She was lying on the bed near her snoring husband. After some frantic fucking he had fallen asleep as usual without caring for her. She came from an Indian village and accepted this as being sex. She had never experienced the sensation called an orgasm. Nowadays she was obsessed with thinking about sterility and it was the main point to ponder over tonight. A multitude of scenes were flashing through her mind. She was actually dying from the taunts of her mother-in-law, husband and other family members. For no reason she was scorned solely because in five years of married life she hadn't borne a child. They believed that she alone was responsible for this. Several days previously the couple had gone for a check up to the doctor. He clearly stated that the husband was the sole reason for her sterility; she didn't have any problem. However, he was convinced that the doctor's report was false. He couldn't accept the defect lay with him. His mother spread the news, 'Because of her, the family was deprived of an heir.' In this whirlpool of thoughts, she wasn't aware when she went to sleep.
*****
She was making the morning tea. Her hair was undone; her eyes were swollen. She was more upset about her parents' order to her not to divorce because in her cast a girl's second marriage was prohibited. Her father didn't want his daughter passing her whole life in solitude. His much uttered phrase was, 'The matter would be settled, so be patient.' The tea's aroma made her feel that it was ready. She was pouring it into saucers, when she heard the voices.
"Mummy, yesterday I passed through Ram Square. There's a tent near the road which is an Ayurvedic clinic. I've read that they cure barren women." It was her husband's voice.
"So you think we should go there to cure your wife," said her mother-in-law.
"We've got to mom; there is nothing else we can do."
"Yes, the doctors blame you for her barrenness, and I know you aren't. This barren thing brings a curse on our family."
"I've no faith in these fool doctors, so I've decided to take her for ayurvedic treatment today."
Each word was piercing to her ears.
*****
He opened the tent's curtain which served as the door to the tainted ayurveda clinic.
"Come in. Have a seat," said the foxy man who was waiting for prey.
Inside she observed plenty of transparent bottles containing colourful pills - red, black, yellow, blue, orange and almost every colour which existed on earth. Some had dried leaves, roots, and stems. The air was full of the strange perfume of these medicines. There was a table resting on which were photos of some big Indian politician, film stars and cricketers taken with this doctor. He sat in a corner wearing a deep red shirt and a black pent. His chubby belly peeped out from behind a tightly closed button. He had a dark complexion and a beard. The couple sat down in front of him.
"So, what's your problem?" asked the doctor with a jarring voice.
"We have been married for five years, but I can't become a father," the husband said with worry on his face.
"Huh, now you're my patient, there's nothing to be anxious about. I've ayurvedic medicines specially chosen from the jungles. By the way, have both of you been checked out?"
"Yes, by three doctors, and they all told me that I'm the responsible person. They don't know the fact that it is only because of her that we've no child. It's told in Hindu scriptures that women are the sole cause of..." The doctor's voice interrupted him.
"Come inside. I'm going to check you both." He led them into the small partition made by long curtain. There was little space with one bed in there.
"Lie here, you," the doctor said to the husband.
The doctor counted his pulse by holding his wrist, and murmured something.
"Undo your pent," another order came. As he did, the doctor held his penis, stretched out the foreskin and examined the glans. Sometime later, he declared, "You're all right, you don't need any treatment."
The husband smiled with pride and did up his pent.
"Sister, your turn."
She lay down and he repeated the same process of taking her pulse, maybe to show his genuineness. Then he slowly pulled up her skirt until her knickers could be seen. He removed this obstacle and parted her bush. As he found her vagina, he pushed his fingers inside. His facial expression became serious as if he had found the truth.
"She's sterile," concluded the doctor, watching the husband. He continued, "Now come here," and she arranged her clothes and both sat down.
"She needs at least two month's treatment. After this, all your problems will be solved. It's my guarantee," he told the husband.
"Thank you sir!" The husband couldn't repress his joy.
"I'm giving you these pills." He opened one of the bottles. "Take the yellow pills three times a day after meals; the red twice a day, one in the morning and one in the evening before your meal."
He wrapped all the tablets in an old newspaper.
"You may have intercourse only on the following dates - 5, 10, 12, 14, 17. Plus don't drink any milk until the treatment ends. That will be five hundred rupees," he said ending his advice.
The husband handed over the rupees. She couldn't figure out what the relationship was between milk, dates and barrenness. But it was India's ancient 'ayurveda' and foreigners were also mad about it.
"Come back in two days and I'll check the progress," he said. The couple left the tent clinic.
******
Two days later the couple were back on the same chairs.
"I want to check your progress," said the doctor and the three of them entered the same place. She lay down.
The doctor examined between her legs and said, "It needs a massage. It'll give a quick result."
