BY ANIL SWAMY 

 

 

I GOT an early morning call from my sister, a cancer survivor, actively counselling and providing moral support to other patients. Her maid’s talented daughter Kavita, a fashion designer, at a young age of 18 wasn’t well. My sister is a sentimental person but concern in her voice alerted me. Kavita had developed acute pain in the left shoulder joint since past six months and after multiple casual checkups and pain killers, she has to undergo ‘Biopsy’. So what? I tried to sound calm. ‘No’ she said, a bit restlessly, ‘it’s her Doctor at AIMMS, who is convinced that she has bone cancer in her Left Shoulder Joint. I tried to calm her down but she was worried. Two days later she dialled me again to confirm her worst fears, that doctors had advised immediate surgery and ‘Amputation’ of her left hand. Only one senior Surgeon was quite sympathetic and seemed convinced that only a minor surgery shall relieve her of pain and ‘Amputation’ can be avoided, but the concerned Super Skilled Surgeon is heavily booked and occupied for next six months. My sister and her Fauji husband pooled in all possible resources to persuade the Doctor, ‘Impossible’ he said to end the discussion.

 

While counselling, sister revealed this to another patient, who talked at once to her Doctor cousin at Germany, who in turn assured instant help, as the Super skilled, Medic was his student and very close to him. The insane level of lobbying and pleadings across the globe resulted in scheduling the surgery after three days, but it was impossible for Kavita’s family to generate finance at such a short notice for her regular transport to hospital, special diet and medicines during postoperative period. My sister dialled her ex-Naval colleagues, her children and me for generating a corpus through our friends. With the help of all and my generous friends, a decent amount was collected and forwarded to Kavita. Surgery went well and we all received special thanks from Kavita. We all were extremely happy and elated at saving a life. Later we all forgot the whole episode, convinced that she must have been living happily ever after. Recently while enjoying our family reunion, I casually enquired about Kavita. The information wasn’t good, Kavita’s Cancer had spread aggressively as open, oozing and seeping wounds all over her body, were causing unbelievable misery and intolerable pain. Poor girl has no time but whenever conscious, she tries to talk to people who had helped to thank them personally.

 

Would you like to talk to her? Sister asked me. I fumbled for words, my mouth had dried and tongue seemed paralysed. An endless time later, I nodded. Kavita returned her video call after an hour. Reduced to a skeleton, she was made comfortable with some pillows on her bed and sounded quite feeble. I couldn’t start our conversation and it was she who broke the ice. ‘Uncle ji, Happy Holi aur bahut thank you’ in Delhi dialect with a faint smile. What for beta? I asked, choking. ‘Because of you all, I could live some pain free months, without any diet restrictions. From the first day, I knew the end but you all made me smile for some time. It’s not possible to talk to all but please convey my thanks to your friends too’. Controlling tears, still I tried putting up a brave face. ‘Why do you want to thank us? We haven’t done anything great?’ ‘You all are very good people, always be like that and help another Kavita, if you ever find one’. This young girl, matured beyond her age, must be having some Super Natural Powers, that in spite of being in terminal stage and her last days, ignores her own extreme pain and stays consciously alert, thinks of helping others in need and fill colours in their lives. Eyes closed I could mumble ‘Happy Holi and Thank you Kavita for guiding us’. On this Holi, Kavita has gone to play colours with Supreme.