Delhi Dengue

 It is especially hard to see the frailty of aging parents; since you tend to remember them while growing up as energetic adults, providing love and security - your heroes. So seeing my Dad in the ICU looking half his size was gut wrenching. My trained physicians eyes immediately looked at the overhead monitor -relieved with what I saw.  His vitals were stable. Dengue had sapped all his strength. His voice was a bare whisper. I spent the next 10 days seeing him discharged home and starting to recuperate.  The newspapers were confirming rising dengue cases. I doused myself with more DEET than I have in a lifetime. I often say, if you need proof of the existence of god, all  you need to do is visit India.  The common man battles death at every corner. Humbled and frightened into submission - he becomes a slave to the ubiquitous superstition.  Men and women have hands laden with cheap rings on every finger.  Each ring has a different stone to ward off a particular evil spirit.  Also commonly seen are orange and red colored prayer threads, wrapped many times over an individuals wrist like bracelet and worn for added good luck, prosperity and even a bit of manly vigor. Not even my educated parents or for that matter I, were immune to this terror.  Habitually peppering our statements with "touch wood" and "gods grace".  Nothing like living in India to bring your mortality into sharp focus.  back to the hospital, I was completely taken by this service and dedication of the nurses from Kerela (a state in Southern India). These girls, mostly in their 20s and early 30s exuded a quiet determination. But above all of, what struck me most about their work was an aura of peace and joy.  And work tirelessly they did.