The Backpacker

Everyone has had fever. But fevers are fashionable too, depending upon when they make an appearance. It’s ok to have a fever when the temperature is extremely cold, during the rains, during the seasonal outburst of fever, change of temperature or even while sharing it with the rest of the world. No one would mind very much if you had fever during one of the categories, in fact you could even expect to get a little sympathy and leave from work.

 

But what of a fever that comes up by itself when the rest of the world is hale and hearty. One such fever made an appearance and I was the unfortunate recipient of the virus. It is not a very ‘becoming’ to have the fever when the temperature outside is about 50 degree centigrade. I mean can any self respecting virus survive the heat? Apparently this one did. It affected my head, my throat, my nose and whatever was left of the body. But, but, mind, this virus was a strange one. It did not allow for a ‘full-blown’ fever that comes with its own malady, but remained somewhere, hesitant to make a complete appearance, appearing at odd intervals. How can you keep track of a virus that does not follow a pattern? How do you know that whatever ailment you are experiencing is the result of that virus on a meandering path? 

 

And to boot, if someone came and touched my forehead in a burst of sympathy, it wasnt even lukewarm, forget the deliciously burning hot forehead that never failed to evoke passionate and positive responses! It is also embarrassing to admit to having a fever that is not even make your forehead warm! But while it did not allow the luxury of a burning forehead, it did, however, give me all the symptoms. Headaches, nose blocks, lethargy, loss of appetite (this I must protest), and sore throat.

I do hate these fever-imposters.