It’s blue

Ramesh was really tensed while going to office after having stuffed up with all kind of symptoms and safety measures for Swine flu from various sources.  ‘Turn on the TV, its flu. Open the newspaper Already he has got running nose and his body has started to pain a little. His wife seemed to be not at all cared about all the things which were going on and when he heard from his collegues that their wives asked them to be careful and wear masks, he fumed at her. What she was thinking, no care for me. She has packed up lime juice along with the lunch even after knowing I have running nose.

When he just logged on to the system by 9 AM, the first mail popped up from his mail box  was, Swine flu’s symptoms.

it read,

• fever,
• cough,
• runny nose,
• sore throat,
• body aches,
• headache,
• chills,
• fatigue or tiredness,
• diarrhea and vomitting

and said in the end that if you have two or more symptoms, please visit doctor at the earliest.

He started to think, already I have running nose, cough.. ‘ah ah’.. I have got cough also. He cleared his throat but it’s not alright, he thought. Whether is this sore throat or not. ‘It maybe.. I never felt like this before. So I have 3 symptoms, which is more than 2. What will happen to me?? would I die?? Oh god!!! I am also feeling chillness. Ok.. lets check with any of the colleagues nearby’.

He called Hema, “Hi… hello Hema..”

‘if I ask her directly about the chillness, it will be like I am confirming. Let me start by this way’… ” it seems that temperature of A/C is pretty low and it’s cold na??”

Hema replied, “Is it?? I couldn’t feel.. it’s as good as yesterday, pretty normal.”

“Errr.. thanks”, he said and buried into his seat. So its confirmed, I am the only one who feeling cold, he thought. I am also feeling feverish, start of the 4th symptom. My body also starts to pain and its aggravating..

He moved his hand up, he felt some pain in joints. He moved his neck around and he couldn’t move it freely. ‘I have really got it. The swine flu. Let me check whether there is any remedy for this.’ He quickly typed in swine flu and remedies in google. It has made him to go through the site www.swinefluremedies.org. There he started to check various articles in it. But he couldn’t get clear idea and also confused as the amount of articles are too much there. He returned to the mail he got about swine flu. It stated that tami flu is the only protective medicine and that too must be given within 48 hours.

‘How many hours would have gone??? how much the virus would have attacked my immune system?? I didn’t enjoyed anything until now. Would I be able to do in the remaining few days of my life?? ‘ In the lost thoughts, he was checking his watch, which points out that its 10:20. ‘Shall I go and ask my PM to go home?‘

“Hi Ramesh, whats up buddy??” asked Pratheep, as he entered into the cubicle. “No. no.. nothing”, Ramesh stammered. Pratheep gave a skeptical look but Ramesh was not at all bothered. He ran towards the departmental store in the office and bought 2 N95 masks. He weared one and took one along with him and marched towards his cubicle. Pratheep was suprised to see him with the mask within office but before he could ask anything Ramesh went to his PM and got the permission to return home.

“am oing”, he said to Pratheep, whom suddenly looked up at him and made a sarcastic smile. But Ramesh was rushing out. And when he reached home his wife was relaxing by reading some book.  What a partner she is.. I am here infected with flu. But she is not even worried. Let me handover this other mask to her. I may get a place in heaven. He handed over it to her and she got that. But she seemed to be in a shock of seeing him so early with a mask, he thought. Anyway its not time to get shock and all. I need to act faster than the viruses.

“Wear it and Hurry up, Lets go to doctor” he said.

“For what?” she asked.

“I am infected with flu” he replied.

“Who said? No healthy person will get infected easily” she shot back.

“Then I get infected in a harder way. I myself felt that. I have 6 symptoms and must see the doctor “ he said and moving out of the home. She just got that he himself made up most of the symptoms. If she says anything, he is not going to listen to her. Its better to go out with him and meet the doctor.

They went to their well known family doctor. As they just entered, he greeted them. Before Ramesh spoke, Doctor said, “So you are infected with Swine flu, right?” On hearing that Ramesh was puzzled. ‘Whether somebody from my office just visited him and he is tested positive.’ Doctor knows him really well that Ramesh always have a fear that any disease in this world will attack him easily.

“I have expected you earlier” said Doctor. ‘He knows well before and he didn’t called and informed me. What a world!!! No concern for others. Now my chance of surviving is very less.’

Without knowing the sarcasm in his words, he replied, “So why don’t you inform me before?? And I am completely affected now.” Doctor and his wife were stunned by his reply, as he still under the fear. Then doctor clearly explained what will cause this flu and he is really healthy to avoid it. His words somehow consoled Ramesh. He has given tablets for cold and asked him to take rest for the day.

As they started to leave, Ramesh’s thought ran like ‘May I ask him or not? Lets ask him. After all its for my own good’ Just before getting out from the doctor’s cabin. He turned and asked, “Doctor, can I take Tami flu as a precaution?”.

Doctor laughed and said, “its for flu and not for blues” and waved his hand.