Thursday, December 08, 2005

YES, I'VE QUIT!

Yes, I've quit!
I had a colleague who used to smoke twelve cigarettes a day. He always said that he was not an addict, and that he could quit if he wished to. He never answered my question as to why he did not wish to.

As a friend, I used to think it was my duty to get him to kick the habit. I began to send him website links to medical reports of how smoking affects the body. Talked to him about people I knew who were suffering due to their addiction. Once I wrote the name of his wife and children on the cigarettes from a pack in his pocket. He never touched that packet, but promptly bought another one.

I'm a senti guy. One day, I bought him an expensive designer candle, telling him it was his family. And lighting the cigarette meant lighting the candle too.

Within weeks, he came down to three cigarettes, and eventually stopped. Six months after his abstinence was confirmed, he invited me home for a lunch treat. During that time, I changed jobs.

One week later, on my new office number, I received a phone call. His quivering voice was on the other end. He told me that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

He always said that he was not an addict, and that he could quit if he wished to. He never answered my question as to why he did not wish to.

15 comments:

RP said...

Holy Christ! So bad. Things happen when we dont want it. Pray he recovers soon.

யாத்ரீகன் said...

hey here i'm seeing Campaigns saying Cancer is Curable and many bloggers hosting the CCC Ad..

hope any bloggers in medical profession can through some light on this.. surely google would do.. but still need it short and crisp..

vinesh pass on that hope and confidence to him..

-
செந்தில்/Senthil

Unknown said...

My god! That was so unbelievable!...There are people who have been smoking for years and yet not been affected. But lady luck doesnt smile upon all people!...sigh...

sathya said...

This imitates a FORWARD mail..
reality is missing in this blog...
i am still thinking to believe ur story or not..
though i am not a smoker...
(i have seen many chain smokers, smoking for years and years, but howcome they did not get cancer)

I think ur colleague is a rare case...
Anyway pitty for him.. and nice try of urs to stop him from smoking

Unknown said...

I can only say that passive smokers are as vulnerable as the active ones ! Hope there is a rule in the near future to stop smoking at offices too !

Anonymous said...

thats sad-hope it is in its initial stage and can be cured

Vinesh said...

I am amused by some comments that some chain smokers smoke for years and years and years, but they don't get cancer.

I agree with them because I never said everybody who smokes gets cancer, in the first place.

Sneha Acharya said...

che avaruthaan vidaradhunnu mudivu pannittarulla thn why he shud get cancer indha GOD sila samayam romba kevalamaa destinyaa define pannuvaaru :(

Directhit said...

thts really baaaaaaaaaad!! had similar experiences fighting with my pals trying to push of the Cigars from their hands.......... but as Ayshu says "unless they decide on it, they arent gonna quit" -- so cute of ur friend to have done it! hats off to him and u too!!

Jeevan said...

He is example for many smoking people. you have a good care on our people. :)

Nisha said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ioiio said...

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Anonymous said...

Yes... Many people donot realise the consequences of such habits unless something really happens to them like the one you have mentioned. I really pity them..

Paavai said...

Saaaad Vinesh.

Cancer is no more the dreaded disease anymore with medical advances. Pray he gets well soon and has a long healthy life

Thayirsaadham said...

hey vinesh, am filled with grief. sorry about that. feel good that you did your best. am glad there are people like you around. ur friends must be very lucky to have you around.