The 'dokter'

We knew it was just a question of time when the excitement would wear thin and exhaustion would catch up. Just a week into her holiday in Jakarta and my mother-in-law was laid in bed drained and fatigued. Still groping about as we had barely been in Indonesia for a week ourselves we chose to ask the reception at our service apartment to arrange for a ‘dokter’.

Within minutes we heard the screech of an ambulance and the hurried footsteps of a doctor and a nurse at our doorstep. The doctor in a spotless white coat introduced himself with a polite bow. The nurse who was really pretty and in a smart uniform – gave a lovely smile and I could hear Pratap's and Yudi’s hearts skip a beat.

The nurse carried an impressive first aid kit. Saying we were impressed is an understatement – for the case opened into a four-tiered tray that housed every imaginable first aid equipment under the sun. The patient was introduced – after which we were witness to a very long dialogue in ‘Bahasa’ between the two medical experts accompanied by feverish gesticulation. The three of us stood around anxiously wringing our hands not understanding a word while the patient’s eyes grew wider by the second.

The doctor explained that the nurse would have to go to the ambulance to get some ‘equipment’. The nurse returned looking glum and again a verbal exchange ensued between the two. We looked at them gravely. I could see the blood drain from my mother-in-law’s face. “Mister” said the doctor in his heavy Indonesian accent “ambulance gone to medical center for ‘equipment’.” We nodded. I chewed at my nails as the ambulance siren faded into the distance.

After a long tense wait the doorbell rang and we all ran to open the door. There standing at the door was the ambulance driver – holding the much needed equipment - a stethoscope! The doctor sheepishly prepared to see the patient. He took out his torch and asked the now chirpy and talkative patient to open her mouth. We all tried to peer in as the torch light slowly faded and the battery died at the hands of the medico!!