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A man was brought in to the hospital intensive care ward, put in a bed, tubes coming out everywhere. A week later, another man was admitted, in a similar condition.
Both lay there, machines pinging, tubes poking etc. a couple more weeks before one of them had the strength to raise his hand and point to himself and say,
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"Bengali."
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The other patient signaled he had heard, raised his own hand, and said,
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"Punjabi."
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This act tired them out so badly it was a week before the first summoned up the strength to say,
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"
Calcutta
."
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Other replied in a weedy frail voice,
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"Ludhiana."
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Once more, the strain was too much for them both and they passed out. Days passed before the first patient managed to again point to himself and say,
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"Asit."
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Replied the other,
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"Santa."
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A few hours later, Asit managed to point to himself again and rasp out weakly,
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"Cancer."
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Santa responded,
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"Sagittarius."
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