The Nurse at Hinduja Hospital had sent me back as I was 'unfit' to donate blood - my blood drop took longer than the ideal 15seconds to sink to the bottom of the Copper Sulphate solution. I'd gone to donate blood for a friend's aunt, but they would have none of it. Plus I got some sound advice on improving my diet. The Complete Blood Count (CBC) confirmed the figures - I had a not-so-impressive count of 11g/dL. That was 8 months ago.

So, today, when I was feeling exceedingly healthy, and had, in the process, also regained my nerve to approach Nurses at Blood Donor Rooms - a visit to the Tata Memorial Centre followed. It was so satisfying - my blood drop sank swiftly, the Doctors on duty smiled, I took to the couch, the friendly Nurses did their bit, the TV screened some jhatka-matka song, got treated to a coffee and leisurely stepped out. Keeping track, there's 142 still left.