Family snapshot

Another Independence Day will soon be upon us and I cannot help but think how we, as a nation, have changed in terms of our values. My fath...

Another Independence Day will soon be upon us and I cannot help but think how we, as a nation, have changed in terms of our values. My father’s generation was different. He had simple habits and limited needs. And some fads, like an aversion to allopathic medicines.

But life tests even our beliefs. One day, father was unwell. Much against his wishes, he had to see a doctor. Tests were carried out and in the end the diagnosis was that he had an urinary tract infection. The doctor wrote out a good dose of antibiotics for him, which he had to take for ten days.

After two days, the drug started taking effect. On the third day, the fever was under control. Next day, father was normal. But the end of the fever brought a problem. Father reduced the dosage of the medicine on his own, without a word to the doctor or a hint to anyone in the family. For some days, things appeared to be under control. But, finally, all hell broke loose. He became unconscious. The body was emitting so much heat that the thermometer hit 108 degrees in seconds.

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There was panic. Ice was brought in to keep him cool, while I found myself sweating from head to toe. The doctor told us that we have to somehow procure Avil and Novalgin injections, which had to be administered within five minutes. Getting any medical help within five minutes was not a certainty. But in moments of need, there is divine guidance. Courage, too. I opened the emergency medical kit in the house. Luckily, both the medicines required were there. The syringes and the swabs, too. With shaking hands, I made my maiden attempt to administer both the injections.

Then father was admitted to the hospital and treatment followed. There was a strict regimen. A much stronger dose of medicines had to be administered. Father protested but was helpless. In between, there were moments of anxiety. But we were lucky.

For five days, I was by his side. Day and night. But one day, the nursing assistants insisted on my going home. In my absence, my son had to do hospital duty. The next morning, as I entered father’s room, I knew that something had gone wrong. Father was upset with his grandson and made no attempt to hide it. “Nidhesh did not have a wink of sleep. He was sitting by my side all the time. The whole night. And today, he has to appear in an examination. Why did you send him to stay with me?” he asked.

Although I did not quite show it, I was secretly happy that the hard work of parenting that my wife and I had put in, had borne fruit.

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Today — in a world that is increasingly losing its head over the most

superficial and silliest things — the timeless values of love, commitment, responsibility, selflessness, are our only real wealth. Both as individuals and as a nation.