Vada pav

Tarun's mother has HIV. His father does not. His uncle died of AIDS last year. Its complicated.

Tarun has the disease as well. He is 15 years old and struggling to take TB medications. By God's grace he has completed (with much encouragement) the basic course. We have asked his mother to have him take an additional 2 months of anti-TB meds.

When Sheba wrote out the medication, Tarun's mother asked how much it would cost. The course that he completed was free from the government - but they do not give the extension of treatment.

Sheba said it would be about Rs. 200 or so a month.

"Oh Doctor, don't give cheap medicines, please give something expensive that will make Tarun fully better" said his mother.

Sheba explained that this was the best medicine to take.

Tarun's mother is sad because Tarun is still sick and repeatedly gets diarrhoea.

Sheba talked with Tarun's mother about why this was so.

Tarun's family sell 'Vada Pav' on the roadside. Commonly called 'Bombay Burger' this tasty snack is wolfed down in huge amounts across the city. The potato and gram flour dough - seasoned with mustard and green chillies - is deep fried in oil and the hot round balls are then tucked into the 'Pav' - a Mumbai bun and garnished with more fried chillies and spice.

It tastes great. But is not for the faint of stomache. What actually lurks in the oil is a big mystery. How old the wadas actually are is another. How many flies have sat on them before eating is a third. Whether the cheerful vendour has washed his hands after he last wiped his bum is a fourth. The list goes on.

We strongly suggest that our HIV positive friends do not eat 'anything outside.' With weakened immunities eat stuff like these beloved Bombay Burgers is an invitation to diarrhoea.

Tarun's family makes these tasty treats for a living. They get up at 10 am and work the streets late into the evening - rarely sleeping before 1 AM.

Breakfast for Tarun is a cup of tea and a few biscuits. Lunch and dinner are usually wada pavs.

Sheba sat with Tarun's mother and charted out a diet plan. Chappatis with subji for breakfast. Something nutritious for lunch.

Day before yesterday Tarun came by. He has not grown fat overnight. But he has eaten chappatis after a very long time.

If only getting better was a matter of swallowing expensive medicines. How often we forget the greatest medications given to us. Food.