Bhola Saves The Day – Part VI

The title was prominently etched on the cover.

“The A to Z of Common Medical Conditions,” muttered Bhola to himself. Intrigued by the title, he carefully lifted the massive book and sat himself down once again to read it.

He found the book tough to read; it was not written in a typical fairytale format suitable for children. He found it to be nearly incomprehensible.

“I suppose this book is not written by a good writer,” Bhola wondered. “He really must get his act together.”

Nevertheless, he flipped through the pages and made an effort to understand what the book was actually trying to say. There were pictures in the book next to the illnesses described therein. Bhola took great interest in checking them out.

On one page he found an illustration of a man lying on the ground, trembling helplessly. It intrigued and scared him in equal measures.

“Epileptic seizure,” Bhola had difficulty pronouncing it right. “This must be the name of the demon who possessed and killed Shyam’s grandfather. Is it the same who has entered Shyam’s body now?”

He continued to read the symptoms and causes of the gruesome condition and he found no mention of any demon or evil spirit or a curse. He thought it to be bewildering. He stared at the picture for a few moments before flipping some more pages and landing on chickenpox.

He readily identified with the illustration; he had spots all over his face and body to account for it. At the time he was told that it was a result of his sins from a previous life; ninety-eight spots for each sin in his previous life. Guruji had informed him that he would be allowed one more sin in this life but he must ensure never to cross the threshold of one hundred.

Bhola always had his doubts about it but never had the courage to voice it out. He now knew exactly what caused it: a virus. The book had him hooked.

He flipped a few more pages before he landed on one that made him shriek with delight.