110 VIEWS FROM THE SUMMIT

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S THE MONTH OF JULY NEARS ITS LAST DATES, with the August round the corner, I look down, from my perch near the summit of the mountain at the track that I have been crawling on , one step, at time, hand and foot.

It was on 27 August 2012, exactly one year back, that I was admitted to the hospital. Following a battery of tests, some painful or otherwise was diagnosed infected with chronic meningitis and was started on the slow and long anti tuberculosis medication, along with the stern warning , at my own peril, not to miss the daily dose of the pills, tablets and capsules, even for a day as the omission could result in slipping back to the Bottom of the pit once again : bit of a ‘Snakes and Ladders’ the game one played in childhood.

Discharged from the Hospital, carrying a bag full of medicines for company I was back at home, reduced physically from a 82 year to that of a toddler and to my chagrin totally dependent on other’s help for the daily body functions and mobility, needing help even to sit in the bed, walk to the toilet and administration of the daily dose of pills. Totally dependent and helpless, I fell in the able hands of Ranjit who took charge as if was routine for him.

My daughter and her husband from New York had their own notions of help. Rick’s helping me out of the bed and guiding to the chair, where I wanted to sit, was like escorting a lady, on arms, to the dance floor. Kalpana was on the other- hand totally helpless to assist in any of my daily chores.

With an alert mind , the situation was totally unacceptable to me and my vanity, unfair also to those who had to be on call 24X7 day in and day out at the cost of their own commitments, I harboured a burning desire to be self-reliant and independent once again at the too earliest.

Out of the hole, earlier assisted out of the pit by my son Ranjit, my will -power and the medicines prescribed by the Doctor at RR Hospital, exhausted and helpless, languishing, at it’s periphery, now at the base of the steep mountain of recovery stood facing me the daunting task of surmounting the obstacle filled steep climb, up the track , of recovery, that appeared too steep, daunting and formidable at first look.

Attitude and will power are great but by themselves not enough, ‘Effort’ also is required and so started the slow and painful task of rebuilding the atrophied muscles of the withered arms and legs. With sustained exercising of hands, feet and legs, even a single faculty partially regained was a step forward: sitting in the bed unaided, stepping out of the bed and standing was the feat of the day. Taking a few steps to the chair and taking the shower were major achievements. The ultimate was discarding the Diaper as I could walk to the toilet unaided.

To start it was always a short walk, a few steps at a time, around the room, supported by Ranjit, the distance and steps taken extended by a few more every day by the dint of will power. Every new day added a short and new step, inching towards the summit, a test of the physical ability, the progress gauged by the distance covered first aided and later on my own.

One day, taking courage in hand, I took the lift down, alone and unaided, the confidence was further ratchet another notch when I took the car Key, inserted it in the lock, opened the door, entered the car and occupied the driver’s seat, held the steering wheel in my two hands enjoying the virtual driving, and after some time managed to reverse the process on my own. And then one day, I feeling brave took the ultimate test: started the car, drove out of the Township to the Petrol pump to fill the tank get the pressure in the tyres checked and obtain the pollution certificate: a sweet small victory it was.

With the progress made and nearing the summit, slowly I resumed my social activities in the company the multitude of those living a normal life: life had started looking normal once again, activities limited only by the strength in the limbs and the energy level achieved.

I was aided and assisted out of the hole but climbed the mountain on my own, now left with just a few more steps, hopefully soon, to conquer the summit.

Extract from my new book "Smiles Tears and Heartbreaks"

bls31