Day 371

History was created at the Garden today with Dilip Babani (right) showing up before the start of exercises. At least four people looked skywards to ascertain from which direction the sun had risen this morning. Since it was overcast, many commented that out of fear, the sun had “run away” upon sighting him. For someone who rarely makes an appearance and that too, only towards the fag end of the exercises, his arrival today before time was indeed exceptional.
However, the absence of two regular members has been a cause of mounting concern in the Club. Ved Prakash Grover (below) has contracted viral fever – as he discovered yesterday. He is under medication, but complains of weakness. Doctors have advised him three to four days rest, till the fever runs its course.
Hari Singh Shekhawat is admitted in INHS Asvini, the military hospital at Colaba with a hitherto undiagnosed ailment. Tests are on. But it is neither malaria nor viral fever as some of us had suspected (see post of Day 366). According to his wife, he had developed severe cough over the past eight days, which used to lead to high fever on and off. On Saturday, when he had last come to the Garden, he looked quite pale and confused (pic left) but resisted the idea of going to a hospital or getting his blood test done. He abided by his family doctor’s advice of taking bed rest for three days, which was subsequently extended by another three days.
This morning, when he showed no signs of recovery, his wife had to forcibly take him to the hospital at Colaba and after a battery of tests and X-rays till late afternoon, he was asked to be admitted immediately. He is under observation right now. He has kept his cell-phone on, but his voice sounds feeble. From what his wife could gather from observing the doctors, “it could be something serious”. But since the hospital does not allow attendants to stay with patients, she has had to return home. Let us keep our fingers crossed and pray that our friend comes out of this crisis soon.
Says HARISH WADHWA:
I can see Grover-sa'ab holding three biscuits and teasing me who had none. If he had only shared them, he would not have been bitten by the virus. Jokes apart, may he recover soon from the viral bout and return for the exercises amongst us. Similarly, my prayers and wishes for an early recovery go out to Shekhawat-ji. May he recover soon with His blessings.