Casual fever

I was working this morning. While I was working I saw that our maid Kamal was standing behind me. I turned around to see that she was looking at me. I asked her, "do you need me to move?" thinking that she wanted to wipe the floor where I had been sitting.

Kamal looked little embarrassed. While fidgeting with her dupatta she looked down and asked me," didi do you know any medicine for fever?"

Kamal knew that I was from medical field and she would obtain ask me about the medicines. From her question I knew that someone in her family has fever. I asked her, "who has fever? Have you gone to the doctor?" I very well knew how much she avoided going to the doctor.

"My daughter has fever for last 5 days. I do not understand what is happening with her. Her fever comes and goes. But now she is feeling dizzy and nauseous. What should I give her?" Kamal was really worried about her daughter.

"She has fever for 5 days and you haven't yet taken her to the doctor. This is really careless Kamal. I had told you earlier as well. If the fever does not come down in 2 days you should take your children to doctors and not wait for it to automatically go down. Fever in children is not something to be taken casually," being a pharmacist I knew how important it is to get the treatment on time. The pharmacist and the teacher in me joined the forces and started scolding the maid.

"Didi I don't want to take my daughter to the doctors. What if they ask me to hospitalize her?" Kamal had a phobia towards hospitals.

"If you would have taken your daughter to the doctor three days ago she would have gotten better by now. If the doctor tell to hospitalise her then there is no other option. Go to a government hospital so there will not be any financial burden. But now don't delay it any longer", I was really upset with Kamal. She was more worried about the hospital than the condition of her daughter.

"Didi can't you give her any medicine?" Kamal asked me pleading.

"No Kamal I am not allowed to give medicines. If you want me to speak with any doctors then I will do that. But I will not give any medicines to your daughter," I was very firm with what I had to say.

"Didi please give her medicine this is just a casual fever," Kamal kept insisting.

"Kamal you still do not get it. There is nothing casual about children's fever. They may even lose their life if they do not get treatment on time. You need to act fast. Take her to the doctor right away and start the treatment. I know a doctor in your area, I will contact her. This doctor is a very nice and kind person, she will give the best treatment to your daughter. Now don't wait any longer and take your daughter to her right now," I kept scolding Kamal so that she understands the seriousness of it.

Later in the afternoon Kamal called me, "didi I took my daughter to the doctor you had told me. Dr madam is a very nice lady. She told me that my daughter will require 5 days of medicines and she will be alright. Thank you didi for helping me out".

After hanging up the call I felt a deep sense of relief. I was glad to hear that my friend had checked Kamal's daughter and everything appears to be in order. I thanked god that finally I was able to convince Kamal to take her a daughters fever seriously.