Hillstation by Robin Mukherjee Page A

Lots, in fact. And they, well, they concern me. I guess that’s the thing about concerns. So maybe, you know, if you’ve got something just to tweak ’em down a bit…?’
    â€˜Perhaps it would help,’ I said, wishing I’d brought my book, ‘if you could tell me the precise name of the medication you’re receiving…?’
    â€˜Prozac,’ he said. ‘That’s good. Takes the edge off. I don’t know if you do that. I mean, Mike’s sorting a little weed for later but I lost my cables so I’m a bit… you know.’
    â€˜You have fish phobia?’
    â€˜Ah, no,’ said Hendrix frowning. ‘I don’t think so.’
    â€˜But this Prozac,’ I said, ‘was designed specifically as a remedy for fish phobia.’
    â€˜Right,’ said Hendrix. ‘I didn’t know that.’
    â€˜I do have some but it is reserved for this condition only. We had a patient once, brought in by his wife. He wouldn’t eat fish, however she cooked it. Fried, boiled, she tried everything. Being a lady whose ancestors came from the coast, cooking fish was among her greatest pleasures. In fact that’s all she could cook. So this was very problematic for them. She even consulted my father over legal proceedings against her husband’s family for not mentioning this impediment to their matrimonial compatibility. They said they’d counter-sue on the grounds of failure to reveal her culinary limitations.’
    â€˜Tricky,’ said Hendrix.
    â€˜When I asked my brother…’
    â€˜Who?’ said Hendrix.
    â€˜He is also versed in clinical matters,’ I said, glancing round to see if Pol was listening.
    â€˜â€™kay,’ said Hendrix.
    â€˜He said it sounded like a classic case of fish phobia.’
    â€˜Sounds right to me,’ said Hendrix, nodding thoughtfully.
    â€˜For which there is no cure.’
    â€˜Oh,’ said Hendrix. ‘That’s a shame.’
    â€˜However, when I mentioned it to the Pharmaceutical Representative a few months later, he said that new research had achieved a major break-through for this very condition.’
    â€˜Prozac?’ said Hendrix.
    â€˜The wonders of medical science,’ I said, smiling.
    â€˜Well, that’s exactly it,’ said Hendrix. ‘You know the last time I saw a fish I completely freaked.’
    â€˜I think we are beginning to narrow the possibilities,’ I said.
    â€˜And the nightmares,’ he said. ‘Like, swarms of fish and… fish-type things all… swarming. I wake up sweating. You can ask Shal. I mean even the word, you know, “fish” brings me out, like, take a look at my forehead…’
    â€˜It appears that you are perspiring,’ I said.
    â€˜Cause we’re talking about fish,’ he said.
    â€˜In that case,’ I said, ‘I have no hesitation in prescribing you the necessary medication.’
    â€˜You’re a brick,’ he said, patting my arm. ‘Soon as you can, hey?’
    â€˜I’ll pop over to the clinic today,’ I said.
    â€˜Champion,’ he smiled, turning back to the room. ‘That patient,’ he said, stopping by the door. ‘he’s okay now, is he?’
    â€˜Much happier,’ I said. ‘In fact he now eats anything his wife puts in front of him, though his mango business isn’t doing so well.’
    â€˜Well, I guess that’s… that’s something,’ said Hendrix sauntering back to his box.
    Pol rushed over, flinging his hands about. ‘Are you mad?’ he said. ‘What’s she going to say when she finds out? Rabindra! Think about it! What are you doing?’
    But Cindy was calling him now. ‘Pol? Pol? Where’s my little nut-brown buddy?’
    â€˜I believe your wife is looking for you,’ I said.
    Pol glared at me for a moment and went back to the lounge. I could hear him gasp as she squeezed