Deep Freeze

Angad Singh

Khatoon Baig

Naseer Putani Shah

Fahmida Khan

A cold blast from the north has drastically impacted our daily attendance, bringing it down to single digit for the past few days. Yesterday, by the time

Shekhawat

the exercises were over, we were reduced to barely three for the tai-chi round. Today we got one better. We were four.
Our main concern has been the absence of those who were regular earlier. Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd), for one, complained of being prone to catching cold and did not risk stirring out in the morning. Khatoon Baig and Naseer Putani Shah are known asthma patients and on doctors’ instructions, do not expose themselves to the winter chill.

Siba Prasad Maitra

Likewise, Fahmida Khan has been advised to venture out only when the sun is up.
The biggest concern though, is Shekhawat. On Monday when he turned up last, he was showing signs of acute breathlessness and debilitating health. Today, his condition turned critical and he had to be rushed to the nearest GP. He was in no state to even walk. Upon being diagnosed with a drop in his oxygen level he was administered a nebulizer

Banoo Apa

and thereafter, put through an ECG. An infraction in his heart rate indicated the possibility of a recent cardiac attack that had gone undetected.
Unwilling to take chances, the good doctor suggested he consult his cardiologist immediately and not lose any more time. Such was the nature of the emergency that the GP advised him to even “skip lunch and be prepared for hospitalisation right away”.
The latest is that Shekhawat was headed to the naval hospital in Colaba, accompanied by his wife and daughter.
On a happy note, Siba Prasad Maitra marked his return from a holiday in Dubai with a pack of butter toffees. Banoo Apa also informed that there is nothing to worry about her. All is fine. She explained her absence (over the past three days) to taking a break with friends at some holiday resort in Lonavala. She needs to catch up with sleep now and would report to the Garden tomorrow.
EVENING UPDATE: Shekhawat has been admitted this afternoon to INS Ashwini, the naval hospital in Colaba. A battery of tests is being run on him on an emergency basis and by late evening, the reports on X-ray and blood tests had come in. Prolonged exposure to the morning chill is being cited as the cause for his distress. Let us all hope and pray for his speedy recovery.

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
Our friend, Shekhawat has shown extraordinary courage by boasting as if he is still a young boy and had started behaving as such. No doubt, one should be mentally fit and robust. Only then one can be physically fit and happy. It is good that Shekhawat went to see a GP and thereafter, rushed to INS Ashwani. He has been properly taken care of. He is almost alright. I spoke to him and he is likely to be discharged on February 2.

Karun Sharma:
It has been record-breaking cold in Delhi. I am in this area since 31st January and unless there is work, I am not venturing out. I have decided not to visit people only for social reasons. Our club has many elderly people and they are doing right staying indoor.