It all started two days ago, on Tuesday, when I was to leave to Hyderabad for a training program. There was a mild irritation in my nose and throat, a symptom I knew from countless previous occasions, indicated the onset of a cold.
By the time I reached Hyderabad in the evening after the short flight, I had a bad headache, fever, runny nose, throat irritation, body pain and general weakness.
Of course it didn't help, that I stayed up till 1 AM preparing for the workshop the next day, and effectively slept only for about 5 hours that night. Wednesday morning was even worse - the guest house that I was in had a water problem and I was stuck without bath water for some time. Breakfast of a few loaves of bread with jam was insubstantial. All this time, the fever was steadily getting worse.
And then I started the training program.
A reality every professional deals with, is that people can sympathise if you are not feeling well on a day, but will not compromise on their results; in our world, results are all that matter. I couldn't let my participants suffer due to my ill health, and so put in every ounce of the little remaining energy that I had into the program, taking quick, brief breaks replenish my energy levels.
By evening, the program was a success, my participants were touched that I managed the show despite being ill, and I was even more ill than I had been that morning.
My journey back to Bangalore had been booked by train because of cost cutting measures. I don't remember much of the commute from the venue to the train station; only that the cab stopped once, and I went to the ATM to draw some money. I was semi-conscious the rest of the time.
The train was to leave at 9.15 PM. I reached the station at 7.30 PM, hoping that after about an hour, the train would roll in to the platform, and I could comfortably lie down. That was not to be. By about 8.30 PM, as I was sitting on a bench on the platform with my luggage, the fever peaked. I could no longer sit straight, and had to lie down. I was sweating profusely and there was a loud buzzing in my ears. The pain in my body became unbearable. In the next five minutes, I nearly lost consciousness.
With great effort, I managed to get the attention of a couple of fellow passengers waiting near me, and asked for some water. I have tremendous faith in the 'love of the common people' - and my faith was not belied. My co-passengers took charge of the situation and brought me a bottle of water and some apples. I felt better the instant food and water touched my stomach. An apple and some water brought me back to sanity. By the time I had had four apples, my energy and focus had returned, and the look of worry on my co-passengers' faces had disappeared.
Those kind people spent the next twenty minutes or so talking to me, so as to make sure that everything was alright. I offered to book a taxi for them back at Bangalore, as some small gesture of thanks. They smiled at each other like I was mad, and quietly refused any reward. When the train finally came to the platform, they simply left.
Waylon Jennings recorded the song "Love of the common people" for the first time in 1967, and I've been a fan of the song ever since I heard it for a the first time, a few years ago. Now you know why.
Love Of The Common People
Living on free food tickets,
water in the milk from a hole in the roof
where the rain came through.
What can you do?
Tears from your little sister,
crying 'cause she doesn't have a dress without a patch
for the party to go.
But you know she'll get by
'cause she's living in the love of the common people,
smile's from the heart of a family man.
Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to,
Mama's gonna love you just as much as she can
and she can.
It's a good thing you don't have a busfare,
it would fall thru' the hole in your pocket and you'd lose it
in the snow on the ground.
You got to walk into town to find a job.
Tryin' to keep your hands warm
when the hole in your shoe lets the snow come thru'
and chills you to the bone.
Now you'd better go home where it's warm,
where you can live in a love of the common people,
smile from the heart of a family man.
Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to,
Mama's gonna love you just as much as she can
and she can.
Living on a dream ain't easy
but the closer the knit the tighter the fit
and the chills stay away.
Keeping 'em in stride for family pride.
You know that faith is in your foundation
and with a whole lot of love and a warm conversation
but don't forget to pray.
Making you strong were you belong
and we're living in the love of the common people,
smile's from the heart of a family man.
Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to,
Mama's gonna love you just as much as she can
and she can.
Living in the love of the common people,
smile's from the heart of a family man.
Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to,
Mama's gonna love you just as much as she can.
Living in the love of the common people,
smile's from the heart of a family man.
Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to,
Mama's gonna love you just as much as she can.
Living in the love of the common people,
smile's really hard on a family man.
Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to,
Mama's gonna love you just as much as she can
and she can.
(Written by Ronnie Wilkins/John Hurley and performed by Weylon Jennings, 1967)
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