Off The Cuff: Little knowledge can be a pain in the back

Manesh was down with back-pain. It being a routine hazard for those logging long hours in office, I did not bother much. However, as there was no sign of him for almost two days, I decided to call on him and check out his condition.

His wife was happy to see me and escorted me to his room, where he lay flat on the floor, staring at the ceiling like a zombie. He had been having this back pain for the past few days, and though he could move about, he was still having a niggling pain somewhere in the lower back.

Just then, the doorbell rang and his wife took it. Shortly, she escorted a middle-aged man into the room.

Alex was from Manesh's office, and his manner suggested he was used to getting his way and say in most matters. He was one of those "know-it-all" types who seem to have an opinion on any and everything under the sun.

Even though he was somewhere in his fifties, he sure seemed to be a fit and healthy specimen, going by his firm handshake. He then turned to our friend who managed a glum hi. Alex was surely not impressed.

Probably he felt that something as trivial as a backache was not even worthy of a bed rest, let alone staying away from office for two whole days!

Manesh got up and made to fetch a cigarette. He was walking gingerly around, when Alex started boasting of his prowess in setting right peoples aches and pains. He stated that he would set Manesh right.

Even though Manesh was full of foreboding, he was one of those types who just did not know how to say "no". Manesh was asked to stand straight and place his hands on his waist. Alex, standing with his back to Manesh, slipped his hands below each of Manesh's arms, and, bending, lifted him high over his back, giving the latter's body and back a vigorous stretch.

"There, that does it. You should be fine by morning," stated Alex with authority, as Manesh's wife retired to the kitchen to make us some tea. The next day I called up Manesh's residence. His wife was on the phone and her voice sounded desperate.

Before I could even enquire about Manesh, she started crying. "You know, Manesh is in hospital, and put on traction.

His back has worsened and has been advised complete bed rest for a week."

"But," I said, "he seemed to be fine yesterday?"

"Oh yes he was fine, but thanks to that friend of his who visited us yesterday, he has now landed in hospital!" Half knowledge, as they say, is more dangerous than no knowledge. There was a lesson in it for us all.

You can't change the Alexes of this world. However, you can change yourself. It is entirely up to you whether you listen to them, or show them the door. It's ok to say "no", once in a while, you know.