are caring dentists who can either cure these ills or simply ‘extract’ the diseased aspects of our living.
ashokbhatia 