Life Saver Ad

We were in Nawalgarh last week. A little getaway time we got for ourselves which we grabbed.

Nawalgarh is a small town (could be called a big village) full of narrow gullies and beautiful old havelis in the state of Rajasthan. A walk in the market takes you at least 60-70 years back. We stayed in a resort. We did nothing but laze around. We loved the lawns and the sun so much that we could be found there from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm reading books, having our meals, listening to Pallaji (a folk singer), getting Mehendi on hands etc etc.

Some of the local TV channels were fun to watch. One such channel was dishing out a time-streaked print of a movie we both liked. The movie was interspersed with cable TV ads. Some of them were of very poor quality. Some were just photographs strewn together by a decent narrator. No swanky graphics. No especially recorded background music. No deep baritone voice-over. No taam-jhaam generally one would associate with an ad.

One such ad of 'Jangid Hospital' made me smile. Maybe it had something to do with the name or the way they spoke about the facilities, the doctors available, dispensary, and other available machines in a hurried monotone. It made me think of all the big budget Hospital ads that leave no stone unturned when it comes to production or media blaring. What a stark difference.

I forgot about the ad soon and started ordering my dinner. Hubby wasn't hungry. The Aloo Tikkis and Bhelpuris of the evening were still sitting packed in his stomach. He asked for a Digene. I said I will get it from the front office after ordering my dinner. He insisted I get it right away. He generally isn't that way so I walked upto the reception area.

When I came back, I saw the door ajar. He was on the bed. He asked me to get the front office staff to get him a Disprin and a Sorbitrate. Till then I wasn't worried but now I was. I asked him what happened. He complained of chest pain.

We were in the middle of nowhere. All the doctors in Rajasthan in government hospitals were on a strike. There was no way any chemist shop would be open at 10:30 pm in this sleepy town. I cursed myself for two things - one not being able to drive our car and two for not having Digene, Disprin and Sorbitrate in our first aid box. If there ever was a Worst Informed Doctor's Wife Award, I would be the honourable claimant I am sure. We didn't know where to go.

Suddenly my husband remembered the 'Jangid Hospital' ad which had mentioned clearly the exact location, the doctors available, and that there was an ECG machine available along with a small dispensary. One of the Hotel reception boys was with us who guided us to the location. We reached there at 11:00 pm (can never forgive myself for the fact that Partha had to drive in those gullies in that condition in the dead of the night). By the time we reached, his pain had eased and it was clear that it was a case of gastric trouble but he didn't want to take any chances. We got an ECG done and bought the medicines we wanted from the dispensary.

We had both learnt important lessons in life.

Now in the comfort our house when I look back, I shudder to think what could have happened and if it wasn't for that little ad on cable TV. We would be running around looking for a hospital around midnight. Now this is what a hospital ad should be able to do - save patients by giving them exact information they need - not just a feel good ad that is made as a brand building exercise but does nothing for the patients.

Their ad was a life saver

The Inside Story

These days I steer clear of any conversation which even as much as hints at discussing marital details of other people. There is no point. There are only four possibilities.

One - They are in love and have decided to stay together and grey together.

Two - They are not in love but find each other bearable enough to stick it out together for the rest of their lives for the sake of convenience, parents, children and some fondness for each other which is natural when you have spent a considerable amount of time with each other.

Three - They are in love but are ever evolving. They outgrow that fondness and find other things that mean more to them. Sooner or later they will part ways.

Four - They are not in love. They realised it but tried to make it work just for the sake of it. They will part ways sooner.

Beyond these four situations everything else is just a permutation and combination of the real life situations and what they project. People will get angry, fight, cajole, kiss, fight again, throw a fit, blame etc etc. but more often than not, they will make up. One can never really know the dynamics within. In fact I know of two diametrically opposite situations which make it very clear that you can never really know the inside story unless you are one of those two.

Situation 1 (happens all the time) -

A and B are madly in love and get married at the earliest. Slowly get to know each other and realise that they are very different people. A tries to keep B happy. Goes out of the way to do things for B. B is demanding. Never happy. A gives up. B realises this and tries to soften up. Tries mending ways. But A has already given up. Now B goes out of the way to do things for A. A isn't keen on relenting. B gives up. A realises this. Softens the stance so that B may try to make inroads again. But B has given up. A tries to woo B back. B is not interested. A goes an extra mile than B had. B is still not happy. This goes on. In the end, even though A and B have gone a long long way to keep each other happy, it simply doesn't work. Blame game begins.

Situation 2 (happens, yes it does) -
Imagine A and B cannot stand each other. They are separated. Their divorce is just about to come through. Both eagerly await the day they will be free of each other. Then one day, calamity strikes. A is dead. Just like that. Out of the blue. A is dead. The world doesn't know what was cooking between them. B keeps up a brave front in the public eye. Looks crestfallen (maybe B is truly sad but you never know). B is the center of limelight and is portrayed as the epitome of valour and composure. Goes home with all the money, fame and sympathy. A's bereaving parents are left alone and penniless . B goes and marries C.

Seriously, who is to say if A is to be blamed or B or just the situation itself? I have come to a conclusion that unless there is a case of gross violence or abuse, it is best not to judge and use superlatives of any kind when you come across a couple who is having a rough time. They will tide over it. Everyone has their own way of dealing with their spouse. You will be surprised how quickly they make up while you worry about giving them a solution.

(Why did I write this post today? It is because I came across an old newspaper clipping wherein lay buried some half truths which look like different ends of the spectrum to people who know the real story and those who don't.)

All you do is smile when you know...

Recently I saw an advertisment. It was a beautiful television ad. Very tastefully made. It was about a patient. The filmmaker had taken great pride in having made it (very rightly so). The Client (a very renowned Hospital) had been kind enough not to bombard it with brand logos. The creative agency had been subtle enough to not overdo the 'human touch' element. Everything was perfect!!

Once those few seconds are over, you smile to yourself thinking of the very famous Hospital. You smile because you know the real administrators and doctors who are running it like a business. You know how the business of saving lives that is thriving behind all that glass and chrome, is run. You know the details of what could easily be termed 'criminal' if it ever comes down to pure ethics. But they know that this film is definitely going to increase their 'sales' figures (or whatever their income terms are) henceforth. They wait with a bated breath for tomorrow.

You smile because you know exactly what is going through the filmmakers mind. You know how they are waiting for it to be aired so that they can put the director's cut on the top in their showreel, ASAP. They wait with bated breath for tomorrow's release schedule.

You smile because you know how eagerly a bunch of the creative agency guys are waiting for Company's commercial director's approval on the 'awards budgets' so that they can send their entry into various categories. They wait for tomorrow with a bated breath.

You know that the media plans have worked because the 'Client' has informed the Media Agency of their rising diagnostic graph. Faint hearted suspects who watch particular programs on TV with clockwork punctuality are lining up outside their OPDs and Labs, as a preventive measure of course. They are waiting for their lab reports, without knowing how they make up for such a huge database.

You know that the legal department who has run the fine print of the ad copy through tooth & comb is smiling because they have managed to be absolutely non-committal. They are hoping against hope that no one should point a fingure at them for any unreasonable claims tomorrow. They wait with a bated breath.

You smile because you know that the only one person who is unaffected by all this is the lead of the film because he/she has a long long battle to fight ahead. He/She knows it could all be over if things don't go well. He/She is the only one living the day to the fullest! (I just hope and pray that they have not used a model to play the character, which is not quite uncommon considering the past records of testimonial ads).

This is how all the Hospital, Insurance, Bank, Courier etc. ads make you feel.

You smile when you look at them and quietly say "Liars" in your heart.

Petrol Pump Geese

People don't swerve their vehicles into this petrol pump. They slow down, crane out of their windows and once they are sure that nothing is in the way, make way for the oil stand. Some even pray that it should be their lucky day so that they can sppt the famous 'petrol pump geese'. It was my lucky day today.

The Bharat Petroleum Filling Station at Race Course in New Delhi has adopted a few geese. They have even made a little pond for them and people are more than welcome to come and play with them. Some days the whole flock decides to visit the actual fuel dispensing area. No one stops them. Instead, they make way for them and watch them with utmost awe as they quack along inspecting everything that is going on all around. They are not to be fed by the passers by.

Sometimes, one of them gets fascinated by a fancy car/children or a specific sound. It is so beautiful to watch the lone admirer break away from the group and reach out for what has caught its interest. The one that I saw today was captivated by a parked car which had some children in it. The children couldn't help but shriek in amusement which drew the goose nearer. Just as it was about to get too close for comfort the driver started the vehicle and drove away. The goose straightened its neck to the max as if trying to see them off and the children waved back until they could see it no longer. Such a pretty sight!

These geese don't cross the road. They don't even cross over to the neighbouring HPCL pump. What brand loyalty I say :)

Once their day out is over, they head back for the pond where they enjoy the winter sun, paddling away to their heart's content. This has been going on for many many years.

I had always heard about this. Finally saw them today.
Totally worth the wait!!!

Ducks at Bharat Petroleum Pump at Race Course, New Delhi

Diabetes, my foot!

"Don't have sweets, you will get diabetes", this threatening statement has absolutely no effect on children who are born to diabetic parents. They know, sooner or later diabetes is going to catch up with them and they will have to give up sweets anyway. So, might as well make the most of the time their blood sugar is hammocking between the lullaby levels of 80-110 mg/dL.

When I was 5 or 6 yrs old I remember hopping across to neighbouring gardens to pluck periwinkle flowers for my mother. They were magic flowers that were going to help my mother be cured of a disease she had. As I grew up I was to pick wood apples, bitter gourd, Tulasi, Neem etc for her to eat as various stages. She seemed pretty OK to me but for her abstinence from sugar and rice. Neither did I know that what she had was hereditary, nor did I care. But yes me and my borther enjoyed giving her the insulin shots. She could bribe us into doing any chore by saying, "I will let you give me an injection if you do what I say".

Nobody tells children about the family tree and how each leaf befell. When it was my turn to know how my maternal grandfather died, I was shocked to hear that it all started with a wound on his heel. My limited higher secondary knowledge refused to accept that someone could die of a small wound, that too on the farthest corner of your body - the feet.

I was warned about my love for cakes and chocolates. "Your grandfather died because of diabetes. Your mother and Uncle have it. You should be very careful", I have heard this so often that I had a blindspot for it.

I heard a similar statement last week. Many years and many warnings later, I was a bit worried. I have seen my mother leave us after years of dialysis and a foot ailment. My younger brother is severely diabetic too. So it is easy to scare me these days.

I was feeling weak and had all the symptoms last week. We decided to go in for a blood test. I always boasted of enviable blood sugar levels. So what was it this time that got to my nerves? It was fear of the inevitable.

Someone who was diabetic and had been admitted to the hospital with a foot wound passed away the day I went for my blood test. It wasn't easy for me to stop thinking 'what if I am diabetic too'. For the first time I was scared about my blood report. I even let my husband polish off the whole box of 'gajar ka halwa' that day without as much of a whimper of resentment. I was going to be careful about not hurting my feet (I have this phobia that diabetes+hurt foot = death).

God bless Dr. Arti who told us on the phone that I was still in the pink of my health. I can eat what I want :)

Now dare anyone tell me not to binge on chocolates and cakes. Dare anyone say, "You will get diabetes".

Diabetes, my foot!!!