A Sigh of Relief
A Sigh of Relief
We sat for the dinner. I noticed a spoonful of brown color powder on my plate. Hot rice is served. I was very hungry. Instructions from Komali, my wife came with authority. “Before you start, eat a little rice with that powder”
I asked, “What is this?”
“Don’t bother. It may be a little bitter but, it is good for health. Yesterday, it was shared in many of the Whatsapp groups. All my friends got good results. It is very good for general health. It can be made at home with available kitchen commodities. Mrs Santosh, from our next flat, said that it was very effective for her”.
Komali substantiated her new recipe for health. I was surprised a little. Daily I ridicule the health mania and food therapies being shared in every medium. She very well knew my apathy for them.
I remembered an episode that my friend told me a few days back. After dinner time, I repeated that story to Komali. That incident happened about fifteen years back with my friend’s father Somaiah.
Somaiah, at that time, was just retired. He was living with his wife and was leading a disciplined life with genetically rewarded good health. After retirement, wife and husband had a series of pilgrimage tours, continuously one after another for six months. Wife and husband collected bags full of good experiences and a small bowl of ill health. The old man suffered bouts of stomach disorders and it continued for a prolonged time despite using many medicines. They followed different treatments ranging from Ayurveda, Homeopathy to Herbal treatment.
In one of such desperate trials, the lady, the wife of Somaiah, received a suggestion from a far relative. A powder, to be made from some dried leaves. The leaves should be treated with some oil, and again to be dried and powdered. Somaiah and his wife used it for a month. After some months Somaiah became alright. His returning to normal health condition was credited to the leaf powder. The couple even referred to that as miracle powder. That shared it with many known households. Every guest to their house has to endure the song of powder medicine. They also would get a free sample.
As powder therapy found strong roots in elderly couple’s life, they even became social activists by distributing the powder, free of cost. Not much data was available for the credibility and experiences of people. As it was free, the powder medicine was serving some people as psychological therapy.
On a particular day an old man, a little elder to Somaiah came to their house for spending a day with them. In the morning he was dropped off by his son on the way to his office. The old man was finding it difficult to walk. With a big tummy and swollen feet, he hardly looked healthy. Also, the old man spent his time listing out his health issues. He had heavy breathing, poor digestion, etc. As Somaiah felt emotionally sympathetic to the old man and talked to him very affectionately. He suggested a known family doctor for consultation.
After lunch, the other old man saw both Somaiah and his wife consuming powder. He inquired about the same. At that moment Somaiah thought that this powder should be good for the old man. Both wife and husband narrated their success story with powder therapy. They suggested that he should try the powder and gave him a packet of powder. They convinced him that it would solve the health problems of the elderly person comprehensively. They gave a little extra dose to the old man. He spent the time until evening that day and left with his son back home.
After reaching home the old man confirmed his safe reach and asked Somaiah to prepare powder for him. Somaiah reminded the old man to take the medicine that night itself. Assured him he would send the next dose in one or two days. As Somaiah narrated the incident to his son including powder suggestion, the son got annoyed and politely reminded that he should not have interfered with other’s health issues.
The next day afternoon, there was a call from the old man’s son. He said that his father fell critically ill and passed away.
Somaiah got shocked. He started sweating. He remembered the other old man taking the powder packet. Added to that, his son raised a doubt that for some people some materials could be allergic. The immediate sequence of events would be pointing to his careless and irresponsible use of random substances. When he recalled the last two years, both Somaiah and his wife were crazy and were propagating the effectiveness. Somaiah and his wife both went into the mood of repentance, self-blame. Somaiah felt that he would be the murderer of that old man.
His son came and Somaiah expressed his doubt to him. He laughed and asked Somaiah not to think so much about the incident. He also asked his father to forget and relax.
The next day both son and Somaiah went to the hospital to be with the old man’s family. But the real reason for Somaiah was different. With all the doubt in mind, Somaiah touched the grieving son and asked him inquiringly,
“I feel very sorry. The other day while leaving our house he looked alright. Did he suffer a lot?”
The old man’s son replied “No, my father was very happy when he returned from your home. He spoke a lot about you and aunty. He also showed a powder packet and wanted to take it after taking lunch. As we were about to sit for our lunch, he started sinking. Within a few seconds, his head rested on the dining table. That was all. The end came very quickly and silently”.
Somaiah said, “Your father was very lucky. He was very good to the people, and that is how he had the end without suffering”.
Somaiah left that place quickly and reached his home to share the news with his wife. Both wife and husband had a big “Sigh of Relief”. They wanted to shout loud that the death was not because of their powder.
Somaiah decided not to promote the therapy, thereafter.
After giving the details and tensions of my friend to Komali, I suggested desisting from blindly experimenting at home. I became more worried about the recent trend where the messages from Whatsapp are taken seriously. Many gullible members are following and forwarding the messages. Another important issue is it is very difficult to know the author of the message and no one would be held responsible.
For me, personal worry is that health indulgence reached my dining table, in preference to taste.
Vallinath Mangalampalli
Yes. There is a danger of spreading a wrong message through social medium. But why only social media?
There is no action in one’s life that is devoid of perilous effect. Print media is equally hazardous. Before the social media became the inherent part of social life, the rumours spreading was still prevalent.
So it is not just this medium one should be careful about. Advising without any solid authentication, is equally dangerous. Be it medical, or career oriented or any other matter.
Mr. Vallinath has pointed out hilariousy the danger of unvarified news getting spread.
Superb, Vallinath. It was a nice read.
Definitely a sigh of relief at the end. Good one sir
The view expressed by the author at the end of the story is very relevant, in today’s life centred on what’s app messages. I remember I received a whatsapp message that extolled the miraculous health benefits of Papayya fruit, that it controls diabetes, blood pressure, improves digestion, and provides an abundance of essential Vitamins. It concluded with the recommendation people of all ages include the miracle fruit in their daily breakfast. Later, I pointed to whoever forwarded the message to me that Papayya should be avoided by pregnant women, as the fruit might cause miscarriage. In reply, my friend simply said she simply forwarded the message, as she received it, without even carefully reading it, and she did not know the messag’ s origin.
Very good story with a message. A must read for all. Very well written.