I never thought other than the birthdays and anniversary, I will have another significant date in June that I will remember for sometime to come!

Mallu landed in Bangalore from New Jersey on 12th June morning. On 15th (Monday), I went to office asusual, I got delayed for lunch because of some training and I was going to my seat when that call came. The lady on the other side introduced herself as Dr. Rani and asked if Mallu landed by the Air France flight 192 that landed on Friday early in the morning. I said yes. She said that two of the passengers who travelled with him has got detected with Swine flu (H1N1 Virus). She was asking me if he has any symptoms of flu. I confirmed that he did not have any. She told me that the incubation period for this is 10 days and hence we need to get back to her the moment we feel that he has got any signs of a flu! The call was made to me as Rajesh's phone got lost in the taxi from airport.

I being the so calm and composed (?!!) person, started worrying and almost broke down thinking about the consequences if Kim has caught it and about the kids we played with during our niece's birthday party. From then on till his test result was found to be negative on Wednesday night 8 pm, it was one hell of a feeling! I was told by my boss to go home immediately and work from home until Mallu is tested.

On Tuesday after the medical officers gave us a letter, we went to RGICD(Rajiv Gandhi Institue for Chest diseases) and were there till 6 pm for getting the tests done. There were people who were tested positive and who came for getting themselves tested. We had taken Kimaya as the medical officers asked us to get tested as well (both myself and Kimaya had viral fever just then and were left still with cold and cough). After going there we realised that it is a hospital treating all kinds of things like SARS, TB and air born diseases and I was more worried now about Kim than before! A throat swab was taken for Mallu and the docs told us that it will be sent to Pune that night and we were to call them on Wednesday to get to know the result.

I was praying to all Gods that I know and Mallu was quarantined at home. Finally after the agonizing wait, at 8 pm we got to know that he had not contracted H1N1 and both of us were sighing with relief!

In the process what we got to know is this
- H1N1 is like any other viral fever. You get all symptoms - fever, running nose, cough, headache like a normal viral fever
- Like any other virus this also doesnot have any cure
- It is feared because it is highly contagious and people who have to be really careful are the elders, kids below 5 years and the ones who have got respiratory problem as it leads to other complications that can be fatal.
- basic precautions like closing your mouth while coughing and washing your hands as required will prevent it from spreading.

June 11th

It is our sixth anniversary. All along, I should be truthful to say that it has not been an easy journey. It has been filled with ups and downs, love and hate, happiness and sadness but the final feeling that remains is contentment and happiness of the life that we have shared. I thank god for giving me such a life partner, a friend who I can share anything with and pray to him that he blesses us with many more such years...