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We
always think that we are living life on our terms, creating and reacting to the
situations as we wish and that nothing drastic can happen to us, at least as
long as we are careful.How far from truth it can be! He, up there, holds the
strings of our lives and decides what should happen and when and pulls the
strings and here we will be dancing to His tunes. We, both myself and my
husband were quite disciplined in our food habits, exercise régime and were
under the impression that we had taken good care of our health.
This myth was
shattered one fine(?) day when my husband had unbearable abdominal pain. Of
late he had been having it occasionally, which he would diagnose (?) as acidity
or gastric conditions and some fasting would solve the problem. But this time
the onslaught was so sudden and intense that he started rolling on the floor
clutching at his tummy and vomiting in between. It was horrifying to see him in
that pathetic condition. When we called his friend Mr.Surendra Hiremath, a
dermatologist working at Bangalore
Hospital
That
started it. My husband was taken for x-ray, scanning and other tests and when
we were asked to deposit Rs.10000 immediately, we knew that it was going to be
a stay for at least 2-3 days. When I called my daughter at home, who was
readying the bed for her dad when he returns after the checkup was full of
tears. I assured, albeit falsely that we would be home latest by next day, but
ultimately it turned out a long stay of ten days at hospital, during which
period my husband was diagnosed as having gallbladder stones, which had
inflamed the pancreas. So before removing the gall bladder, the condition of
the pancreas had to improve, which took six days, through endoscope the fact
that there are no stones in duct had to be ensured, which took another 2 days
and finally on 8 th day he was operated upon and we came back home
on 10 th day.
But
those 10 days had their own funny moments, positive instances, and cherishable memories.
We
were both in awe and reassured in the presence of the gastroenterologist Dr.Praveen, who appeared to
be very strict and tough taskmaster but his eyes twinkling through his glasses would give away his witty
humorous nature. When he explained first that gall bladder had to be removed, I
asked him what happens next. Straight faced, he replied, “ When you demolish a
house, what remains there? A vacant site! That’s what happens here.” Then I
asked what if there is unauthorised encroachment, he re-assured that there
will be proper fire-wall and fencing and there is no need to worry. But he did
warn that burping may continue as long as there is gas in the body, and that he
is also having occasional bouts of them, when his wife leaves him but returns
after 2-3 days! His best advice was to avoid four types of meals : marriage, festival, ceremony and griha
pravesh and even at home to listen to the lengthy intestine and not two inch
tongue ! On another day, after scanning, when I enquired about the size and
number of stones, as friends and visitors have been enquiring about them and I was unaware, he advised “ It is not your bank balance which you need to
count or boast of, just ignore it! ”
After the operation, due to the anesthesia
affect, my husband was uttering something inaudible, and though we had trouble
in making sense of them, at times we could not control our laughter. As he had
been on drips for 8 days, he must have been thinking and dreaming about food
and hotels, so once when I asked him if there was any pain, he blurted, ”Dr.Praveen
is dancing on a table in Roti Ghar !”
As it was very important that post operation,
all organs take over their respective functions, doctors and nurses were
monitoring everything very closely. When I was sitting and chatting with my
husband and children on the day after operation, a nurse came and asked my
husband whether he could urinate and my husband replied in the affirmative.
Already a bemused look was appearing on our children’s face, then she asked “ How much ? 200ml ” My husband, a little dismayed, replied
“normal”. Then her face cleared as she muttered “oh 300ml . That day we
realized the measure of normal urination but could not help giggling when my
husband commented “ How do I know? A few drops might have fallen when I get up
!”.
But the best comment came from my children
after the operation when they commented that they have learnt so much during
those ten days. They together had taken charge of everything: physical,
financial and emotional. Before operation even though my son was getting late
to work and daughter to her college and their mobile alarm would be ringing, we
had to shout several times for them to get up and get ready. Even if one time a
day I could not cook their favorite dish, they would fret and fume but here
they were, getting up at 5.30, taking care of our pet dog Pogo, managing all
the household work and cooking, taking
night shifts at hospital, and still always trying to cheer us up, and insisting
that we both eat and sleep properly.
So I realized that it was not what they have
learnt during this period - as the life would have given them the
responsibility and opportunity to learn things naturally anyway - it was I who
have learnt the biggest lesson of my life, that I need not unnecessarily worry
and fear about my children’s capacity to learn and manage things but also to
adopt to the situations.
Life is the biggest teacher.
