My friend the dentist - 2

As I said earlier, this dentist friend of mine had set up his practice at Sajjan Rao Circle, Vishweshwarapuram, Bangalore. Being somewhat indigent he couldn't afford the costs of advertisements to publicise his practice. So he hit upon a method that was cheap and effective.

Those days, in the early seventies, the BTS (Bangalore Transport Service) bus route 11 used to ply from Gandhi Bazaar to Malleshwaram and pass through Sajjan Rao Circle. The bus would be packed liked sardine cans at the starting point Gandhi Bazaar itself with commuters who were largely office goers in the central parts of Bangalore. Dr Ramdev would recruit the services of two of his friends who were also his admirers and acolytes to board the bus and seat themselves at a strategic point in the bus. Later the bus would be crowded to the hilt, and as the bus started, his two friends would begin a somewhat loud conversation. As most of the bus commuters would be strangers to each other and there would be somewhat of a silence in this bus as these two would converse with a few jokes and interesting anecdotes that would mildly grasp the attention of all those standing around them.

Slowly the discussion would shift to matters of health and in a few more moments, just at at strategic time before the bus was to pass Sajjan Rao Circle, the topic would shift to dental problems. The commuters around the two seated youths would be listening with passive interest.

"By the way, Ramesh," one would tell another, "I don't know if you've ever tried Dr. Ramdev at Sajjan Rao Circle for your dental problems?"

"I've heard a lot about him but I've never had a chance to visit him as I've no dental problems", Ramesh would reply.

"A few months back I had an abscess of the tooth and I had a chance to visit him", the first would say, "I found him very competent and his rates were very reasonable!"

"Perhaps he is a young new doctor with some ideals !" the second would interject.

All the commuters standing around them and even those seated in the rows in the front and behind would be listening with growing curiosity.

"When I found his rates were so reasonable, I took my mother for a root-canal treatment and he did it so painlessly that my mother was so satisfied." he would continue. "For the rates he charges he seems to be one of the best!"

"Where is his shop in Sajjan Rao Circle?" the second would ask.

"I'll show you as this bus passes by," the first would reply.

And as the bus approached Sajjan Rao Circle and just before it passed the shop the first youth would wildly point to his equally eager looking friend "See! See! That shop with the grey door and the board 'Aryadanta Clinic' - That is Dr. Ramdev's clinic!"

And all the silent commuters standing around and even those seated would stoop to see the 'famed' clinic through the windows!!