Then I moved around to do his back. Sitting down crossed-legged I put my hands up on his shoulders -- and just hung there, in total exhaustion. I could not move even a finger.
Prabhupada had sat patiently without comment as I had feebly worked on his head. Now he half-turned his head and glanced at me over his shoulder. "So you are ill?"
I couldn't even speak. I nodded weakly and he told me, "All right, go and take rest. You can send someone else in to finish."
I couldn't even say thank you. It was a major endeavor just to get up and head for the door. I didn't dare offer my obeisances, fearing that I might not be able to get up again.
Harikesa Swami was in our room typing as I walked through the door. He looked up in surprise. "Oh. Finished already?"
I thought, "Yes, I'm finished." And then I immediately collapsed in a heap on the floor, unable to say a word.
"Prabhupada!" Harikesa exclaimed in alarm, thinking something dreadful might have happened to him. Ignoring me, he jumped up and ran to Srila Prabhupada's room.
A minute later he was back, relieved nothing serious was afoot, and concerned about my condition. After another minute I was finally able to speak and told him that he had better finish Prabhupada's massage.
Harikesa changed into his gamcha and went in to complete Prabhupada's massage. Although he had never given Prabhupada his massage before, he had seen it many times, and so he enthusiastically put himself to the task.
Suddenly Prabhupada said, "Oh, you have learned how to massage?"
"No, Srila Prabhupada, I am just speculating," Harikesa replied a little hesitantly.
Prabhupada smiled. "But it is very good."
So he continued for about ten minutes, but after that his arms got so tired that he could hardly press at all. Prabhupada noticed that he was getting weaker and weaker and finally shook head. "You have no strength. Go call Pradyumna."
Lean fellow that Pradyumna is, he also could not do a satisfactory job. And so the two of them together ended up finishing the massage.
On Srila Prabhupada's orders a doctor was called for me. He came about 4:00 p.m. After a brief examination he gave his diagnosis -- a strong bout of flu. He gave me an injection and I spent the rest of the day on my back.
This evening Prabhupada mercifully came to see how I was. He is always concerned to see that we maintain good health and is very compassionate. He asked what the doctor had said and how I felt, and then told me to rest until I felt better. He also visited Pradyumna's son, Aniruddha, who is ill with a boil on his leg.
- From "A Transcendental Diary Vol 4" by HG Hari Sauri Prabhu
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