(AUTHOR'S NOTE)
*** THIS IS A COLLECTION OF 2 SEPARATE SHORT STORIES FEATURING A MALE AND A FEMALE LEAD. EACH STORY IS NARRATED IN THE FIRST PERSON BY THE PROTAGONIST --- THE FIRST STORY BY THE FEMALE AND THE SECOND BY THE MALE. ***
***
STORY ONE:
DOCTOR'S ORDERS
Payal POV.
Pallavi called me the other day. She is my best friend. We have been BFF since our college days. And we remain best buddies till this day. If there is one person in this world whose advice I value the most, it would be her.
Pallavi: Listen, Payal. I want you to accompany me to the gynaecologist tomorrow. Don't say no.
Me: Gynaecologist? Why? Is everything ok?
Pallavi: Yeah yeah. I am fine. Just that my quarterly gynae exam is due tomorrow. And this time it's going to be a new doctor. So I don't want to go alone.
Me: Quarterly exam? What are you talking about? You go to the gynaecologist every 3 months?
Pallavi: Yeah babes. Why are you so surprised? You don't?
Me: No. Never. Why should I get myself checked for no reason?
Pallavi: For no reason? Babe, which world are you living in? You and I are always screwing around. With multiple strangers. We should be getting checked every month, if not every quarter.
Me: Really? Why is that?
Pallavi: Honey, you have unprotected sex all the time. So do I. Do you know how risky that is? Especially with so many strangers? Wake up!
Me: But I take the pill. Always.
Pallavi: Duffer! That pill does not protect you from diseases and infections. My god, I can't believe you are dumb enough to not know this.
Me: Um... then? What should I do?
Pallavi: Get yourself examined, what else? Listen, my regular gynaec has gone on vacation. So, I will be visiting a new doctor tomorrow. For my annual Winter checkup. And you are coming with me.
Me: I am?
Pallavi: Yes. And if she turns out to be good, then you take an appointment with her for day after tomorrow. I will go with you. Both of us will have peace of mind after 2 days.
I accompanied Pallavi to her appointment with the gynaec the next day. The doctor was Preeti Sachdeva. Highly experienced and very well-known. I was surprised to see that most of the patients waiting in her chamber were young unmarried women like me and Pallavi.
Pallavi's check-up was over in a little over 30 minutes. I waited for her at the reception of the clinic. She came out beaming and smiling.
Pallavi: All good. Nothing to worry about. All my organs are in tip-top condition.
Me: Thank god.
Pallavi: Yes, peace of mind. Now, let's book an appointment for you for tomorrow.
Me: Um... I have never done this before. What do they do during the exam?
Pallavi: Oh! It's very simple. You have to take off your jeans and panties. And lift your legs to the stands on either end of the bed. The doctor will then perform Cervical and Pelvic exams on you.
Me: How does she do that?
Pallavi: For your Pelvic exam, she will wear gloves on her hands and smear a lubricant on her fingers. Then she will insert 2 fingers inside your cunt, and press your lower abdomen with the other hand.
Me: Yew! Sounds gross.
Pallavi: Not quite. I didn't feel much due to the lubricant on her fingers. I am also a regular. But you might feel a bit uncomfortable since this would be your 1st time.
Me: What next?
Pallavi: Next, she will perform a Cervical exam. She will insert a speculum in your canal, spread it open, reinsert her fingers and shove them deep to check your cervix and uterus.
Me: Yikes! Sounds horrible. What is a speculum?
Pallavi: It's a metal instrument. You will know it when you see it. Don't worry, it will be over in 20 minutes. And I will be waiting here at the reception for you.
Against all my apprehensions and doubts, Pallavi booked me for an appointment with Dr. Preeti Sachdeva the next day. She accompanied me as a true friend would.
However, things didn't turn out as we had expected. And the unexpected turn of events started with the doctor herself.
Receptionist: Dr. Preeti Sachdeva is not available today. But her husband Dr. Hitesh is. Will that be ok?
Me: Her husband? Oh no. Not ok.
Receptionist: He is a gynaecologist too. And more famous than Dr. Preeti. You have nothing to worry about. Still, your decision will be final.
Pallavi: What's the matter? Why are you so worried?
Me: I don't want a male doctor to touch me down there, let alone insert his fingers.
Pallavi: Are you insane? A doctor is a doctor. And he is a gynaec. He must have checked thousands of pussies in his life. Yours is not the first one. Don't be ridiculous.
Me: But... I.....
Pallavi: Listen babe. I will be here at this reception the whole time. Just spend 20 minutes with the doctor. And you will be spending the next few months in relief. No more excuses. Go now.
Pallavi literally pushed me inside the doctor's cabin. The receptionist handed over my appointment details to the doctor. She left the room and closed the door. I was now alone with Dr. Hitesh.
He was a middle-aged man, probably in his 40s. He had salt and pepper hair and wore spectacles. He asked me to sit down, and started checking the form I had filled up the previous day.
Dr. Hitesh: So, Ms. Payal, how often do you get yourself examined?
Me: Um... doctor, this is my 1st time.
Dr. Hitesh: Oh! You must be unmarried.
Me: Yes doctor.
Dr. Hitesh: And a virgin too?
Me: No, doctor.
Dr. Hitesh: Ok. In that case, I have to ask you some more personal questions. Ok?
I nodded my head.
Dr. Hitesh: You are unmarried but not a virgin. So, are you sexually active?
Me: Yes doctor.
Dr. Hitesh: With one partner? Or many?
Me: Um... many.
Dr. Hitesh: What precaution do you usually take before and after intercourse?
Me: I take the pill.
Dr. Hitesh: I understand. What else?
Me: Nothing else.