Distressing

Bijoy Gupta (file photo)

The effects of advancing age, domestic neglect and extreme weather conditions are telling on our Club members. More importantly, a sense of utter helplessness has seized us all and robbed many of their natural ability to laugh.
Take Bijoy Gupta’s example. He is 75-plus and has contracted what he describes as "a mysterious disease”. Consequently, his visits to the Garden have become erratic. Today he woke up in time but realised he could not take even a step from bed. His knees had given way. Using the toilet, bathing, wearing clothes, etc. have become excruciating.
It all started in mid-April when he developed sleeping problems that kept him awake during night and listless through the day. When the “English medicines” prescribed by doctors

Shekhawat narrates tale of woe

did not work, he resorted to self-medication with ayurvedic pills. Miraculously, they helped and he could get his full night’s sleep.
Meanwhile he developed another problem – joint pain which he ‘somehow managed’ with pain killers. Soon their effect wore off. Again he took to self-medication ("half English dawai and half desi dawai") and now admits he has landed himself in a major mess. “Which doctor to trust?” he asks helplessly.
Shekhawat presents another case in point. Of almost the same age as Gupta, he has been running from pillar to post for relief from the skin infection in his chest (ref post of May 7). In between, he started to lose weight rapidly such that he is no more than 40 kilos today. He feels nauseous, weak on the feet and looks a pale shadow of his former self.
Yesterday, his son referred him to a dietician who promptly prescribed “medicines worth Rs6,000 and charged Rs3,000 as fees”. Thereafter she directed him for a series of pathological tests that cost him Rs4,000. He will be visiting her again today with the test results, only to be punished by another load of medicines and a humongous bill.
Shekhawat has smelt a rat as the medicines are nameless concoctions the dietician prepares herself. He is also at his wits' end as to how the earlier lot of medicines were prescribed prior to any medical test. “But then, what can I do?” he pleads.

Bihari Milwani:
The lions, after fighting each other, are injured and almost 'caged' at present.

Karun Sharma:
Both the gentlemen were most active and lively. It is extremely important, but difficult to remain healthy in all aspects -- mental, physical, social and spiritual. Physical discomfort affects us most. We pray they both recover from their low phase and live like the kings they were.

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
We all have to undergo physical ailments. It is always better to consult a good physician for such issues. At the same time, it is very important that with all our problems we should have some activity to keep ourselves busy. The Club is one place where we can indulge in a number of pranks and be happy. Be regular in for the exercises, keep a pet, play with children do some social service or any other creative work. If nothing else, learn a language. But most important keep coming to the Club and keep laughing. This is free medicine, available in abundance.