‘Choked Carburetors’

Ved Prakash Grover

Yusuf Rassiwala

Sandhya Narang

We are in trouble. Deep trouble. One by one, our members are falling ill – mostly with throat infection. While we try to cheer them up by jokingly comparing their odd rasp and constant coughing with that of a ‘choked carburetor’ (to borrow Arun Patil’s phrase), there can be no gainsaying that the viral outbreak this summer in the Club is unprecedented. The repressive heat and humidity in the air has done us in.
Yesterday Ved Prakash Grover had a relapse of the virus and today, when he came, he could barely speak. “What to say, the coughing refuses to subside,” he whispered. Ram Shankar Shukla is still under the weather. Earlier this month, Nahid Khan was down with a similar bout of viral fever and coughing.

Papneja distributes the medical forms

This morning Shekhawat called up Yusuf Rassiwala and it was the same story there as well. Choked carburetor. Ditto Sandhya Narang, who showed up today after a few days of absence. “I have never had such sore throat,” she complained. “The coughing has still not gone.”
Many suggested she visit Khatoon Baig’s doctor who had treated her for a similar ailment ten days back. Razia Khan, who had the worst and the most prolonged spell of whooping cough, was cured by the same doctor recently. Apparently he sits somewhere in Oshiwara and charges Rs1000 per consultation. The funny part though is that Khatoon now refuses to part with any more detail, so possessive has she become towards this mysterious medicine man.

Santosh Tyagi

In sharp contrast, Jagmohan Papneja is extremely forthcoming with any medical information in his possession that could be of possible of help to members. Today, he revealed a Senior Citizen Health Care Scheme under the aegis of the Brahma Kumari’s Hospital, near Andheri Station. He even distributed enrollment forms, involving a one-time payment of Rs1000, which should be a huge boon to our elderly members.
Incidentally, this is the same hospital where Santosh Tyagi had her gall bladder removed. The surgery was successful, but she is yet to recover from weakness. Worse, she too has fallen victim to the viral epidemic. She has become so weak that the other day she simply collapsed in her wash room out of dizziness. Luckily, she did not sustain any major physical injury, but her self-confidence has taken a bad knock. She needs to rest some more to recoup completely.
Harish Wadhwa:
I can only wish and pray that each member keeps good health. It is the biggest blessing one can get in life. Get well soon all of you, so that you can roar in the Garden during the sher bano exercise.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Throat infection and coughs are treated depending upon its cause. For most elders, treatment involves gargling hot saltwater regularly to remove mucus and soothe the throat.