The surgeon was stunned when he saw an animal tail on a human body. Along with other doctors, he was absorbed in finding out whether the man was born with the tail or he grew it later.

Each doctor had his own view about the tail. The man's eyes were fixed on the face of the surgeon. A nurse ran her hand on his tail and his entire being contracted, vibrating with a tickling sensation.

The surgeon said, "Well, man lost his tail millions of years ago. This is a tail of the twentieth century and it is going to be the first operation of its kind in surgical history."

His body was X-rayed, for, a report had to be prepared after thorough examination.

"We shall arrive at a decision tomorrow. The X-ray report should be available by that time," said the other doctor, running his hand over his head.

The third doctor, taking off his spectacles, opined, "The tail should be amputated and chemically as well as clinically examined."

Another said with all seriousness, "This tail resembles that of a dog."

"You can go now. Come tomorrow; don't forget to bring the medical history of your parents. We would like to examine whether you inherited this tail from your parents."

"But my parents are not alive, sir."

"Never mind. You bring old reports from your parents' family doctor."

"Sir, he, too, is no more."

"All right, you bring your son along with you."

"Yes, sir," he said.

The doctors were demanding medical reports of the wrong persons, he thought. If they only asked for the reports of his colleagues, the clerks in the office, instead of his parents and son, they might at least arrive at the right diagnosis. The reason why he thought so was that he had grown the tail only after joining service.

He thought it would be futile to argue with the experts in the medical profession. He climbed down from the examination table, put on his clothes and hid his tail. Reaching home he excused himself saying that he was not well, and went to his room. He switched off the light and sat gingerly on the edge of the bed.

His wife always used to say that he was a weak person. Sometimes he did agree with her. He was really weak. He was given to wag his tail before his boss. Whenever the boss roared in rage like a lion, he mewed like a cat in retaliation and then kept quiet. "You are a fool. You are fit only to be a peon, not a clerk. Why, you are even not good enough for it." And at such times, his tail grew in length and wagged more vigorously.

The boss was a wise man. He preferred dogs to human beings. And this man was his faithful dog, who could wag his tail any time. The man thought that his colleagues were also dogs. He didn't know if, like him, they, too, had grown tails. Sometimes, he looked at their behinds and thought that they concealed their tails inside their underclothes.

He had taken to the habit of looking at the behinds of people. He also looked for a tail in his wife's body. So far it was not there, but it would surely come out, he thought. He was his boss's dog and she was his bitch. She did not have a tail, but she wagged her carriage all right. Whenever she saw his wallet full of money, she forgot her normal behaviour. He thought that when the conditions were conducive, she would certainly grow a tail.

It became a habit with him to see a tail hidden inside every saree, skirt and trousers. He also felt that a man was on his way back to primitive times.

Anyhow, he couldn't think much about the tail that night and went to bed early. In the morning, he took his son to the hospital. He greeted every doctor and every nurse by turn. On seeing him, the other doctors, who had heard about the case, also assembled there.

The doctors took his son inside. For half an hour, he waited for the son patiently and when he came out, the man was happy.

With a grave face, the surgeon said, "Well, your son doesn't have a tail, nor is he likely to grow one. His genes are different from yours. We reckon he isn't your son."

"What? Do you mean he is a bastard?"

"You have to sort it out yourself. It's entirely your personal affair," the surgeon said, cutting short further arguments.

"But, doctor, my wife is faithful; she is a pious lady like Sita. She wouldn't think of another man even in her dreams."

"Don't waste my time with your arguments. You may go now. We shall amputate your tail," the doctor replied in anger.

"I am afraid of operations. If I don't recover from the operation, who

will look after my wife and children? I am the lone bread-winner in the family," he begged.

The doctor tried to make him understand, "Don't be afraid. You are not going to die. We shall amputate only your tail."

"No, doctor, no. I am afraid. Why are you holding me so firmly? I am not a lunatic." His eyes moistened with tears. "Please let me go."

We can't leave you till your tail is amputated. It isn't a good thing for a civilised person."

"But suppose it grows again after amputation?"

The doctor said angrily, "We shall amputate it again."

"No doctor, I shall not have it amputated. It's the means of my livelihood. Please let me go. If I lose my job, my family would starve. Please forgive me, doctor. I shall never visit the hospital again. I shall never talk of my tail. Please forgive me." He begged and fell at the feet of the surgeon. The doctors, taking pity on him, let him go.
 

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Published in the 'Indian Literature' Vol 187 by Sahitya Akademi