HOME  !!!!

Just discharged from hospital and am back home in familiar surroundings, gently taking in all that now engulfs me. The surgery discomfort and soreness persists, but will take a while to finally erase itself from the pain glands, but in all, apart from a sluggish movement, Gods grace and prayers of the Ef have put me back on track again. My most gracious thanks to all …

The staff and the nurses at 7 Hills were all smiles and expressed sadness that I was leaving, which was rather sweet of them. They would miss me they said, but hoped I would never have to come back again in adverse circumstances. The paparazzi, though kept away from the premises of the Hospital, were there at the entrance and throughout the journey home, blocking the movement of the car by standing in front and on top of the vehicle, which was disturbing. I have yet to see them understand the sensitivity of a situation such as this. A patient just released from hospital needs to get back to his home and secure from the travel, to it, as soon as possible, but I guess they would rather get their exclusive photograph than have such consideration. A pleasant request falls on dumb ears and anything stronger than that shall be legitimate invitation to their wrath, of being manhandled. A complicated procedure would then follow resulting in nothing, but a severe negativeness against the celebrity, and more. One has learnt over the years that any thought of controlling them is futile. Better then to tolerate this excessive intrusiveness and move on.

But to things more pleasant. Abhishek has driven down from Wai where he has been shooting for ‘Bol Bachchan’ just to see me home. The long arduous 5 hr journey by road and the traffic brought him in almost at the same time as when I drove in to Jalsa. He will drive back tomorrow morning to join the rest of the crew for shooting.

The staff had a satisfied look on their faces as a small traditional welcome is executed. As you stand by the entrance oil is poured out, water thrown down, the small ‘arti’ and the ‘tika’  and you step in to the house. Of course the first stop is at ‘Prateeksha’ and a small prayer at the temple their, built by my Father before moving on.

Customs and rituals play such an important part in all our lives, details of which have been conducted through generations and the centuries without change in belief. Culture brings with it a certain piousness. It may not mean much, but somewhere inside it does create a sense of respect and belief that all shall be well.

The days in the Hospital are always designed according to the nature of the ailment, its diagnosis and its possible elimination and cure. But really, and this I speak through tremendous experience, it is the period after the Hospital has done its bit and sent you home that the actual test and trial begins. The test of dealing with the after effects, the lack of usage of essential faculties, precautions, medications that shall continue unabated and the control that needs to be exercised by the body. Contending with all this is an altogether different hemisphere, one that needs attending to and with utmost sincerity. The ‘dos and dont’s’ charts that accompany you now read like a thesis on man management. neglect it and be sure that the environs form where we have just been released shall be welcoming us again, God forbid.

Fresh and new methods of how we need to conduct our life and our body shall prevail, which shall be different from what we had been doing for so many years almost routinely. The brain takes a while to adjust to this new time table of activity, but it needs to be done. Gradually and with great precaution, how you climb the steps to your room, or the speed and swiftness with which you may be required to get into your bed and out of it shall go through an entire change, the dietary changes and so on … Its painful to realize that ‘you can’t do this’, ‘you can’t do that’. For me in particular the ‘can’ts’ have been so large in numbers, that now there are very few things left within the system that ‘can’ be done …

But ..

I have often reiterated the marvelous positives of our system and how despite all that it goes through, it still amazes me, how much of the regeneration and repair is still left by the medical professionals on the ability of the body to fight back and repair on its own. Its a tribute then in a sense to the creator, or whoever it was that built us.

Retire dear ones for it is late and I must to rest as well ..

Good night !!

Amitabh Bachchan 

…. Just an example of how media and paparazzi block your my car, not allowing it to move, insensitive to the need of its just released ailing occupent to get home secure and as rapidly as possible ..