Lately a lot of people are falling ill. I was down with flu a couple of weeks back, and now I am down with sniffles and a sore throat again. I hate this feeling of vulnerability, where I am not too sick, yet not too well, so it is a very uncomfortable feeling, because I am physically fit to go about my routine functions, yet at the same time feeling groggy and not up to par.

People at my workplace are falling sick one after another. My friends are also falling sick one after another. This period of flu has been dragging on for a long time now, I wonder when it will end? Hopefully there will not be another epidemic striking!

I just came back from the doctor, second time in three days. Thank goodness it is not dengue fever! I was feeling so sick on Monday that I wanted to ask for a house call. And the nurse told me mechanically that it is $250, COD.

I only had $100 with me then, so I asked if I could pay by cash cheque instead? And she said, "No, the policy is COD, no other mode of payment."

So I said, "I can't drive, I'm feeling really weak, I'm having chest pain, fever, body ache and I'm feeling really giddy. I think it's a bit inconvenient for me to go to see a doctor, so can I ask the doctor to come to my house instead? I'm willing to pay more even, except I don't have enough cash at hand, so I'll write a cheque instead."

And she said, "No, the policy is COD, no other mode of payment." To which I replied, "Is following rules more important than someone's life?" She answered mechanically, "That's the policy. If you are really so sick, then call an ambulance to bring you to A&E."

I was too sick to argue so I just dropped it. Makes me wonder, has people become so rigid and inflexible nowadays that money and following the rules and regulations set by humans are more important than treating a human and saving lives?