Vardaan Hospital (Cait)

Sometimes, it's impossible to differentiate the tourists from the Indians...

Making fajitas!

At Qutab Minar


Courtyard of Mayapuri Center



Monday, June 14

Monday evening after work Shalini and I jumped in a rickshaw and headed over to meet Mallika's aunt and uncle, Drs. Rajiv and Rekha, who own the Vardaan Hosptial in Delhi. Vardaan is a small private hospital which specializes in OB/GYN and pediatric medicine, and also serves as a sort of nursing home for some elderly in-patients. They showed us around and introduced us to many of the patients, many of whom were very talkative. One woman told us her lifestory, which was kind of a downer, about how her children have left her to move to (ironically) Chicago and Canada and she can't get a visa because of her health condition to join them. Then there was the friendly but slightly out-of-it old man who greeted Shalini with a "good to see you again," thinking they knew each other from their days in the army. Yes, yes, that is Cadet Shalini.

The hospital was great though, as was talking to Dr. Khandelwal about her work there, and how the hospital partners with an NGO similar to Asha to work with low-income kids and help them do well in school. Afterwards, we went back to the Khandelwal's house, where we met more of the family and ate an absolutely delicious dinner. We had a really interesting conversation with Mallika's grandfather about Ghandi and India's struggle for independence, and he very generously offered to take us to a Hindu temple sometime. Mallika's cousin, a doctor, also offered to show us around a government hospital...so excited to take them up on both offers!

(This is Shalini) I just want to emphasize how amazing this family was and how delicious the food was. Amazing. It was definitely a highlight of India thus far.
(Cait again) I agree wholeheartedly. The Khandelwals have been so awesome and we feel very lucky to have enjoyed their hospitality!