Short Story: No One Understands

Maliha Iqbal shares a tender story about life of a woman, who is bound by the expectations of the society and the need to be normal, in an abnormal world.

I am Dr. Shweta Joshi but I don’t like using ‘doctor’ in my name. It distracts customers and I have to participate in unnecessary discussions with them so I have stopped using this title now. It has made things more efficient and it makes no difference to me. I have typed out so many Ph.Ds. that I barely remember the title of my own but it’s all going to come to an end now. I am going to be normal now. I have always wanted that.

About a month ago, after returning from work, I found my mother sobbing inconsolably. She refused to tell me what had happened. I thought that it was probably due to my father’s death. I couldn’t think of an appropriate response until I suddenly remembered that I had typed out several obituaries. I had begun speaking in a high, clear voice,