The Srivastavas at no. 12
Another chapter in my life comes to an end. No, not to an end. It's just the beginning of, hopefully, a fruitful relationship. It was good times that were spent there...times that will always be cherished.
At the outset, let me just provide the bearings of the Srivastava family- briefly. There was Mr.V. Srivastava, the big daddy cool. Looked small and a weakling but when push came to a shove he could really "step on the gas", so to speak. He was generally on the quieter side, probably a believer in the theory that anything that couldnt be expressed in 3 words, or maybe in the same number of grunts or motions of the hand, wasnt worth expressing at all. So, naturally, he had a fan following in the hospital that promptly acted most of his grunts and hand waves...with, surprisingly, good results. Anyway, he was genuinely reverred in the hospital. At least as reverred as an indian could be in this country. What really fascinated me about him was his explicit taste. He had tastes beyond anybody's imagination. All of this reflected in his house (imagine a palatial home in the poshest part of town with a basketball court for the front lawn and a football ground for the back lawns), his cars ( apart from the usual practically oriented cars like an eight seater toyota and a VW Golf for the missus he was the proud owner of a Jaguar XJR- mama mia!) as well as in everything else he did..even the parties he hosted.
Then there was Mrs. Srivastava, literally his alter ego. She was exactly the opposite of what he was or aspired to be. Vibrant, easy- going, fun to talk to...someone you could pour your heart out to. Her cooking was heavenly....half of which she always, very thoughtfully, packed up for me to take home, to be eaten the next day. She was, in every sense, a mother away from mother.
Then the kids- Vivek and Shruti. Vivek was the elder of the two and in true sense acted the more mature of the two. He just finished his BST, by the time i got to mansfield and had gotten himself a research post. So in every possible way he was on his way to being a General Surgeon.
Shruti was the younger one (d-uh!!). While i cant say much about her..as we didnt have many occasions to interact..but the few occasions that we did meet she came across as a very sweet and level headed girl. Especially for someone who has grown up in U.K. She was doing a job in London..as some marketing executive in a beauty product company..which she eventually resigned from due t reasons of not being able to get along with the boss.
These were, in short, the family that literally became my family during my stay in mansfield. They provided me with a kind of support that probably noone else in my knowledge had got. They made my observership period a time that was very, very enjoyable. I will always remember them and cherish every moment i spent with them. Amen to that.
