Better Halves no Quarter....Proud to be the other half

MRS. DURGA ANAND talks about her experiences as a doctor's wife. Her husband, Dr Anand Krishna, is a reputed dermatologist in Chennai and practises in Apollo Hospitals.

To be married to Anand, irrespective of his success, has always been a wonderful feeling. Initially though, when we got married, life was more of a roller coaster ride. All that settled once we were able to accept each other for what we were without any facade, by which time we were able to build total trust and confidence in one another, along with love and respect. All this did take time though. For instance, at first, I could never accept my husband working long hours and would let my imagination run riot whenever he would come home late, but now it is totally different.

Working hours don't start too early in the morning for my husband, since he doesn't like to leave home without poring over all the morning newspapers, which normally takes a couple of hours interspersed with answering umpteen telephone calls for appointments. However, once he gets going for the day, then it is with all sincerity until he comes home totally pooped, with energy only to flop into bed, in front of the TV.

I am very proud of him since he has succeeded totally on his own, a self-made man, with only his inherent intelligence, tenacity and his dedication to the medical profession as his foundation. I suppose, my prayers to the Almighty and an unflinching sense of confidence and support could also have served the purpose to some extent.

Although my husband's field is not one which calls for an emergency at night, nevertheless we do get a number of outstation phone calls that disturb our sleep. I guess it is a facet of being married to a doctor. Family life is restricted to one day of the week - Sunday - and social life dips drastically, unless one is a night bird. These are some of the sacrifices one has to make. Dedication to the medical profession takes priority and minor matters like going shopping or visiting friends and relatives take a backseat. That is when all women married to men in the medical profession, would have to call upon their inner strength and learn to accept things as they are and adapt themselves to the situation.

Apart from taking care of my children and myself (to the extent of sounding like a nagging wife), he has taught us to be more compassionate towards animals, specifically stray cats and dogs. Also, being a doctor's wife has widened my horizons in the use of medicines and of ailments in general.

The letters received from his patients are a testimony to the fact that his diagnosis and treatment have been very successful. More so, when many of his patients thank him profusely after being cured of their ailments - something which I have witnessed many a time when I visited him at his workplace. I remember a 70- year-old man touching his feet in gratitude on being completely cured, a sight which brought tears of pride to my eyes. A very recent incident that comes to my mind is that of a 65- year-old patient (who was treated successfully for Pemphigus - a terminal skin disease) visiting me at the hospital soon after my delivery and insisting on me eating the food cooked by his wife just for me. This I guess, was his way of showing gratitude to my husband and our family. It is simple incidents like these that touch a chord in my heart and I feel honoured at the thought of being my better half's other half.

All said and done, I have no regrets whatsoever in tying the knot with a doctor, despite the fact that I have to share him with the medical fraternity.