Under the surgeon's knife.

It was a normal day; got up at our usual time of 6, went through the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Earlier, had carried out the usual Wednesday 'aarathi' of the house. Carried out the day's work, fixed up with Appu, 'our gardener' for being my chauffeur-cum-attendant for the evening's appointment at the hospital.

We'd reached the Rajah hospital around a quarter past 5, finished the registration formalities and was at the surgical specialist's - Dr Mohammad Rafi - cabin by a half past 3 and I'd reported my arrival to the attendant nurse. Two facts about the doctor; he's a consultant doctor - to the hospital - from 1630 hrs, everyday. His father was an ardent fan of the legendary singer and had named his son after him. An efficient doctor and we have had first hand experience because sometime, last year, Lekha was treated by him for an enlargement of one of her parotid glands.

There were three of us slated for surgery at the minor procedure room and I turned up to be the last; we were in front of the staid looking place by a half past 6, awaiting the doctor to finish with his patients for the day. 

As I'd mentioned before, there was an irritating boil behind my left shoulder. There was a bit of pain - the intensity of which had reduced considerably over the past few days but I must confess that it had begun sometime last month when I'd visited my parents' place. Taking it to have been caused by an insect's sting, I'd expected it to wither away over a period of time but it didn't and on the contrary, had assumed a reddish hue and a hideous look.

As the doctor began the surgery, it was about 8 o'clock. After administering anesthesia, locally, he'd taken out a reddish blob of flesh, about 11/2 inch long with a half an inch thickness, out of my shoulder. It was a couple of my sebaceous glands - which ensures the smooth flow of sweat and other secretions of the skin - that had got clogged and formed into a cyst. So, it wasn't an insect sting as I'd surmised! The wound has six sutures and I've been permitted to have baths and report for a change of the first dressing tomorrow morning, at a half past 10. 

The doctor's efficient team consisted of the following:-

(a) Satly (the senior attendant), who'd gone to the Gulf and has now, found permanent happiness in        his work. His older and 18 year-old daughter is doing a degree course in Commerce. He doesn't look it but told me that it was because he'd married at 23 yrs of age, before going off to the Gulf.

(b) Pankaja, the head nurse, quietly efficient.

(c) Thesni, a sprightly and nimble footed youngster.

(d) Anju, from Thiruvananthapuram, who's in her final stages of training.

(e) Anandu, from Ernakulam, a fun loving youngster.

They'd looked after me, very well, during that short period and I was touched by the fact that, they'd  addressed me as dad! I've, now, graduated from an 'uncle' to a 'dad!'

We returned by 9 and I'd sent Appu back to his home, without much ado. The heaviness that I used to feel on my left shoulder had suddenly become lighter. There were many medicines added for my intake!

A quiet evening, thereafter.

Tailpiece.

It was a quiet day. There were a lot of calls from everywhere to know about my tryst at the hospital.

Today was also the starting date of the annual festivities of the Guruvayur temple and began with the elephant race that consisted of three elephants.