I think his surgery was very sudden. So we did not have time to worry too much about it or think too much about it. He was supposed to go in for angioplasty. In the morning, the doctors told us there was actually another option -- of having bypass surgery and that the family would have to decide if we wanted to go for open heart surgery or not.

All of us were debating and wondering about the pros and cons, about the risk. Finally, we said, well, we should not take the decision and this should be his decision. He was lying on the operation table and ready for the angioplasty. All of us were in our gowns and masks.

My mother told him that the doctors were saying there was another option, of going in for open heart surgery.

What do you think? Within ten seconds, he said, 'I will go for the bypass'. All of us were taken aback. Before going to him, we had already discussed it for one hour, debating the risks and benefits of the surgery. We had discussed it for one hour and we could not come to a conclusion, but when we posed a question to him he took ten seconds to decide.

When the doctor explained the procedure, he heard him out and said, 'Yes, I know the risk. I am fine and I am quite clear about it.' He had no second thoughts. He is like that. He always takes a firm decision. He is clear in his mind. For medical reasons he had to wait for two, three days and then the surgery was done.

The surgery took very long -- some 11 hours. We were waiting in the room. We were briefed by the doctors, but we did not realise it till it happened. We were very tense. Until he started talking and walking, we were worried. He always recovers very fast, touch wood. I think it is sheer willpower. He wants to recover fast and get back to regular work. He just does. And I don't know how he does it.

He could have taken a couple of weeks more, but he has the ability to bounce back. He does physiotherapy now. He doesn't do yoga, but he walks regularly. He is a very fast walker. When he became prime minister, SPG (Special Protection Group) officers told us that his speed gave them a tough time, to keep pace with him. He would suddenly take a turn, and they too had to change direction fast. Now, he has regained his earlier speed of walking. I think he is fine now.

He could not fight an election because one just can't put up the name. One needs two months of solid preparation and one can't do without meeting people. He would like to meet people. His surgery timings were such that it was not possible.

Image: Dr Singh after being discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, where he underwent bypass surgery. Photographs: Reuters.

Also read: 'It is going to be a close fight this time' | India Votes 2009

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