Hero’s Welcome

Shekhawat is congratulated for returning from hospital, fit and fine

The garlands were missing. So were the bugles and the drums. But everybody stood to attention, eyes blinking in disbelief as Hari Singh Shekhawat weaved his way across the Garden in the early morning mist to take his position for today’s exercises.
Many instantly executed a silent salute for this man who, less than 72 hours back, had undergone a life-threatening surgery for removing blockages from the carotid artery of his neck (ref post of January 21).
“He is not human,” remarked Srichand Arora, watching Shekhawat at his usual pranks, jovial as ever. “Who will say he has just been discharged from hospital? This must be the only specimen on earth. Nowhere will you find another such character!”
“Be careful,” Banoo Apa cautioned Shekhawat as he pranced around in the course of the exercises. “You are not supposed to exert yourself so soon after an operation. Who told you to come to the Garden today?

Mallika treats us to morning tea

You should be resting at home now.”
“I had already spoken to the doctor,” retorted Shekhawat.
“Before discharge at 2:30pm yesterday, I told the doctor that I go for laughing exercises every morning.

Parting treat: Prabha Kapoor is relocating
to Delhi this month-end 

He said no problem, do what you like. There are no restrictions on my life style, food or daily routine. It doesn’t even feel I’ve just had an operation.”
Later, Shekhawat was to explain in detail the procedure – as well as the hospital food, the two young nurses assigned to him in ICU, the fact that the surgeon holds a near 100% success record, how supportive everyone was… “I have been told to go for a follow-up on the 25th and once every three months thereafter,” he added.
This is the same Shekhawat who, in 2013, had plunged into severe depression following a heart stroke and bypass surgery at Asian Heart Institute. The depression lasted for nearly a year during which he had turned inconsolably desolate, confused and crestfallen. This time around, he has become the polar opposite, brimming with confidence and positivity. “I am a fauji aadmi (solider), don’t forget,” he boasted, a look of triumph writ large on his face.
“It’s nothing but willpower that has taken him through,” observed Tara Chand Seth. After all, before being admitted to hospital, Shekhawat had promised (ref post of January 18) to “return in time to unfurl the tricolor on Republic Day”. He has kept his word.
Lt Col Angad Singh:
Shekhawat is back, hale and hearty. It shows his 'will power', as also the WILL of the Almighty. Everyone was overjoyed to have Shekhawat back in the Big Laaf club.