Travelogue

It is 6 am on 25^th June morning and I am writing sitting in the balcony of Sharanam 11.

On 23^rd morning, we boarded King Fisher’s flight from Chandigarh to Delhi. Flight was delayed by about 30 minutes at Chandigarh it self as there was heavy air traffic congestion at Delhi Airport and ATC did not allow Craft to take off. As per our request we got the last seat so that Baiji can be seated comfortably. However the wheel chair refused to go beyond the crew cabin and therefore, with the help of wheel chair boy I lifted Baiji and made her to sit in the last isle side chair. However I made uncharitable remarks on air hostesses that they are very tender and weak to handle a patient when Baiji was again and again telling the beautiful ladies to lift her. ATR has also its own limitation. The most horrifying thing was that Air Conditioning was not functioning and in the suffocation, the passengers started disembarking and forced captain to fly.
Somehow we landed at Delhi at 11.45 am for onward journey to Jodhpur. Again the challenge was to lift Baiji and put her in the wheel chair. Ms Akanksha the female cabin crew member mustard all courage and alone lifted Baiji to the wheel chair after great efforts. Her whole uniform drenched with perspiration. You can see the feeling of satisfaction on her face. I felt embarrassed and apologized for my starting comments.

The next flight was of Air India.

From Arrival lounge we walked up to 400 meters for departure lounge. Took Baiji to wash room for urine flushing and freshen her up. Seeing me doing all this, the female house keeping staff of airport obliged me voluntarily and helped Baiji in the rest rooms meant for handicapped persons.

Air India has got hydraulic lift facility and Baiji was smoothly transferred to her seat. This was an Air bus which was equipped with all the modern gadgets for more comfort for passengers.

We landed in Jodhpur at about 2.30 pm. Jain Sab with family came to Airport to receive us. On reaching home, the complete charge was handed over to Induji. Behanji prepared the complete list of medicines and diet and their timing. I observed the patient till next early morning and seeing the things getting attuned, I went to Nakodaji with Ashok Rathi. We also went to Ashotra for Darshan of Lord Brahamaji. In India there are only two temples dedicated to lord Brhma. It is said whosoever take the responsibility of constructing the temple of Lord Brahmji has to die immediately after temple warming ceremony. In this case, Kheta ramji Maharaj took samadhi on the say day of opening of the temple in 1986.

After attending a scrumptious lunch at Balotra hosted by Ashok’s dealer, we came to town at around 5 pm.

I took train for Ahmedabad at 6.45 pm and the train chugged in at Ahedmbad Railway station at sharp 3.30 am next morning, I was amazed with the cleanliness of Suryanagari Express. I hired one taxi at immediately rushed to Sharnam 11. Bhabhiji is on the way from Pali to Ahmedabad and will be reaching here by 7.30 am. But was really impressed and happy to see the neatness and beauty of Bhai sab’s flat. Everything is so perfectly kept. Anyhow I tried to sleep, but could not. So without wasting a single minute, I got up, prepared tea and enjoyed reading Chetan Bhagat’s book “The Greatness Guide 2”.

And just finished writing this note for all of you.

More reams to write…but wait for my next posting pl.

INDER MATE TERI JAI HO...

With the blessing of baiji, Neeru has purchased new house and in the presence of Jijaji and Kamla baisa, house warming ceremony was done in Mumbai on 20th June, 2010. Congratulations.

In the same way, we also performed Havan in our newly acquired Flat at Chandigarh (Zirakpur). It is a three bed room flat with an area of around 1525 sqft. It is fully fully furnished with ACs and other accessories. It has a club house with swimming pool and a primary school within the complex.

Attaching herewith a few snaps.

I am sure, Induji will be blessed with all prosperity as she has volunteered to do sewa of baiji despite so many odd not being in her favour.

I always sing song in my house, "Indira mata teri jai ho.., Nao (nine) Santano ki mata teri jai ho....."

Now busy in packing up.....enjoy yourself and pray God for well being of Baiji...

I remember the story of Buddhi Kaki written by Prem Chand....I am sure the story will not be repeated.

"Ga kare.....Ga kare....."

Yesterday was again a tough though a normal day. In the preceding mid night, got call bell from Baiji and noticed that she was feeling wet. The Catheter developed some technical snag and urine was leaking. Some SOS changes were made and waited for morning. We called nurse and at around 9.30 am he did betadin flushing.

In the afternoon, when (except Beenu), nobody was at home, Baiji again had feeling to pass stool. Behanji mustard all courage and helped her sitting on wheel chair. But the chair tilted a little bit, behanji tried to control as far as possible, but in the process she suffered a huge jerk in her spinal cord. Good masses and medication was done. She is alright now.

After a few hours after flushing, we again noticed that urine is not coming in the required quantity and we could see bubbles/flakes in urinal pipe. Obliviously, this was a case of infection.

So without waiting, I talked to the urologist and he suggested for inserting new three way catheter. The same technician was called and he brought the desired pipe and flushing activity was repeated with new instrument. This is a painful process and we can hear the huge cries from Baiji.

Beenu and attendant took care of her for the whole remaining day as I was away to office and at flat site.

Anyhow, night passed peacefully. As usual I got up at 5.30 am today and after brushing and a little bit of “pranayam” went to kitchen for making tea. Baiji would call immediately for taking her to Wash room. We took her to bath room, though it was a little early from usual routine. After we had our tea. behanji again went to wash room to help her for other activities.

Meanwhile, I went out side to see, if Attendant is coming. After seeing her from a distance of 300 meters, my joy knew no bounds and I cried…”Ga kare…Ga Kare…”.

A BROTHER IN NEED IS A BROTHER INDEED

Now a days Prasana and Gudia are in Mumbai to stay with Sumit and also for treatment of Gudia. I had opportunity to visit them though for a few minutes on the way to airport when I was in Mumbai recently.

Sumit has got a two BHK accommodation in prime locality of Andheri on FF. Before, coming to Mumbai, he had never gone to any other big city. He is very sensible, sincere and innocent. When it comes to sharing responsibility, I will give him full marks.

He is taking Gudia to Bombay Hospital, getting all the tests done including MRI and CT scan. Getting appointment of good physician is also a herculean task in Mumbai. He has been doing all these diligently. MRI report is expected on coming Monday.

Sumit, may I assure you we all are with you and if you require any kind of support, we are always avaiable. You have given a very good example of true brother.

“Hain man tu kyo kare re manan”

Last week was quite hectic. Kids have gone to Jodhpur to stay with their Nani nani. Our servant Priti left the job. Baiji was always complaining that no doctor is visiting home here in this big city. We have big hospitals, but when we call doctors at home, they are very rude and would ask us to bring patient to hospital. And unfortunately patient is not in a condition to be taken to hospital in a paralytic condition. So to give her relief we made our campaign more vigorous and at last found one physician who would be visiting us. However, before his visit, we saw crystal flakes in urinal pipe and called male nurse and got the catheter changed. Only four days back when I was out of station, medicinal flushing was done owing to same problem. Thanks that I have a friend doctor staying at a remote location and would advise me on phone.

On the same day she was complaining about pain in eye. So again I called ophthalmologist who is good Samaritan who responded to my call.

On next day morning physician visited her and prescribed not less than 10 medicines and surprisingly they were same medicines which she was taking, but of different companies. He also suggested for physiotherapy. So on Tuesday afternoon physiotherapist came and given her a mild exercise. But as the nature of baiji is, she would not agree for anything. So we had to reluctantly say no to physiotherapist for further visits. Despite she being a hyper diabetic patient, she will require not less than 2 spoons of sugar in tea, love to eat sweet after each meal, would like to have namkeen and again followed by soanf with misri.

Calling and visiting so many doctors only made me to convince, that this is no more a mission, but a big commercial venture.

Then, Baiji keeps on remembering and crying for home town. The slightest hint of taking the responsibility. many a times, took the dear ones to hibernation. Hats off to Behnji, who despite being so nervous after untimely and sad demise of the most lovely brother, discharging her responsibility so diligently and shelved her plan to visit Thailand and parents who need her so badly now.