Instant Remedy

'You must have four aloo-parathas', Gupta tells Karuna Waghmare (l)

Karuna Waghmare has not been keeping well of late. She looks weak, walks with halting steps and her voice has turned quite feeble. The tremor in her right hand is still there. But she tries to put up a cheerful face and is dismissive about her condition. “Age is catching up,” she smiles.
Bijoy Gupta is however, not convinced. “What are you saying, Karuna-mayi?” he buttonholed her this morning. “You have to live another 20 years. You need to eat four aloo-parathas every morning together with double-egg omelet and one full glass of milk laced with almonds and honey. Only then will you be able to regain your strength.”
“No, that way I will end up going straight to heaven!”
Karuna says that she may not look it, but

Siba Prasad Maitra

she is already a grand-mother and what’s more, a great grandmother to a three-month boy. “He’s born in Canada,” she informs. “I want to go there and see him, but my health does not permit. Maybe later this year, I should make it.”
“Of course, you would make it,” Gupta said encouragingly. “Just come to the Garden regularly and exercise with us. All your problems will disappear automatically.”
It seems Karuna was recently prescribed some ayurvedic health supplements and to her utter dismay, she began to age rapidly. “My skin became loose and wrinkles started appearing everywhere. I could not recognise myself. In three months, I had turned into an old hag. Funnily, when I stopped the medication, my skin returned to normal.”
Karuna’s main concern now is the tremor in her hand which seems to be worsening by the day. Some time back, Siba Prasad Maitra had suggested she check a new drug in the market, but only after consulting her doctor. Sadly, the lady has made no headway yet on this count.
Meanwhile, we are told that Maitra is down with a viral affliction – which explains his absence from the Garden in the last two days. Let’s hope he recovers fast and is able to enjoy the World Cup football starting today in Russia. We look forward to his company in the mornings.

Bihari Milwani:
I wonder how Gupta-ji was suggesting aloo-parathas for Lioness. He should have suggested chicken or mutton parathas.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
We all are senior citizens and we should be very careful about our food during the rainy season. We should be choosy and eat only easily digestible foods. Whether it rains or shines, we must come to the Garden to enjoy the exercises and laughter. Leave the rest to Almighty.