Hypochondriac

Sometimes, we go to funny extremes. For example, she complains about her bodily pains. Asked to narrow it down, she often manages to prevaricate until aptly finding an opportunity to blame everything on early onset kidney disease. So I ask her about the urine test results, she would say in genuine puzzlement that there was nothing abnormal on the test. "You are a hypochondriac." I conclude. The other day, I also said that she exaggerated all those pains and minor irregularities in an attempt to attract attention.

As for me, I hide from her the fact that my fingers are becoming rather stiff. I massage them at times believing that that is all they need. It'd be ludicrous to consider a heat pad or any oriental elixer. Tendonitis or arthritis are as farfetched as a Martian invasion into my fingers. At the best, it is the chill of early autumn. I know very well what she would say though: last time I had a terrible infection in my finger joints and I ignored it. (What happened?) Big price to be paid. My right index finger was completely distorted. And doc said it'd have to be removed if I had seen him any later. (How did you cure it?) He gave me some tablets. But I got better only when I soaked my hands in a warm broth of special herbs. A recipe I learnt from an old school friend...(Amazing).

I also fight off other minor ailments without medicine, common cold, minor cuts etcetera. Last time, I had a few reef cuts left to cure in open air, which attracted some curious inquiries into the medicinal tradition of my folks. In all honesty, it was just me, firm believer of the nature's biggest gift to mankind: the autoimmune system. As for her, she treats common cold with antibiotics and minor cuts with bandage and a tetanus shot.

I don't need more examples to stress my point. The bottom line is I don't complain to her and I don't encourage her imagination. When I ponder it in some spare time, I tend to conclude that our behaviours in this regard are moulded around the amount of love and attention we receive. An abusive father, selfish siblings and an unsympathetic husband must have all helped create the greatest demand for attention. On the other hand, loving parents, friendly cousins and a gentle husband must have caused an urge to hide away from attention. This is no doubt a rather singular view, but perhaps with a great deal of truth in it.

For the time being, I realise that I am the only one left in this world to love her and I am her sun and her galaxy. I listen to her complaints, and we laugh together at my offhanded comments. Nothing needs cure.