Dizzy Poem by Daniel Trevelyn Joseph

It was October 2006: Joti and I
Were on Superstar Libra, the cruise liner
In Mumbai, in a nice corner cabin.
In the morning at sea, she was asleep
I got ready, wearing a suit,
And while pacing within the room,
I felt a moment of dizziness.
The ship was large, and moving steadily
Without vibrations. As DG Shipping on
Highly disturbed seas, especially near Pittie’s Island
In Lakshadweep, was never sea-sick.

Two weeks later, I was at IMAX in Nariman Point
Seeing a movie with wife and daughter Joti.
Mercator chairman tall Mr Mittal was there too.
Movie over, got up, and felt dizzy.
Thought must be change of posture after so long,
But dizziness traveled with me till reaching
Home in Bandra. I had to lie down for more than an hour.

Two week later, I felt dizzy again at home this time,
And the filled up feeling inside
Along with the dizziness didn’t go.
Then I went into Tilla’s bathroom
And threw up heavily, and felt relieved.

Two weeks later, Tilla and I had a date
For lunch since no food could be cooked at home.
Samrat being full, we entered Relish
Had to wait to get a two-chair table.
As we sat, I felt the invading dizziness
Ever so slightly, told her: she ordered lunch,
Said, “Take iced tea; you must be hungry.
Place was full of college girls.
I sipped, but got up, went out
And threw up by side of the pavement
On and on, for twenty-five full minutes,
Retching heavily with nothing coming out
Except grating loud noise from my throat.

She rang up Dr P L Tiwari’s Indu clinic,
I was rushed to Bombay Hospital
Jenny and wheel-chair waiting for me,
Admitted to ICU, same night brain MRI done
No abnormality. Next day Vimal and ENT
Checked, nothing seen, soon got discharged
As requested.

Later, ENT Head in Port Hospital at Wadala
Told me it has to be infection in the inner ear.
Can be treated but might lead to deafness.
I spoke to P B Khandekar of exam fame
He and other friends who have suffered similar pangs,
Stated that it will take two years to settle down.
I kept stugeron and stemtil for weeks.

Today while leaving for office at 10
I carried a set of maps and papers
Reading, felt dizzy, in the moving car
Upto S V Road. Nothing new. But this time
I felt something was climbing up my gullet
Got worried, since head was also aching
Is it the same problem, I wondered.

While in the car, thought I’d take water
To drink, but forgot once on the desktop
In office, and then Arjun
With his queries on the new business card
For me in Mayfair, and MIPS.

Who is the master, me or something within,
On some remote control outside?
Birth to death is an unsteady walk in dizziness?
Or quivering of joy in life and nature?