18 TILL I…DYE!!
To dye or not to dye! That was the question!
This was way back when the Blacks were the majority! I am of course talking about the status of my hair! But now slowly the previos Minority White have become more and prominent!
At that time I was managing a hospital of my own and my friend and well wisher Ashok used to tell me, “Sir do not dye your hair since you are the manager of this hospital and you must look senior! (read old!)”.
This was very important since if I had to suggest someone for surgery or operative procedure, it always made more weight when the Surgeon looked Senior (old!) or healthy (read Plump or fat!)!
In my initial days there were times when Patients used to consult me and then go to the other room to consult my Senior (Who actually had stopped operating and only used to advice!)! It used to be so frustrating since he could be telling the same thing but the patient would listen right away!
That is when I realised the importance of loking old in Private practice which by some weird logic apparently translated to expericence!
In fact even when I got married, I did not dye! (If you read that line louldy you will get the reason why I placed the exclamation!). So if you glance on my marriage photos then you can see how unwell I look (I was in fact not well!) while my better half looked better! At that time I attributed it to poor make up but now I have realized that it was because of those whites!
In spite of this even after marriage for some time I never used to Dye! (using that rhyme with so many reasons!)
In the initial days of marriage (when we are very sensitive to the thoughts and feelings of the spouse!) My wife gently asked before any function or event where there is a likelihood to be shot! (by a camera of course!!), “Do you want to dye your hair?”
To which I would always reply, “I will never dye! (again read it aloud!)…my hair!”
Of course I should not have forgotten the James Bond movie, Never Say Never Again! The movie was not so great but the statement is!
So what was the turning point you might ask? (If you care of course but even otherwise I will tell so dont worry!)
The first one was when one of my patients gave me a big shock! It is human tendency to look at any mirror on your reflection and over a period of time you get used to your face however Ugly or Good looking you are! Since you have been seeing your face by birth you never realise how young or old you look till someone points it out to you!
So this particular day I was helping out one of my junior colleague with her thesis in my clinic. I used to be the one stop point of thesis making since I used to love the study and being part of the whole deal! But more on that later! For now lets stick to the matter in hand! So this particular patient saw me with her who might not have been around 3-4 years younger to me ! Later on when I was seeing the patient who in fact knew me asked me, “Is she your daughter Doctor?!!”
When I shockingly narrated this to my wife all she said was, “Thank God that drunk patient (I am sure he was drunk now that you think about it!) did not mistake her to be your wife!”.
Then another incident happened very soon which was my daughter’s first birthday and the subsequent celebration done in a grand way!
I even met an old friend and told him that I do not dye my hair so that I look old! He placed his hand on his balding head and told me, “At least you have a choice!”. Silver lining is not that hard to find!
But very soon it was time for the album and that was a shoker! When it comes to any photograph of any function, it is again human nature to see his or her snaps only! And then to see people whom you like a lot and finally people whom you hate a lot! If there is any more patience you may glance at the remaining neutral people!
So I was sitting in the hall listening to the comments when I heard my little niece all of ten years old commenting to my wife, “Why is Sriram uncle looking so old?”
And that is when realization dawned on me and I decided to dye!
At first most of the time I would go to the parlour but then when I became experienced, I used to occasionally do it by myself!
In fact I have started advising people on which ones to use (read no ammonia!), also use disposable gloves while applying (buy it if you are not a medical professional with access!), apply petroleum jelly all over the skin area so that the stain will be less and so forth!
Now if you see my son’s first birthday celebration album you can make out the difference! It is also why I always show that album to everyone much to the chagrin of my daughter!
So the chief lesson is to apply before any big photo session since in the days of Social Media, Image is very important! It is a material world and lets not forget that! Maybe when I am more that fifty years old then I may stop dyeing since it may not make much of a difference!
In any case after so many years of marriage now my wife does not have to think too much before she gives her opinion about me! So after the dye she always says that, “Don’t worry you can Dye (!!), you do not look very young now!”
To which I cheekily reply, “Whatever you say Mi Amor (this is purely because of Narcos!), I will be 18 till I…Dye!!
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