End of the road

He had been in the ”noblest “of professions. A doctor. Thwarting the exhort of his family to go abroad & to pursue a specialization, he had opted to be a general practitioner. In his father’s footsteps.

Yesterday he received a letter – “Your services are no longer required as of Dec 2006”

No warning, no notice period. There was resignation in his voice when he shared the news with his staff who adored him. He also reassured his regular patients that there would be a young and able doctor taking his place and they should trust him just as much.

He came home and shared the letter with her. She was stunned by the apathy. She had heard this of the new age software firms. It was happening in the government service. One for which she had given up life in the city, the promise of a better career, borne separation from her children who went off to the city for higher studies.

He was old enough to retire, yes. There was need to infuse young blood no doubt. But forty years- deserved a farewell, a thank you note, a warning, a notice period, a little decency at least?

An end of an era.. Just like that- snap.