N is a lovely, old client of P’s. She has been seeing him for many years now, and counts him as a very fond friend. A fortnight ago, she stood across the counter from me, making her next time to see P.

“Oh, please can I see him in a fortnight on the Wednesday?” she asked.

“Sure thing. Your usual time?”

“Oh yes,” she responded. “Unless he comes in earlier? It’s April Fools Day on the day and I want to play a prank on him”.

After she left, I smiled to myself and made a mental note to be in office the next time N was to come in. I did not want to miss this.

Two days back, she called me to re-confirm.

“So, I am the very first client he will see on Wednesday, right?” she re-affirmed.

“Oh yes”, I said, absently.

“Good. Because I have thought of how to confuse him.”

Today, I watched N with some amusement, as she waited eagerly in the waiting area. I hoped that her prank would be successful. Soon, an unsuspecting P ushered her into the consult room, closing the door behind him. Some five minutes later, I heard much guffawing and laughter drift through the closed door.

“Her prank must have been successful”, I thought to myself absently.

Fifty minutes later, N walked out wringing her hands. She sought me out almost instantly.

“Do you know what happened?”

I looked from her to P, questioningly.

“As I sat down across him, I told him that he was wearing socks from two different pairs.”

P chuckled.

“I expected him to get flustered and check his socks,” she shook her head sadly.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Oh, he just exclaimed at how perceptive I was.”

I was confused.
As if to explain, P raised his trouser legs to reveal one black and one grey sock each.

Trying to contain my amusement, I consoled her.

“I understand N. Does it not worry you that he is a certified practitioner?”

“Oh well”, she said with some gentle irony. “I guess you have to be a little crazy yourself, to treat the crazy.”

I smiled and looked to P, who by now, was gleefully recounting the episode to someone else in the office and showing off his mismatched socks.

“I really should see someone,” I heard his voice ring out merrily, “But I cannot afford to see myself.”

Laughing helplessly, I went back to my work.