Rising from the Ashes

Madhu was watching the silhouetted image of the city. Slowly the sun
began to rise from behind the tall edifices and in a few minutes
saffron light carpeted the whole vicinity. She just stood still
watching the enchanting transformation. The smell of sizzling frying
oil from the next apartment entered her nostrils and kindled her
appetite. She tilted her head to perceive flocks of birds fluttering
above her head.
Her face brightened and she exclaimed, "Oh My God! I have an
assignment with the Air force pilot. My Editor is going to kill me.
That guy is married to punctuality?"
She scurried to the bathroom and took a quick shower. She inserted
herself into a pair of blue jeans and plain white T-shirt -her
favourite attire and twisted and turned in front of the mirror. Kissing
her reflection she whispered, "Madhu you look chooo cute." She grabbed
her mini tape-recorder and stuffed it in her handbag with the other
things she needed to make herself attractive. Humming the 'Las
Ketchup', she buzzed off. Since Madhu had a prejudiced conception that
the lift would make her lazy, she sped down the stairs.
Her cell-phone gave its ear deafening ring. Her friend Kamala on the
other end cried, "Madhu come quickly. This is your opportunity to
become the chief reporter. Don't forget that and if you are late Mr.
Nathan will send Rubin."
Madhu said, "Don't worry, I'm coming. I'll be there in just ten
minutes" and ended the call.
Climbing down the stairs, she felt a sharp pain in her right leg. It
was as if ten to twenty pins pricked her. At first she had decided not
to consider it but later on, she felt a stronger pain. She stumbled and
felt like falling. Building up her determination she scuffled to the
lift and returned to her apartment.
The first thing she did was to call her friend and say, "Kamala, ask
someone else to cover up for me."
Kamala shouted, "What! Are you crazy! You know how much this means to
you don't you?"
Madhu knew. It had been her objective since she joined 'The Spice'
magazine. But now what could she possibly do? She was on the verge of
tears when she said, "I'm not well. Please understand."
Kamala softly replied, "Okay. Just take care."
The conversation had made Madhu restless. She desperately wanted to go
to work but all she could do was to sleep.
The evening breeze entered the open window chilling her senses and
killing her dream- a dream in which she was flying among the clouds.
But this was so frequent that she stopped thinking about it. A
continuous knocking was heard.
She cried, "Ya, coming!"
When she got up she found that it was difficult to walk so she dragged
her executive chair and pushed it forward with her left leg. She
unlocked the door to reveal Kamala.
Kamala inquired, "Madhu, what's wrong with you?"
She replied, "Nothing, there's just a pain in my right leg. Must be,
due to over strain. I'll come to office tomorrow."
Kamala dragging Madhu near the bed said,"You can come to the office
tomorrow but come to the doctor's with me now."
Madhu cried, "What? I'm perfectly alright. I am not coming."
Kamala said, "O.K you have two choices. One, you are coming with me.
Two, you'll never see me again."
Madhu inquired, "Why?"
Kamala said, "Have you gone mad? You are not able to walk and you
refuse coming with me."
Madhu had to give up to a head-strong Kamala.
Putting her arms around Kamala and giving less pressure on her right
foot they headed to a nearby clinic. She had never thought that waiting
at the clinic could be so tiring. As it was the rainy season, the
clinic was filled with people suffering from fever, flu and common
cold. She had read all the magazines and created lives for the people
waiting. Finally they were called upon. The doctor a man of middle age
had a magnificent stature. He was seated on a metal chair behind a
Formica topped table. There was a wooden stool beside him and he
motioned for her to sit down.
Pushing his spectacles up, he inquired, "So what's the problem?" She
told him. He checked her pulse and blood pressure.
With a concerned voice he said, "We have to take an X-Ray and a Scan
and then we'll decide."
The process was finished in an hour. Looking keenly at them he assured
them that he felt nothing wrong in the reports. Then he came towards
her and pressed her leg at some points and asked her whether she felt
any pain in some particular points. She told him. He sat at his
position and thought for a while.
He said in a soft tone, " Your joints are swollen a little and.... I
think you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis."
She blurted, "What! I'm only twenty-six!" Kamala stroked her shoulders
trying to console her.
The doctor continued, "So what? You don't have to be old to have this
illness. It is most likely to strike people from twenty to fifty, but
can occur at any age. It mainly affects the joints. Most doctors say
that there is no permanent cure. I've attended many cases and so I can
assure you that it can be controlled. An operation called Synovectomy
-removal of the membrane that encloses joints can be performed but I
don't think it will be necessary for you now. So regularly take the
tablets I prescribe and I'll give you a gel that reduces the pain but
abundant rest till the pain subsides is very important. My medicines
and your care are equally important."
Kamala was sulking when they returned but Madhu was very
determined.
She said,"Don't worry Kamala. I'll be totally alright. Soon I'll be
back on the track."
Kamala said nothing and left after cooking some food for Madhu. She got
some orange juice from the refrigerator and satiated her stomach with
them. Even though she was intrepid on the outside she was scared deep
inside. Feeling that, pondering over what happened would scare her; she
watched television to divert her attention and dozed off on the
sofa.
Soon the home became the world. She ordered the essentials through the
Internet and the telephone. The magazines and the television became her
friends along with Kamala. Not wanting to bother her parents in the
village she decided not to tell them. For her swollen leg she placed
two pillows that made her feel better. She was lying down most of the
time but was not able to sleep well. The pain and her feeling that she
was bed-ridden did not allow sleep to overtake her. She took a sleeping
pill sometimes not only to sleep but also to be unaware of the pain for
a short period of time.
Her mobile rang waking her up. Rubin said,"Madhu as you have been
absent for a week, your salary has been cut down and if you don't
return in two weeks I think you will have to leave 'The Spice'.
She said,"But..."
Rubin interrupted," Mr. Nathan wanted me to say that. That's all "and
hung up.
Madhu could not afford to lose the job. It was her life long ambition.
No one could have loved their job as she did. She asserted herself that
she had to do something to rectify her condition. She decided to act
tough. She threw away the pillows that supported her legs. But she
found that she couldn't straighten her right leg. She applied gel and
tried again. She succeeded for about one millimeter. She continued this
procedure for two days repeating the words 'don't give up'. It became
her slogan. At last she succeeded.
She then started exercising her knee. She applied some gel and gave her
knee hot water-compress. She did this for a whole day taking a break
only to eat and drink.
When she had assured herself that she was ready, she wanted to try
standing. She dragged her wooden dining-chair in front of her and
placed her legs on the floor. She pushed her body upwards placing her
whole strength on her hands holding the chair. She stumbled and fell
back on the bed. The pain was unbearable. She learned that she had to
exercise her feet. Taking some pillows and placing them at the brim of
the bed she pressed her feet against the pillow giving less pressure to
her legs at first and increasing the pressure little by little. She
continued doing this until she felt all set.
Madhu dragged her executive chair. Holding on to it very carefully she
stood up. This time the pain was tolerable. Holding on to the chair she
walked small distances at first and then as days passed, she started to
walk around her flat.
Continuing her medicines and exercise she regularly gave her legs hot
water compress which made her better day by day.
The next day, she went to the clinic for a check-up with the help of
Kamala and told the doctor the measures she had taken. The doctor
smiled at the progress and said, "You are someone peculiar. I have
never seen anyone improve at this rate."
Madhu asked,"Can I go to work in two days?"
His countenance showed no expression. He said,"I think it would be
better if you take another month of rest. But don't give up the
exercises."
Madhu did not know what to do. She felt lost.
Two days later, Rubin called again.
Before he started to say anything grave she said, "Rubin I want to
resign my job."
He exclaimed, "What!?"
Madhu thought, 'He lost the joy of firing me' and said, "I'll give my
resignation letter through Kamala and that's all "and hung up. She felt
as if she had revenged him but she lost also. She strongly believed
that there is no point in running behind one's shadow. She strongly
assured herself that she will overcome everything one day.
Even after two years the scenes were fresh in her mind. Eating her
breakfast she thought, 'If not for my illness I would have remained a
reporter.' Stepping towards the brightly lit study-table she looked at
the 'Young entrepreneur award' she received for the magazine she
started the previous year, with profuse pride.
She called Kamala and asked, "Is the interview with the Finance
Minister on my desk for proof."
Kamala replied, "Yes and along with the article on teen
pregnancies."
Madhu said, "Thank you. I don't know what I would have done without
you."
Kamala said, "Your hard work along with determination paying."
She smiled and thought, 'Anyway, who said rheumatism has no
cure?'

THE END