Germofobia

Why do we get cough occasionally  ? Why we are down with fever at least once in a   year ? Why our stomach aches ? Why do our  eyes burn ? Why do we vomit ? I found a reason. It is all because of dreadful bacteria  every where around us. They are there under your feet over your head, legs , hands either  creeping or sticking to your every part of your  body, hands being the ultimate contact points. Germs  are found  hiding  in your drawing room, spreading  in your bath room, sneaking into your kitchen, rolling in your bed  room. 

On a fine day the moment this  knowledge dawned upon me I began cleaning my house on war footing. I purchased truck load of  of liquid hand soaps  antibacterial sprays, sanitizers and began  pouring, moping, spraying,  washing and rubbing them all over. All began with floors, kitchen platforms,  lavatories, fridge and deep fridge, water filters. All the cloths are rinsed in Dettol . The more I  think about germs they began appearing like monsters ready to attack from ambush. The  final stage of cleaning my house ended  door knobs and handles the most dangerous and vulnerable  spots in the house.  How many people would be entering my house? Who would open a door with out holding a knob or handle? How about my  calling bell ? What is the use of my cleaning them once in a day when tens of people are entering  opening doors umpteen number of times ? That has become my major concern. 

I would serve the food in a dry plate before. Now ? never. I will clean it with antibacterial soap before serving any food. "Mummy . The plate is wet. I don't like to eat in a wet plate" cries the  younger one. " Have you washed your hand ?" That is my first question before I serve any thing in the plate. " Yes Ma. We do it regularly" " But have you washed it for a minute ? " "Lo I haven't counted. Come on mummy".  "Mummy, how can I use the hand wash? Every body is pressing the same knob" Is my younger one trying to be naughty? 

"Never hold the railings in a theater" I cautioned my aunt. " But I can't get down stairs without holding it" She murmured. " Dad. Don't eat that. It is fallen on the ground" cried my elder one. " See if your mother is around" I am sure he would have eaten that. I couldn't control my anger "Who will be responsible if you fall sick ?" I shouted. " It is me. No body except me" he swore on his news paper. The house is echoing with children's laughter. Why these people don't understand my concerns ?

I decided to abandon my servant. Despite my warnings she never pay heads to what I preach about cleanliness and it's importance. My work at home tripled with her absence. I began loosing my trust even with water filters. What if  the water is unclean. I began boiling it in huge quantities spending my gas. My expenditure has doubled with  doubled santizers, soaps and cooking gas  usage. My energies are sapped due to heavy load of work. My children showed undue discipline on dining table.   They stopped laughing and talking while eating. I began to feel  the growing  distance. 

We never squatted on the floor. We stopped picking up "take aways" We stopped stopping for sugar cane juice. We sneak into the house like thieves carefully holding the knobs and gently pushing the doors. Domestic chores began looking like drudgery. Finally the elder one got sick. So very sick that it took almost fifteen days for her  to recover. Why this? Despite my being so careful why this happens ?  Did I miss any thing? Was I careless? I cried. It is years that she got sick. After all this how  now?

After one of  my recent visits to the temple I came home. My elder one was smiling and looked as though she has recovered. Her father was siting besides her. I thought my prayers were heeded by God. "She is very happy" I said with relieved tone. " yes. leave her alone  for few days. Don't impose any restrictions. She will be alright" No restrictions. I understood. Strangely things began to change. She is back to normalcy in no time.

 "What medicine did  you give her?" I secretly asked him.
 "Nothing....but simple sugar cane juice' 
 "What !  you gave her the dirty sugar cane juice..?"
 "Yes but without ice. Don't scream." It took some time for me to recover.

"Look, what have you  done to yourself. You have become  so weak. Did any thing got better with your germofobia? Bacteria is there all around us. There are some good bacteria as well  some bad  bacteria. You in your unbound zeal to kill germs can  harm even useful bacteria.  We can't blindly follow a European or American  who is susceptible even for milder bacteria. We Indians are immune to some bacteria due to our living conditions.  It all depends on how  our biological system adopts to a particular  environment.  I do agree now  there are more harmful bacteria than before. But reasonable precautions are good enough to take care of the problems. Sanitizing as you did on a gigantic scale  is not needed. Have you observed? None of us got sick as long as we did not  bother much  about bacteria. But the moment we began over sanitizing our house like never before  even a petty  negligence  became  conspicuously decease producing. My sincere advice to you  pl relax. Call back the servant . She is safe to us .  Our knobs, handles, doors all are safe. We are safe. Don't watch too many ads on TV." 

My servant is back. I changed battery in water filters and satisfied with water purity. My children wash their hands only for few seconds  before taking food.I clean door knobs and handles once in four days.         

 My dining table is again echoing with  laughs and naughty remarks and fights.        

 I stopped spraying too many antibacterial liquids. I see few small insects crawling on my floor but vanish in no time. I did not bother to know where they went. I don't know where from they came where they went. All is well.