'Fingers Crossed'

Singing the birthday song for Karuna Waghmare (centre)

Today was Karuna Waghmare’s birthday. Surprisingly, nobody remembered. And nobody wished her when she arrived in the Garden. In fact, nobody even noticed she was lugging a huge white bag, obviously filled with goodies – her birthday treat. It was only when she kept interrupting the exercises, merrily singing and talking to herself, that we realized she was deliberately seeking attention. “Don’t you people know that today is my happy birthday?” she blurted aloud. And then the nickel dropped…
But first things first:

Shekhawat: Hitting jackpot!

Kiran Prakash is glad to have contracted viral fever (yesterday’s post)! He got his blood test reports last evening and sent in a pithy message: “It’s normal. No malaria, no dengue. It’s viral… It’s good. I should be in Garden by Wednesday.”
Najma Sayyed’s sister, Nadira has also been in touch. This morning she confirmed that there has been no change in Najma’s condition, except that her blood oxygen level has dropped to a precarious 85 per cent. “The doctors are struggling to raise it to at least 90 per cent to prevent hypoxemia,” she said. “Blood oxygen below 80 per cent can compromise the functioning of heart and lungs.” The latest is that Najma was shifted to ICCU in the afternoon.
As for Mallika Kagzi, we were informed by Navin Bhai in the Garden that he had found her “slowly recovering” when he visited the hospital yesterday. Late evening though, her daughter-in-law Heena informed that a major cause of worry was that Mallika's platelet count had dropped further to 12,000 mcL (150,000 – 400,000 mcL is the norm) and fresh platelets might have to be injected.
This morning, Heena text messaged: “Some good news after days. Till yesterday night her platelets had fallen to an alarming 12k. Doc said if it goes below 10k, she has to be given platelets through IV. We couldn't sleep whole night. Early morning test showed that it didn't fall through the night. It stabilised at 12k. Let's hope it starts going up from here now. Fingers crossed. Prayers continue.”
Meanwhile, Shekhawat found a reason to rejoice. He has bagged a house in a MHADA lottery and promised to treat us to “not a party, but a free picnic” the day he gets the keys. But that is another story.
Dilip Babani:
Congratulations Shekhawat-ji, for winning the lottery!
Bihari Milwani:
Baa Baa Shekhawat ji, have you any flat?
Yes Sir, Yes Sir, three flats full!
One for my Big Sali, one for my Middle Sali
And one for my Sweet Little Sali who lives in the Village!!!
Lt Col Angad Singh (from Mohali):
It is strange that no one remembered Karuna's birthday, not even the Blog Monster. Not believable. This has not happened in the history of Big Laaf. Anyway, it is enjoyable that such things happen. It is also good that Shekhawat-ji got a flat on concessional rates. Congrats Shekhawat-ji.