Curry and yogurt caused mouth inflammation. I used to have simple Kĥichřī without salt and pepper [bland diet]. I was not even able to open my mouth properly. I got very anxious when I came to know that Pān and Gutka cause mouth cancer.

Once I shared my anxiety with a 70-year old watchman, he said, ‘Buy alum (Pĥiṫkarī) and fenugreek seeds (which are used in making pickles) of 10 rupees each, put both the items in four litres water in a steel bowl and boil it on a low flame. Alum will dissolve in water and fenugreek seeds would crack. Lift the bowl from stove when 1 litre water is evaporated, i.e., 3 litres water will remain. Fill the water in the bottles when it is cooled, keep them at a cool place away from sunlight but don’t place it in fridge. Try to keep this water in your mouth a bit longer while gargling and rinsing your mouth with it daily in the morning on an empty stomach. Similarly, follow this method four five times daily and before going to bed. No edible should be taken at least for half an hour after gargles.

The elderly person assured me that اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ all germs of mouth and throat would be killed with the help of alum. Fenugreek seeds would cure all ulcers. It is just a matter of week, after which you can eat whatever you like. اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ You will not be bothering any more.

I started using the said prescription from the very day, اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ my mouth started recovering in the same week, then I started another prescription after it. That one was about ‘mint’ because