Worst is Over

Arun Patil in hospital

Arun Patil is done with the amputation of his right foot (see post of May 9). Last evening, under the supervision of his diabetologist, Dr Prabhakar Shetty, the gangrenous foot was severed from his body in a procedure that lasted three-and-half hours. Apart from close friends, his wife and son were present with him at the hospital.
“The operation is successful,” Arun reported on phone this morning. “It was done under local anesthesia but it was still extremely painful. I felt like a huge stone had been placed over my leg. The pain has subsided though. I am fine right now and by the evening, I suppose the pain should go away completely. But last night was hell!”
Arun has taken it bravely. He wasn’t exactly cheerful, but sounded relieved and conditioned to facing the future with confidence and courage.

Jagmohan Papneja (left) celebrates being voted SCB secretary

In fact, he made light of his severed foot, soaked in blood and pus, being wrapped in old newspapers by his friends (in front of his eyes) and taken out of the hospital, to be incinerated in a cremation ground close-by.

Arora foils Gupta's summer vacation hopes

And here in the Garden, this morning, we were playing the fool, discussing everything under the sun – from the earthquake in Nepal to Shekhawat wanting to throw another luddoo treat for yet another saali to finalizing the manifest for the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani trip beginning May 19… Jagmohan Papneja celebrated being elected secretary of Senior Citizen’s Brotherhood in the neighboring Garden. He distributed barfis, courtesy his 86-year-old friend, Hem Chand Jain.
The only serious subject of discussion was a proposal to suspend exercises during the summer months because of the incredible heat. “We should have summer vacation as they have in schools,” suggested Bijoy Gupta. His fervent pleas were lost on Srichand Arora (who was conducting the exercises) till Gupta got close and shouted into his ears. Short of spanking Gupta back for his audacity, Arora advised him to come sucking his thumb like a schoolboy from tomorrow morning and then, maybe, his proposal could be considered.
That put paid to all hopes of any summer vacation.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
I wish Arun-ji speedy recovery. He needs to be more careful about his health. This is a timely warning to our senior brethren to be careful about their sweet tooth. Congrats to Papneja for his election as secretary of SCB.
Bihari Milwani:
Listen to Shekhawat's suggestion: Beat the heat by doing the exercises in Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani during summer. He can arrange a very good package.