Achan & Kochu

My favourite pastime ever since I’ve come home on a short trip happens to be making endless arguments with my Achan regarding his medicines. Each fight lasts for a few minutes and ends up with his question, “which fish fry do you need for lunch”, or “what shall I get you for dinner”? 

He’ll easily win the ‘simplest man in the world’ award if there’s one. And his smile is all that’s needed to win every heart in the town. At the end of each fight, I look into the mirror only to find myself questioning my decision to stay miles away from him for the sake of a career. 

There was a time when I used to wait at the arrival zone at Trivandrum International Airport, getting ready to run and hug Achan as he came out with a trolley. All the world’s a stage and we just switched our roles. 

He’s all that I have and more importantly I’m all that he has. 

Theatre fright സഭാകമ്പം

സഭാകമ്പം തീരെയും ഇല്ലാത്ത ഒരു മനുഷ്യൻ ആണ്. എന്നിട്ടും ഇന്നൊന്നു വിയർത്തു. 

കാര്യം നിസ്സാരം. ഒരു സിസേറിയൻ സെക്ഷൻ.

പക്ഷെ surgeon സ്വന്തം ഭാര്യ...! Anaesthetist ആയി പാവം ഞാനും.

അതും ആദ്യമായി ഒരേ തീയേറ്ററിൽ വച്ച് കണ്ടു മുട്ടുകയാണ്. 

നാട്ടുകാർ (തീയേറ്ററിലെ മറ്റു സ്റ്റാഫുകൾ) ഉറ്റുനോക്കുകയാണ്. 

(Tense music in the background)

നാറുമോ? 

ഇനിയിപ്പോ സ്‌പൈനൽ കുത്തിയിട്ടു കിട്ടീല്ലേലോ?

ഇനി മരുന്ന് കുത്തി വച്ചിട്ട് ഏറ്റില്ലെലോ?

ശെടാ, അവൾക്കു ഞാൻ ആയിട്ട് ഒരു നാണക്കേട് ഉണ്ടാക്കേണ്ടി വരുമോ?

ധാരാവിയിലെ തീയേറ്ററുകളിലെ സകല കേസുകളും  ഒറ്റ രാത്രി കൊണ്ടു അനസ്തീഷ്യ കൊടുത്തു ഒതുക്കിയ ഞാനാ, എന്നിട്ടാ ഈ പരുങ്ങൽ.

അവസാനം പടച്ചോനെ കാത്തോളീ,

എന്നും പറഞ്ഞൊരു കുത്തങ്ങു കുത്തി.

സംഗതി ഏറ്റു. Success.

അഭിമാനത്തോടെ ഭാര്യ ബാക്കി സർജറി പൊളിച്ചടുക്കി. 

അതേയ് കൂട്ടുകാരെ, അങ്ങനെ ഞങ്ങൾ ഒരു മോർണിംഗ് ലിസ്റ്റ് അങ്ങു ചെയ്തു! 

Godsend

Contrary to what the media try to assert, this world isn’t that bad and we aren’t living through some of the worst days. There are a lot of kind hearted souls living among us and it is not tough to find them. All you need to do is to be ‘good’ and they’ll appear at the right time, Godsend. The whole Multiple Myeloma saga that my family went through taught me that there indeed is a mystical force that controls everything. Well, this post is not meant to be another chapter in Chicken Soup for the Soul. 

 

1

It was in the midst of all the covid chaos that Amma had a relapse of myeloma and got admitted. Her condition kept getting worse, it was certain that a count down timer had started to tick, and I was stuck in the UK unable to travel. And then Dr Roja would keep saying, “Don’t worry, we’ll keep her safe for you”. She kept updating me all the time. Finally I managed to catch a flight to India, but then there was this wearying layover at Bengaluru airport. Amma had already been shifted to the ICU. Had Dr Roja not given me a video call at that time to show Amma, whose eyes brightened seeing me on the phone, I would have collapsed out of stress. I had never met Dr Roja prior to all this, but she took care of my Amma and was a real guardian angel. I am sure there won’t be many who can be as modest as her. 

2

Amma is now in the ICU in a sinking stage, we still have no idea about the infection that is killing her. It should be around 11pm, I stand in the corridor with a heavy heart, clueless. My brain is too befuddled to make any more decisions. And then this angel walks in. Dr Govind took the helm from that moment onwards. I can’t explain how relieved I felt from that moment onwards. I didn’t have to worry about the medical part anymore. 

There comes this moment, the wee hours of the 25th of May, when I collapse on to a chair in the ICU, Amma is lying on the bed, she is no more. Govind gives me a call, “Just take Amma home. I will deal with all the hospital procedures, don’t worry about running behind the bills or anything at all”. 

Govind is a rare blend of knowledge, diligence, compassion and emotional intelligence. Ah, well, he carries the genes of Gangadharan sir and Chithra ma’am and hence it is hardly a surprise :) 

3

Anything I write about Dr Anupama would be an understatement. To me, she is an avatar of God. While Dr Gangadharan gave my Amma, an otherwise 'poor prognosis advanced multiple myeloma patient', a new lease of life ten years back, it was Anupama ma’am who watched out for her all these years. It was the faith I had in her that gave me the courage to move to the UK, for I was sure, Anupama ma’am would always take the best medical decisions for Amma. It would take a whole book if I keep on writing about ma’am. 

4

Remember Jai & Veeru from Sholay? That’s what Gayathri and I transformed into during the final hours of Amma. It would have been impossible for me to deal with the situation if she wasn’t there. Amma had crashed, and I was juggling between being a doctor and a son. Well, I’m still not bold enough to type in all those harrowing moments here, for it has been the most traumatic experiences I have ever had in my life.

5

Lakeshore, has been my second home for ages. It is the one place that always makes me feel special. The security guard who didn’t even let me pay for valet parking, the attender chechi or brother who would always enthusiastically usher my amma & achan even when I’m not around, my colleagues who rushed to blood bank in the wink of an eye...the place is full of people who keep showering love on me. 

Nahas used to run hither and thither managing Amma’s OP visits in my absence, well I once even turned green with envy when Achan ‘wrongly’ rang me and told, “Oh, I thought I dialled Nahas, we reached Lakeshore just now” (I was in Liverpool at that time). My family in the department of anaesthesia that include Radhika (kili), Anupriya (missworld) and Elizabeth (chungy) used to make sure that my parents never felt my absence during their follow-up visits. Even to this day, when I can’t hold my tears, I just take my phone and ring Jaya ma’am or Mallie ma’am. Naveena turns out to be the sister I never had.  Though notorious for forgetting names, my Achan still asks about Naveena. She was a huge support for my parents during the recent hospital admission. Nita ma'am & Tina ma'am used to fill me with confidence and they gave me the strength to take tough decisions. I used to feel guilty for having gone far from my parents and it was Mohan Mathew sir who made me feel better. 

It would be unfair to ‘thank’ all these people. Shwetha ma’am (matha shwetha) who kept visiting me at the oncology ICU once said, “Don’t ever thank your friends”.

(It's been four months since my Amma left. I have been waiting for a chance to get a picture with these gems. Missed Gayathri & Nahas though.)

#sobhanacharitham

The first prize goes to

“Everything is ceremony in the wild garden of childhood.” Pablo Neruda

Jawahar Balabhavan, Kollam.

(Can’t recollect the year, probably between 1988-1991)

The prizes get announced

തവളച്ചാട്ടം, first prize goes to Nithin Jayan

കസേരകളി, first prize goes to Nithin Jayan

ഓട്ടമത്സരം, first prize goes to Nithin Jayan

Prize distribution

And then the photoshoot.

This is one of the most priceless pictures that Amma had saved for me.

It features Amma teacher (Irene teacher) who passed away recently and Rasna, my first ‘best friend’. I lost contact with her once I left the nursery and have no idea where she is now. Hope she still remembers me.

I can hardly recollect the names of others except for Karthika and Manikandan. 

Myself, obviously the handsome lad, is fourth from the right, and Rasna is third from the right. 

The first prize was a stainless steel dinner plate :) I got three of them. Yoohoo.

(ശരീരം അനങ്ങിയുള്ള ഒരു ‘സ്പോർട്സ്’ പരിപാടിയിൽ ആദ്യമായും അവസാനമായും പങ്കെടുത്തത് ബാലഭവനിൽ വച്ചായിരുന്നു)

 

The Mosquito

I am a Hindu and I do believe that it would be wise to believe in the existence of a supreme power that can be thanked for all the good things or blamed for all the bad things that happen to you. Though a student of science I would continue to cling on to that belief until proven otherwise. My Amma was a strong believer while Achan is an atheist (‘almost an atheist’ would be a right description). Well, there’s this mosquito who inhabits the crematorium at Polayathodu, Kollam, Kerala. While I don’t care about its religious inclinations I can definitely certify that this creature, a Ghoul on wings, would be the most selfish and cruel being that inhabits Mother Earth.

Having not slept for almost a week and tired from all the stress I hardly had any energy left in me to perform the last rites of my mother. I should admit though that these rituals following death did bring me a sense of completion. I did, however, secretly curse the priest who ordered me to circumambulate the pyre thrice with the body! It was not just because I needed to do some strength training, the platform that hosted the pyre was very unscientific. And to add to the misery, it was raining cats and dogs. The priest was a very strict person and kept giving me and Unni (my cousin) clear instructions or ‘tasks’ which we executed with near perfection. Braving the sinister puddles without waking up the demonic snakes to pay our obeisance to the legendary Harishchandra whose temple is near the graveyard will remain in my memory for ever.

The wicked mosquito did not trouble me on the day. It was definitely not out of compassion for me. I was never still, my hands were mostly free and there was a lot of heat. It waited for the fifth day when we returned to collect the ashes. It was early in the morning, dark. Unni and I were asked to hold a cloth and keep it spread out as the priest diligently prepared the ashes.

We weren’t supposed to move. ‘That’s it. Now’s the time,’ I could hear the ominous laugh. The ruthless creature jumped on to my left arm and pierced my skin with its proboscis. It plunged deep and started sucking my blood. I couldn’t shake it off as I would lose the grip on the cloth. Neither could I blow off the mosquito, thanks to my 3 ply face mask (I sincerely believe that the whole sinister universe had been conspiring for this very moment and COVID was part of the plan). The mosquito sat still and nothing could interrupt its feast. Minutes felt like eons. Did Indra choose to be a mosquito rather than a bee?

I can’t remember exactly when the rascal flew away. I had tried to rub my arm against the priest as he inched closer to me during the ritual. Either that or a full stomach persuaded the creature to return to hell. With a sore and red bump on the skin I moved to Thirumullavaram to immerse the ashes in the Arabian sea.

The pointed fiend still looms over, I am sure, waiting for its moment!

(image courtesy: https://mahabore.wordpress.com/2013/11/01/karna-the-curse-of-parasurama/)

Nostos plus Algos

2005: It’s been hardly a week at Medical College Trivandrum and I call Amma, says that I’m badly missing home, that I’m quitting this course and I’ll take admission at TKM Engineering College so that I can stay at Kollam. 

2019: I’m searching for a place to stay at Liverpool. 

‘Moving away from my family to take care of my family’ will be the toughest decision I’ve ever taken in life. 

2005: Amma says a firm ‘NO’ to my ‘quit Medicine plans’ (Achan still in the Middle East taking care of us)

2019: Amma says ‘Yes’, not a firm Yes but a weak one. (Achan gave up his work to take care of his better half who bravely fought a cancer)

Thanks to this society for making it really difficult for Doctors to make a living, specifically the ‘young-growing up’ ones. 

NB: Well, this is just a random thought that drove into my mind while having dinner, and it isn’t a trigger for a debate of any sorts. 

(Latest thought that’s flashing right now: അമ്മേടേം അച്ഛന്റേം സ്നേഹം UK ഇലായാലും കിട്ടും, പക്ഷെ അവർ ഉണ്ടാക്കുന്ന ചോറും ചമ്മന്തിയും ചാള പൊരിച്ചതും ഒക്കെ എങ്ങനെ കിട്ടും?)

(അല്പം ചീഞ്ഞ) ഒരു ഉള്ളികഥ

പറോട്ടയും ചില്ലി ചിക്കനും കഴിക്കണമെങ്കിൽ സിലോൺ ബേക് ഹൌസിൽ പോകണം.

പോയി, എം ജി റോഡിലെ കടയിൽ തന്നെ പോയി.

നല്ല ഒന്നൊന്നര പെറോട്ട, രുചിയേറിയ ചില്ലി ചിക്കൻ. എന്ന പിന്നെ പോരട്ടെ ഒരു ചിക്കൻ 65 കൂടെ.

എല്ലാം കൊള്ളാം. ആസ്വദിച്ചു കഴിച്ചു കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുമ്പോളാണ് ചിക്കൻ 65-ഇനോട്‌  ഒപ്പമുള്ള ഉള്ളിക്കു ഒരു രുചി വ്യത്യാസം തോന്നിത്തുടങ്ങിയത്.
കൂടെ വന്ന സച്ചിനും അത് സ്ഥിതീകരിച്ചു. സംഭവം ചീഞ്ഞതാണ്.

വെയ്റ്ററിനെ വിളിച്ചു.

ഞാൻ: ഇതിലെ ഉള്ളിക്കെന്തോ പന്തികേടുണ്ടല്ലോ? ചീഞ്ഞിട്ടുണ്ട്
തികച്ചും നിർവികാരനായി വെയ്റ്റർ: ശരിയാരിക്കും സർ. കാലത്തേ അരിഞ്ഞു വക്കുന്നതല്ലേ, കേടായി കാണും.

പ്ലിങ്

ഞാൻ: സഹോദരാ, നിങ്ങളുടെ മാനേജറിനെ ഒന്ന് വിളിക്കാമോ?
ഭക്ഷണം ബലേ ഭേഷ് എന്ന അഭിപ്രായം കേട്ട് 100 വാട്ടിന്റെ ബൾബ് കത്തിയപോലത്തെ മുഖവുമായി പുള്ളിക്കാരൻ പോയി മാനേജറിനെ കൊണ്ട് വന്നു

ഞാൻ: ഈ ചിക്കൻ 65 ഇലെ ഉള്ളി ചീഞ്ഞതാണ്. ഇങ്ങനെ പഴകിയ ഭക്ഷണം തരുന്നത് മോശമല്ലേ.
ക്ലോസപ്പ് ആത്മവിശ്വസത്തോടെ  മാനേജർ: പഴകിയതല്ല സർ. അത് ഇന്നലത്തെ ഭക്ഷണം അല്ല. ഇന്ന് കാലത്തേ അരിഞ്ഞതാണ്, കേടായിക്കാനും ശരിയാ. പക്ഷെ പഴകിയതല്ല സർ.

വീണ്ടും പ്ലിങ്

ഇതിപ്പോ എനിക്കു വട്ടായതാണോ അതോ ഈ ഹോട്ടലിൽ ജോലി ചെയ്യുന്ന എല്ലാവര്ക്കും വട്ടായതാണോ എന്ന കൺഫ്യൂഷനിൽ ഞങ്ങൾ  നാരങ്ങാവെള്ളവും കുടിച്ചു ബില്ലുമടച്ചു വിടവാങ്ങി.


നാളെ കാലത്തേ തീയറ്ററിൽ കേസ് സ്റ്റാർട്ട് ചെയ്യാൻ പറ്റുമോ എന്തോ. എന്റെ ors പരമ്പര ദൈവങ്ങളേ കാത്തോളണേ.
(വയർ തടവുന്നു)

We are 5 years Old

കഥയുടെ പേര്, ചിറകൊടിയാത്ത കിനാവുകൾ. 

സുന്ദരിയായ നായിക ലക്ഷ്‌മി. ഇവൾ കോളേജിലെ ഒരു ഡോക്ടർ പയ്യനുമായി പ്രണയത്തിലാണ്. നിതിൻ എന്ന ഈ പയ്യൻ ബഹുമിടുക്കനും സുന്ദരനുമാണ്. അനീതി കണ്ടാൽ എതിർക്കും, കാർഡിയാക് അറസ്റ്റ് കണ്ടാൽ cpcr കൊടുക്കും. എല്ലാത്തിലുമുപരി ഈ ഡോക്ടർ പയ്യൻ ഒരു പാട്ടുകാരനും എഴുത്തുകാരനുമാണ്. 

തന്റെ പ്രണയം നിതിൻ ലക്ഷ്മിയോട് പറയുന്നു. അവൾ സമ്മതിക്കുന്നു. വീട്ടുകാർ എതിർക്കുന്നില്ല. 

കല്യാണം. 

കാലം  പറന്നു പറന്നു പോകുന്നു.

അവിടെ ഹൗസർജൻസി ഇവിടെ  റൂറൽ സർവീസ്

അവിടെ ഹൗസർജൻസി  ഇവിടെ gp അടി

(തിരുവനന്തപുരം കൊല്ലം തൃശൂർ...ഇതൊക്കെ മാറി മാറി കാണിക്കണം )

ഇവിടെ എൻട്രൻസ് തൊഴിലാളി അവിടെ ഹൗസർജൻസി

അവിടെ എൻട്രൻസ് തൊഴിലാളി ഇവിടെ PG

അവിടെ PG ഇവിടെ സീനിയർ രജിസ്ട്രാർ  

അങ്ങനെ അഞ്ചു വർഷത്തെ വിവാഹ ജീവിതത്തിനു ശേഷം 

അവർ ഒന്നിക്കുകയാണ് അവർ ഒരുമിച്ചു ജീവിച്ചു തുടങ്ങുകയാണ്

Sports and I

സ്പോർട്സ്! തീരെ പറ്റില്ല. ജീവിതത്തിൽ ഇതുവരെ ഉള്ള സ്പോർട്സുമായുള്ള ബന്ധം, നഴ്സറിയിൽ (ബാലഭവൻ) പഠിക്കുമ്പോ തവള ചാട്ടം, കസേര കളി, ഓട്ട മത്സരം എന്നീ മൂന്നു ഐറ്റംസിൽ കിട്ടിയ ഒന്നാം സ്ഥാനങ്ങൾ ആണ്. (അന്ന് സമ്മാനമായി കിട്ടിയതോ മൂന്നു പാത്രങ്ങൾ...ആഹാ ഇതാണ് സിമ്പോളിസം!)

WWF (ഇപ്പൊ WWE ) അഥവാ ഗുസ്തി, ഗുസ്തിക്കാരുടെ പടമുള്ള ‘trump കാർഡ്’ കളി എന്നിവയാണ് പിന്നീടുണ്ടായ ‘സ്പോർട്സ് കമ്പം’. ഫുട്ബോളിനോടും ടെന്നിസിനോടും ഒരു ചെറിയ ചായ്വുണ്ട്. ചായ്വ് മാത്രം.

ഇത്രയും പറഞ്ഞത്...മേലാൽ എന്നോട് ‘ഇന്നലത്തെ കളി കണ്ടാർന്നോ?’ ‘സ്കോർ എന്തായി’ തുടങ്ങിയ ചോദ്യങ്ങൾ ചോദിച്ചു ബുദ്ധിമുട്ടിപ്പിക്കാണ്ടിരിക്കാൻ.

(NB: I do get the required adrenaline gushes while watching the ‘thrilling’ moments irrespective of the category of sports. But I don’t follow up.

And I don’t watch WWE anymore...what’s a ring without the Undertaker, Stone Cold or The Rock(?))

Location:Kollam,India

The best of times

Wake up at 4am. Start streaming movies. Switch to novels when done with films. Switch to music when done with books. Take a nap. Return to movies.

When was the last time, I had such peaceful times? The summer vacations during school? Perhaps, yes. Those were the only other times that had seen me in trance.

Well, folks, most of you (not all) know me well, and the kind of roller coster ride that life has been for me. The ride has been fruitful so far. 

So why this post right now?

A week back, my results came out, I cleared the National Board Examination. Big deal? Yes, for me it is. 

So where do you stand now?

Well, this is what I am.

1. A proud alumni of Sree Narayana Public School, Kollam.  (Obedient, prompt etc, yes yes,don’t frown! I was, and I will continue to be. Huh?)
2. A proud alumni of Medical College Trivandrum. The Class of 2005. (Is there a more wonderful place? I doubt. A very unstable phase it was. The transition from school to college. Oh God! Still can’t comprehend how my friends adjusted with me! But thanks folks, and teachers, I feel rock solid now! Had I not been in this college I wouldn’t have cracked the DNB practicals, no no, not bluffing.)
3. An adorable product of Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi (yes, I’m adorable). First as a bystander, then as a student, and finally a staff. (Could a department be hectic yet cool; heavy yet make you madly miss when away for a month? Yes, that’s my gang) 

So what does it look like on paper?

Dr. Nithin Jayan, MBBS, DNB Anaesthesia

So the results came out a week back, what delayed this announcement?

Feel relieved, you just saved yourselves from a hyper emotional-drama rich-extremely mushy-cloud nine powered post. 

Wait, you said, staff?

Yes. I return to the Gangs of Lakeshore this Monday! The super cool-ultimate in awesomeness-Department of Anaesthesia. 

With lots of love,

Kochu

(Pic courtesy- Google Images)

Munthirivallikal Thalirkumpol: Men are from Mars

Munthirivallikal Thalirkumpol is a celebration of infidelity and male chauvinism that masquerades as a neat family entertainer. The portrayal of husbands as outrageous flirts and wives as ‘all-understanding-anything is okay-we are happy and satisfied with mega-serials’ type is interesting .The wilder and funnier thing about this movie is the depiction of an entire society as one encouraging promiscuity! Almost everyone in this movie encourages every-other character fancying someone else’s husband or wife. The college reunion scene where an entire batch of grown ups cheer and laud at ‘the' ex-lovers and give them space to rekindle the still burning rage of love was grotesque. One of the husbands in the movie is disinterested in his own wife and keeps searching planet mars for water, the character should be serving as an allegory. 

The protagonist who is bored with his life openly announces that he needs to flirt with a ‘chick’ to reinvent the lover in him. He requires to be dumped by a sexy lady (or realise that the dream girl he fancied was promiscuous) to realise that his ‘life is his wife’. He openly admits that he wore a ‘mask like face’ fearing that he would be easily seduced by ‘Menakas’ around. Finally when he rediscovers/ reinvents the love for his wife he feels secure! Oh God! Gravity defying logics. 

The movie, anyway succeeded in making a viewer like me ‘think’. Thus it’s a success. Now coming to the ‘movie-proper’, it has a few hilarious moments that’ll entertain you. After a long time, I liked the way Anoop Menon dealt with his character. Lalettan is, convincing, as usual (all pun intended). For someone who can do almost anything under the sun, there’s nothing challenging for him here. Let’s believe that Meena built up all the fat/weight to justify her role as Lalettan’s wife. Or was the director hinting that all middle aged (and older) housewives are obese? Who knows. Anyway someone has finally given a plausible explanation for why TV-soaps are rampant. Suraj Venjarammoodu finds perfect balance with comedy once again (after a forgettable and ugly stereotyped role in Pulimurugan). Kalabhavan Shajon, Sudheer Karamana, Sharafudeen, Aima, Master Sanoop and almost every actor in the movie show complete justice to their roles, all seem to be perfectly in control. Everything runs very smooth and balanced. The core problem which I felt is with the basic ideology, and the message that the movie tries to deliver. More unbearable is the Director/ Script writer trying to squeeze in ‘moral lessons’ on politics and parenting. The husband-wife chemistry is overstretched and exaggerated, scenes too repetitive. 

It isn’t a must watch, but a ‘may-watch’. If the theme sounds interesting, grab a DVD of Anuraga Karikkin Vellam, a beautifully crafted work. 

So finally, is Munthirivallikal an entertaining movie? Yes, indeed, after all it is the celebration of human basic instinct…polygamy! The ripples in box-office reflect our double standards. A Dark family entertainer!

ഒരു നെട്ടൂർ വീരഗാഥ

പത്തു കിലോ. തളരരുത് രമണാ. പത്തു കിലോ കുറച്ചേ പറ്റു. പ്രസ്റ്റീജ് ഇഷ്യൂ ആണ്. മാസങ്ങൾക്കു മുൻപെടുത്ത ഉഗ്രശപഥമൊക്ക്കെ ചില ക്ഷുദ്രശക്തികൾ റെക്കോർഡ് ചെയ്തത് നീ മറക്കരുത്.

സന്ധ്യ സമയം. മനസ്സിൽ മുഴുവൻ 'oats oats' എന്ന മന്ത്രം മാത്രം. ഹോസ്പിറ്റലിൽ  നിന്നും ഹോസ്റ്റലിലേക്കുള്ള ദൂരം താണ്ടാൻ വെറും പത്തു മിനുട്ടുകൾ. കമോൺഡ്രാ മഹേഷ്. You can do it. നിങ്ങളെക്കൊണ്ടേ അത് പറ്റു. 

ഓരോ അടിയും സൂക്ഷിച്ചു വക്കണം. ദുഫായ്  ഹട്ട് എത്തുമ്പോൾ ഒരു ഉൾവിളി ഉണ്ടാകും. കേട്ടില്ലാന്നു നടിക്കുക.

ഇനി നാല് മിനിറ്റുകൾ മാത്രം. മനസ്സിൽ വീണ്ടും 'oats oats ' എന്ന മന്ത്രം മാത്രം.

Lakeshore ഗേറ്റിന്റെ അടുത്ത് മാത്രം കണ്ടുവരുന്ന ഒരു പാതിരാകാറ്റുണ്ട്. വളരെ പെട്ടെന്നു തന്നെ അത് അവന്റെ ബാഗിലും ഷർട്ടിലുമൊക്കെ തട്ടിത്തടഞ്ഞു പോയി. ദുഫായ് ഹട്ടിന്റെ അരികെയുള്ള  ഓരോ അടി കഴിയുന്തോറും ആ കാറ്റ് കൂടി കൂടി വന്നു.

"ഭായ് ഒരു കപ്പബിരിയാനി...ചിക്കൻ മതി." 

ബംഗാളി പയ്യന് മനസ്സിലായോ എന്തോ. 

"ഭായ്...ചിക്കൻ തന്നെ എടുക്കണേ."

ഹല്ലാ ഞാനെന്തിന് ഭയക്കണം. നാളെ മുതൽ ഭയങ്കര വർക്ക് ഔട്ട്  ആയിരിക്കില്ലേ. 

(NB: സന്ധ്യാസമയം പാതിരാകാറ്റ് എങ്ങനെ വീശും എന്നാണ് ആലോചിക്കുന്നതെങ്കിൽ പറഞ്ഞോട്ടെ, കഥയിൽ ചോദ്യമില്ല. ) 

Location:Kanayannur,India

A CT in time saves nine

“These points weren’t tender before. Seems like we should do a CT screening again”- these words struck me like a thunder bolt. A multitude of memories flashed through my mind. The verandas at Medical College, the radiation suit, the stem cell transplant room, the dark corners of the car parking ground at Lakeshore…everything. Sigh! Is the crab back again? Is the Lady fit enough to fight it again? I’m not really sure this time.

It was the beautiful healthy life free of cancer that gave her hope then. A bubbly energy filled cutie being restricted to the walls of a house is not a pleasant visual. But the very fact that I still have my Amma to hold my hands is all that I care about. I know, she hates not being able to walk around without those heavy braces to support her spine. I know, she feels terrible watching Achan busy with the household chores all alone. I know, she feels helpless missing travelling to Thrissur, my Better Half’s stomping ground. Yet, is life beautiful? I think yes, it is.

So then? As usual, the theatrics. She stares at me, scared. Oh come on, it’s nothing; I shake my head. Achan stares at me. Oh dear! It’s going to be nothing; I shake my head. Hope my palpitations weren’t loud enough to reach their ear drums.

The CT room. Done with the scan.

I rush to the Radiologist. Points a gun and commands, “opine…now.”

Suspense filled moments. The heaviest drain of adrenaline that I’ve had in recent times.

“Seems, we don’t have new lesions anywhere.”

Had she taken longer to utter this, she’d have had to announce a code blue. How long can someone hold his breath?

“Hmmm. Nice. We’ll wait for the blood reports then. Saved for now,” said the Oncologist.

A happy family rushes home.

 (For those who came in late: The Lady who Killed the Crab aka Sobhanacharitham Onnam Khandam )

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