We'd to meet up with Lekha's doctor at the Elite Hospital in the city. The approaches and the parking are difficult to handle in the best of times and therefore, we'd decided to hire a car for the purpose. George, our usual 'saarthi' was off on a trip to Kozhikode and he'd sent his trustworthy friend and good driver, Ravi, to look after our needs.
And indeed, we found Ravi - all of 56 yrs - to be of a different breed altogether. He'd a slight limp on his left leg and when queried, he'd said that the doctor has told him that his hip joint was badly worn out and it needed replacement. The limp was the consequent effect! He has not given it a serious thought because he doesn't have the resources!
We'd begun our journey, on the dot, at 9 AM. He told us that we shouldn't be worried about the narrow and congested roads that he'd be traversing through - in the course of the 25 odd km journey - because that was the only sure way to reach our destination on time! I didn't bother him with my 'what if we stumbled upon a massive block'?
As he continued to tell us about his life, we realised that he had all the medical discomfort that one could think about. He'd undergone an open heart bypass surgery about three years back, sealing that one problem for good. He'd kidney stones which were treated with natural herbs and recollected the tremendous pain that he'd to undergo while the stones were ejected out of his system. Of late, he's been diagnosed with gall bladder stones and the doctor had recommended the organ's surgical removal which would cost a tidy sum and he did not have that kind of money.
On his neighbour's advice, he's taking ayurvedic medicines from a lady 'vaid' who lives and practices her craft about 60 km from here. The treatment has been on for the past four weeks and he says that it has made a drastic difference. He has been advised to have water almost round the clock and consequently, his car doors' stowages have adequate bottles of drinking water, always!
We're pleasantly amazed by the gentleman's dedication to his job, something that actually aggravates his medical problems and his alibi is faultless, "Driving is my profession and it provides me my daily bread. This car - a white Maruti D'zire - has been given to me by my friend who's not even bothered about his returns from it. What more can I ask for?"
His family consists of his wife and two sons, who haven't been very enthusiastic about their studies. They, too, have followed him in the same profession........ giving us a wistful look as he told us about that part of his life. He's disappointed with their academic proficiency and sort of passes it off by saying, "It would have been difficult for me to look after their higher studies given the requirement of massive finances to sustain that".
Despite all that, Ravi has a pleasant face and keeps smiling - the essential hallmarks of true grit! May god safeguard him!!
Tailpiece.
Lekha's doctor has told us that she'd have to undergo another surgery to cover up the wound that has opened up. She has to report back for a review on 08 May, when the exact date of the surgery and admission will be decided. My job as her attendant has been assured and he has said that the entire process would take not more than 10 days, with the follow up of a 45 day rest on the wheel chair to ensure adequate rest for the foot and the scar!
And indeed, we found Ravi - all of 56 yrs - to be of a different breed altogether. He'd a slight limp on his left leg and when queried, he'd said that the doctor has told him that his hip joint was badly worn out and it needed replacement. The limp was the consequent effect! He has not given it a serious thought because he doesn't have the resources!
We'd begun our journey, on the dot, at 9 AM. He told us that we shouldn't be worried about the narrow and congested roads that he'd be traversing through - in the course of the 25 odd km journey - because that was the only sure way to reach our destination on time! I didn't bother him with my 'what if we stumbled upon a massive block'?
As he continued to tell us about his life, we realised that he had all the medical discomfort that one could think about. He'd undergone an open heart bypass surgery about three years back, sealing that one problem for good. He'd kidney stones which were treated with natural herbs and recollected the tremendous pain that he'd to undergo while the stones were ejected out of his system. Of late, he's been diagnosed with gall bladder stones and the doctor had recommended the organ's surgical removal which would cost a tidy sum and he did not have that kind of money.
On his neighbour's advice, he's taking ayurvedic medicines from a lady 'vaid' who lives and practices her craft about 60 km from here. The treatment has been on for the past four weeks and he says that it has made a drastic difference. He has been advised to have water almost round the clock and consequently, his car doors' stowages have adequate bottles of drinking water, always!
We're pleasantly amazed by the gentleman's dedication to his job, something that actually aggravates his medical problems and his alibi is faultless, "Driving is my profession and it provides me my daily bread. This car - a white Maruti D'zire - has been given to me by my friend who's not even bothered about his returns from it. What more can I ask for?"
His family consists of his wife and two sons, who haven't been very enthusiastic about their studies. They, too, have followed him in the same profession........ giving us a wistful look as he told us about that part of his life. He's disappointed with their academic proficiency and sort of passes it off by saying, "It would have been difficult for me to look after their higher studies given the requirement of massive finances to sustain that".
Despite all that, Ravi has a pleasant face and keeps smiling - the essential hallmarks of true grit! May god safeguard him!!
Tailpiece.
Lekha's doctor has told us that she'd have to undergo another surgery to cover up the wound that has opened up. She has to report back for a review on 08 May, when the exact date of the surgery and admission will be decided. My job as her attendant has been assured and he has said that the entire process would take not more than 10 days, with the follow up of a 45 day rest on the wheel chair to ensure adequate rest for the foot and the scar!
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