Trick or Treat - a survival guide to health care
50 Late reaction The Cage-bird and the Bat: A caged singing bird used to sing at night and be silent during the day. A bat was curious to know why this happened and asked the
singing bird. "When I was singing in the day, a bird-catcher set his nets and
caught me. If only I had kept quiet then I would not be wasting my life in this cage. Since then I sing only at night.” The bat observed, "It is no use keeping quiet
in the day now when you are already in the cage. You should have done it earlier
and remained free."
Mr Prasad, a 60-year old man, met Noor Muhammad, his old friend in a park and
exclaimed:
"Hey, Noor! You have no cigarette in your hand. How come?"
"I have given them up, Prasadji," replied Noor.
Prasad tried to pull his leg, "For the umpteenth time and for 24-hours only."
"No. This is for real. I cannot resume it.” Noor appeared sad but determined.
"Why, what happened?", Prasad was concerned now.
"My doctor says all the blood vessels of my legs are blocked. If I don't stop smoking,
I will get gangrene of legs. Then they will have to chop off my legs. Better to knock off a bad habit than parts of your body - what do you say?” Noor ended with nervous laughter.
Prasad said, "My dear friend, you would not listen to me for the last 35 years. If only
you had done so, your legs might have been free of disease now."
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