September 7, 2006

Like any other day today also Arvind Swamy had become ready by 10:00 am to go the garage.  The children had departed to school. His garage would open by 8:00 am.  But being the owner he had retained the tradition of some delay in his arrival to the place of work. His family unit was larger than modern trend. They had five children. The eldest two were boys and the rest three were girls. With this he had applied breaks on the mission of reproduction.

To maintain a seven member kith and kin required good amount of income. The cost was high but Arvind Swamy was not uptight over the outflow. The garage business was first-rate. He had employed eleven mechanics.  About eighteen years back he had begun his business with a very small workshop with a puncture repair kit for the tyres. He had believed in progress. Within next two years he managed to secure the agency of a renowned redial tyre company. That was not the end of it. By fourth year he put his next foot forward by appointing couple of mechanics and opening a car garage. Today he was well known for car repairs and service, not only in the small town but also in the villages in and around the town.

He had customer support both from old and new.

“Why do you appear so dull today?” His wife Leela came up to the door to leave him.

“I do not know the cause.” Arvind Swamy replied with weak tone. “I am feeling some kind of suffocation inside my chest with inconsistent prickly pain.”

“Why don’t you go for a check up?”” Leela advised.

“Perhaps could be due to stomach gas problem.”  He reacted.

“Please do not overlook.” She was truly worried. “Chest pains are normally deceptive in nature.  Especially the men above forty have to be extra careful. More so, you have the habit of consuming alcohol almost every evening. You do eat meat and fish on daily basis. Now see your expanding waistline. You are growing plump and overweight. I strongly recommend you to go for a heart check up. People say the newly opened ‘Heart Care Hospital’ is most the modern and has the latest facilities. Dr.Vinod is the heart specialist. Please give a call and try for an appointment.”

“No need to bother. I am fit and strong.” He stepped out of the house.

He entered his old car and began his morning ride.  Though he had advised his wife to remain calm, felt some sort of apprehension.  ‘Do I have high cholesterol and heart problem? What would happen if I encounter heart attack? If I die, who would look after my wife and children? The kids are still small.’

He reached at the workshop. The working atmosphere at the garage would accelerate at the sight of his arrival. He shouted at couple of mechanics.

“Since yesterday you guys have been working on the AC. It is yet to be rectified. Why is the AC belt thrown here?” Arvind Swamy grumbled and moved into his office.

Mr. Joseph, the manager for the workshop went behind him.

“Bank Manager Nagesh Rao’s car is ready. The painting is done. The dented area has become perfect.” Joseph reported. “He would come by 11:30 to pick up the car. I have reminded him to come with the payment.”

“Did any other new customer call?”

“Yes. There was a call from one Mrs. Shaila.” Joseph informed. “She could not start her car since morning.  “She would send it through a car towing service agency.”

“Who is this Mrs.Shaila?”

“She is new to the town.”  Joseph answered. “Our garage was recommended by someone in her circle.”

Arvind Swamy nodded. He instructed his helper to arrange a cup of tea.  He remembered the doctor while sipping the tea. ‘Perhaps it is essential to call Dr.Vinod? My chest is still being pricked within. If my heart fails what would be the fate of my dreams? The kids would need many more years to be on their own. They are dependents and need be looked after. I can not take any chance.’

He called the telephone exchange and noted the number of Heart Care Hospital.  He spoke to Dr.Vinod’s assistant. The appointment with the doctor was fixed for 11:30.

He came out from the workshop at 11:00. By 11:30 he parked the car at the hospital. The permission was granted to meet Dr.Vinod.  When Arvind Swamy entered the cabin the doctor was engaged in a telephonic conversation. Perhaps he was talking to his wife.

“So, today what are you going to do? No, I can not come with you. The problem occurred so soon? Possibly you do not know how to take care. You are so sloppy.  Anyway when I come for lunch let us talk about plans for the evening. Bye honey.”   Dr.Vinod dropped the receiver down.

Dr.Vinod was aged about fifty years. He had short and grey hair. The appearance had the aura of sophistication and elegance. The magnetism in talk was so charming. Arvind Swamy explained his condition. The physical check up was done.

“You have blood pressure. It appears like lack of control over the intake of food and very limited body activity. You may bequeath your blood and urine samples. I will prescribe some tablets.  Drop in tomorrow for Electrocardiogram. We will get a better idea.”  Dr.Vinod wrote the prescription.

Arvind Swamy walked out from the cabin and paid the bill. His fingers experienced the vibration while handing over the cash. ‘The place is highly expensive! This could be a better place to mint money than my workshop.’  He spoke to the person behind the reception desk on the possible expenses for the treatment.

“It could be slightly costly if you equate with other places, but you can not get a well qualified heart specialist in this state than Dr.Vinod.”  The man behind the reception desk provided his feedback. “The charges for the check up, tests and initial treatment could be about twenty to twenty five thousand. In addition if surgery will cost close to couple of hundred thousand. But Dr.Vinod is number one. He is the best to set right your heart. Trust me your heart is in safe hands.”

The simple initial treatment costs about twenty five thousand? Further two hundred thousand for the surgery? Arvind Swamy felt the shock. The expenditure was not in his designed family budget. He decided to squeeze it from the workshop customers.

Mrs. Shaila’s car was the first target. He drove straight back to the garage.

“Did Mrs.Shaila come?” That was his very first question.

“No, she did not come, but her car was towed and brought.” Joseph released the news.  “But then she called. She has left her cell phone number. She wants to know the approximate cost of the repair job. I had a first round glimpse. I believe she had forgotten to switch off the lights during the night. The battery is down.”

If the car has stopped working only due to the battery failure and if she was not aware of the cause of the break down means she does not know much about cars. Here was the prospect to knock some extra money. Somehow he wanted to make up for the initial cost of the heart therapy. If surgery becomes unavoidable he would concoct separate plans towards the supplementary detriment.

He asked Joesph to accompany him to the car. Joesph released the bonnet and lifted up. Arvind Swamy gazed around the engine.

“Before you replace the battery you may remove this pulley from the belt.” The instruction was given by Arvind Swamy.

Joseph did not reply, just nodded. He collected Mrs. Shaila’s cell phone number and returned to his office. Arvind Swamy tried the number and Mrs.Shaila came on line.
 
“I am Mr.Arvind Swamy.” He began. “I am the owner of the auto garage where you have left the car. We made an inspection and evaluation.”

“Actually I was waiting for you call. Could I get the car by evening?” She was in a hurry.

“That is impossible.” He rebuffed. “There are interconnected snags in the car engine. It may take minimum one week to bring into road condition. When did you buy the car?”

“It was about fifteen days back.”

“Was it second hand?”

“Yes.”

“A second hand car should be always tested by an expert mechanic before the cash is paid.” Arvind Swamy pertinently used his business language. “I believe somebody has royally deceived you by selling the car. But whatever ours is the right workshop to set right your car.  Trust me your car is in safe hands. We have professional mechanics with up to date equipments.”

Arvind Swamy precisely knew the impact of his vocabulary. He waited for her upshot.

“What are the damages?”

“It could be in the range of twenty to twenty five thousands.” He responded with no vacillation.

“It is on the higher side. Please try to reduce.”

“We are not among the one who would do inadequate job by trimming the cost.” Arvind Swamy paused and took a long breath. “You may not believe the tasks what we have while repairing your car. We ignited the car with the aid of a jump start cable.  Actually the engine belt is loose. We may have to replace both the belt and the pulley. There is leakage in the radiator. Hence the engine heats up. Compression in the cylinder is low. Your car is emitting high exhaust smoke. The battery may have to be changed. A new fuel pump is required. The gasket is down, piston is broken and valves are damaged. The gear box is weak. The engine efficiency is stumpy due to excess heat.”

He applied break to his own lecture for a while.

“Could you try to make it ready in four days?” Mrs.Shaila appealed. “You may begin the job immediately. The cost is acceptable for me.”

“I will try my best to do it as quickly as possible.” The smile began unfolding on his face. “I need your co-operation on one point. How quickly I get it done is less important for me. The key issue is to do a perfect job.”

She agreed and he disconnected the line. He called Joesph and explicated on what to speak and what not to speak to Mrs.Shaila if called during his absence.  The prickly pain within the chest had become less. However he decided to persist with the treatment.

Next day he met Dr.Vinod. The x-ray was taken followed by the electrocardiogram.

“I have your blood and urine test report.” Dr.Vinod came to the point. “You are not diabetic. But cholesterol level is high in your blood. It is better you avoid beer. You will have to learn how to control your food intake. You may eat chicken, but stay away from red meat.  Please develop a routine of three to four kilometers of walking every day. The first step is to bring down the body weight. I will prescribe some tablets.”

“Doctor, anything is serious? My kids are still small.” Arvind Swamy was apprehensive.

“Do not worry.” Dr.Vinod soothed him. “You have come to the right place at the right time. Now it is my responsibility to make you fit and healthy. You will have to ensure that you follow my instructions. We will get a clear picture after we have more reports in detail.”

Next day onwards Arvind Swamy activated early morning long and brisk walk. Importance for diet control was given from immediate effect.  He appeared at Dr.Vinod’s office as per the scheduled appointment.

Dr.Vinod took his own time to open his mouth. The perspiration trickled out on Arvind Swamy’s forehead.  The doctor pushed the box containing the facial tissue paper.  Arvind Swamy pulled four pieces and wiped his face.

“Now listen carefully.” He transferred his body weight towards the table. “Your conditions indicate Coronary Artery Disease.

“What do you mean?” Arvind Swamy felt weedy in his heart.

“I will make you understand.” He rocked back in his chair. “The heart muscle requires a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to stay healthy and function as it should. It receives oxygen and nutrient-rich blood through the coronary arteries. When the arteries are healthy, they have a smooth lining, allowing blood to flow freely. Blood contains fatty substances that can stick to the inner walls of your arteries. When the fatty matter starts to build up, the inner diameter of the artery becomes narrow and blood cannot flow as well as it should. This is coronary artery disease. It is a gradual process, and sometimes, you cannot tell that you have it. The consequence could be anything Mr.Arvind Swamy, Angina, Heart Failure, Heart Attack, Cardiac Arrhythmia or perhaps Cardiac Death.”

Each word which Dr.Vinod spurted out from his lips struck hard on Arvind Swamy’s mind like    spear of an arrow.  He must have had missed the exact meaning for some of the terminology but the he sensed the graveyard very close to his corpse. He shivered with cold fear.

“You have to be courageous.” Dr.Vinod encouraged him. “The condition is still in primary stage, we can minimize the risk without surgery, just with medication. You have to adhere to our therapy and guidance. Let us try out the drugs to remove the fatty material. If not we may have to think of angioplasty or bypass surgery.”

Arvind Swamy carried on with the treatment for next few days. The angioplasty did not become mandatory.  Finally when the treatment was concluded Dr.Vinod’s total bill rolled over to a little above twenty five thousand.  When Mrs. Shaila arrived at the garage to collect the repaired car he charged her a little lower than twenty five thousand.
“How is the pain in the chest?” Leela was curious to know.
“The pain no more, totally disappeared. Dr.Vinod did an excellent job.” He was so exultant to inform.

“Your weight has come down. Now you look more young and fit.” Leela felt proud. “Since you were treated by a specialist like Dr.Vinod, it must have been a costly exercise?”
“If I get scared of such unforeseen expenses why do I run the garage for?”  His laughter sounded jubilant. “One Mrs.Shaila brought her car for repairs. The problem was very simple related to battery. I made it complicated and charged her close to twenty five thousand. To be very frank I retrieved the sum what I spent on my treatment in one single shot.”

               +++++             +++++         +++++             +++++

“How is your car now which you had repaired quite recently?” Dr.Vinod asked his wife while going to bed.

“It is perfect now. The garage did a first rate job.” Mrs.Shaila pushed back her long hair. “Actually by buying a second hand car without proper inspection I made it pricey for you. I am sorry.”

“Do not worry my dear.” Dr.Vinod ran his fingers over her hair. “If I get bothered on such expenses why do I carry the tag of a heart specialist? A patient appeared with a simple gastic issue. I confused him and he ended up in paying me more than twenty five thousand!’