Pyrexia Virula

I celebrated Christmas a little differently this time as Santa clause came with gifts that were rather scary; injections and bitter tablets.

It had so happened that the WBCs in my body lost the battle to the myriad viruses that had captured my body like terrorists. Consequently, I was victimized by what is popularly known as a ‘viral infection’.

For those who have been lucky enough to not experience a viral fever let me tell you what happens. This fever is characterized by an elevation of body temperature followed by an excruciating pain in each and every part of the body. The mercury in the thermometer keeps soaring higher and higher when it comes in contact with your body. You can do nothing by your self, I mean NOTHING at all. You are rendered bedridden with not a modicum of strength left in the body.

So, the day I was diagnosed with viral fever, the world around me changed. My food suffer the most painful change- Maggi was replaced by khitchadi, and coke by sweetlime juice. Along with the regular meals I was subjected to ‘pill meals’ that consisted of some 8-10 tablets of different colours to be taken after breakfast, lunch, supper, dinner and every other food intake. (I don’t understand why pharmaceuticals spend money on colouring the pills, I mean, it is not Cadbury Gems and no matter what the colour, the tablet still tastes bitter.)

As the word went around, from the very second day, visitors started pouring in. Not to mention my friends who came the very next day to see me with choco chip and black forest pastries. They know for a fact that I can kill for black forest cakes and pastries. Nonetheless, when the came to know that I wasn’t permitted to consume such heavy food, my digestive system being too weak, the relished the pastries sitting in my room, right in front of me, leaving me with no alternative but to sit and observe them as the eat. May God give such fine friends to everyone!

So, while a people tormented me, I tormented them even more. I still feel sorry for my parents who’d stay up all night to keep a check on the fever shooting up. Also for my brother, who, even during his exams, took every possible care to keep my medicine schedule.

Though my friends made me feel an uncontrollable desire to kill them, they kept dropping in to see me, with ‘nariyal pani’ from the next time. I never expected this but even the silliest of their jokes, at which I wouldn’t even grimace otherwise, made my laugh and forget all the pain.

My best friend, who’ll soon become a doctor, kept calling almost every hour, from several miles away, only to hear from me.

To my sheer surprise, a few blog friends too messaged saying that they’ll pray from me and this meant a lot.

Then another friend, the one who introduced me to this world of blogs, I know she’ll be smiling as she reads this, came to see me from a distance as soon as she came to know of my ill health. I cannot tell how happy I was to see her.

And then finally, there was someone who kept calling tirelessly to tell how bad I would look when I recover and gave a detailed description of how the fever takes its toll on your face and your hair and all... For a moment I was almost convinced that I will never again look just as beautiful. Well, dear friend, let me recover and then you’ve had it. I will make sure, you'll not look just as good once you meet me in college. I’d have killed you, but may be I’ll spare you your life for the deep concern in your voice each time you’d call.

So, though the fever was a serious nuisance, it brought me closer to my loved ones. It made me realize how selflessly parents can strive to make sure their child is alright. It also made me understand how important friends are and how much they can do to make you feel better.

As for the title, Pirexia Virula is the medical name of the troublesome disease that entered my body and made me realize, that even in my pain, I wasn’t alone.

It is nice to know that you are loved and cared for by the people you love and care for. Had it not been for the fever, I wouldn’t have had this happy realization…

P.S. This post is not an acknowledgement. I don’t owe a debt of gratitude to anyone. It’s just the debt of love…

Ahh yes, before I wind up the post, wish you all a very happy and more importantly a healthy new year…

-KETKI