Rising Sun?

His name is Teja. Right from his birth, he has brought immense happiness and joy to his parents. His father, M, comes from a family that is in distress - their elder son is autistic. Teja's grandparents have spent their entire lifetime looking after their elder son.

M and I became friends during our college days. We studied together for 5 years and continued to stay in touch. M is also my husband, S' best friend. We were there for M's wedding and all the joys that came into their lives afterwords. We have participated and hosted several lunches and have thoroughly enjoyed their company -both M and his wife, B, are very friendly couple and made for each other.

When Teja entered their life, their happiness knew no bounds - he truly was the apple of their eyes.

So, it was very shocking when I heard today that Teja has been diagonsed with Leukemia.

I am very numb and don't know what to say!!!

Appa, where can I reach you?

Dear Appa,
As your time nears, I have come to realize what you mean to me. Today, I want to tell you - you mean the world to me.

You have always been interested every day to find out how my day has gone by. You have fidgeted and frowned each time I have fallen sick, goading me to go to the doctor ... you even resorted to threatening me to see a doctor when I would not listen to you. I know you wished well for me each time you said that...And there have been several instances when I have not listened to you at all - and have been as obnoxious as a weed.

When there are festivals, you always are in the fore front to celebrate them. Never made me feel the absence of my mother-in-law. You took the kitchen by storm to cook the most sumptous puliogarai or kesari bath... how can we ever forget the all famous semiya payasam? "Payasa madidre munnu maama taraha madabeku" goes the adage in our family circles :P

How can I forget Srikrishna janmashtami celebrations? Pulling down the table, you sit right in the middle of the living room decorating the "santum sanctorum" to keep the diety with mango leaves, fruits and all delicious things I would prepare? How many times have you offered to buy them from the shop ready-made when you saw me taking the strain to cook all those things at home? Times when you have been so proud of your bahu for understanding your traditions and preparing all the delicacies at home...

Today I proudly tell my family - I learnt cooking from appa. All the praises and accolades from relatives over my cooking testify that I have been a good student.

Being a foodie, you have always loved good home-cooked food. Perhaps I have always known this deep in my heart. Which is why each time they serve kajjaya, semiya payasam or puliogarai at office, I have called you to tell you about it. And you have always told me "Why dont you get some home?". Sadly, each time, I have responded "I cannot get it home, appa. It is part of lunch at Office".

Now I realize, I could have at least tried to get some of it home - if I had paid a price, which I would not have minded. May be I would have succeeded in fullfilling your wishes...
Today, as I called you home once more to tell you about the sumptuous puliogarai that was served as part of the special meal, my eyes were moist... Very soon, I truly would not know where to call you and how to reach you.....

Appa, do you really have to leave us and go?

FIL's Undying Spirit

Liver Cancer has been imbibing my Father-in-law's energy and making him tired all the time. A jovial person who would walk down to neighbour's house for a casual brunch-time coffe-chat, can now be seen sleeping with no energy to get up and go down the stairs.

Oncologist did warn us about this and urged us to push him to walk and exercise his body. And this has been my hubby's and my constant effort. Each day, we spent lot of time and effort to talk to him, push and goad him to get up and walk, exercise.

Habitually, he dozes off immediately after breakfast, which according to my husband is not a good habit. This saturday was no different. He had had his breakfast and was sitting on the sofa waiting for sleep goddess to sing her lullaby.

My husband and I were sitting next to him. My hubby started "appa, what is this, you are dozing off again. Why can't you be a bit active and get yourself some exercise? You are ruining what is left of your health".

Immediately my FIL looked at me and said "In the film, Manasa Sarovara, there is a song "Neene saakida gini..ninna muddina gini...
haddagi kukkitallo, ninna haddagi kukkitallo...
Vidya, this guy is like the parrot in this song which is now pecking me like an eagle ......"

All I could do was hold my stomach and roll in laughter... while my hubby was seen fuming... :D

Despite all his pain, the spirit with which he makes others laugh is definitely commendable!!!

What's in a name? Part - 1

Yes, this was the title of a blog by one of the fellow bloggers. And I picked this on purpose.

3 weeks ago, when I attended The Landmark Forum, along with 320 other people. This was a life enriching experience, which I truly cannot explain in words. I want to share 2 specific stories that individuals shared during this forum. I will post them separately.

1. Dr. Rajalakshmi - Or Raji, the way she likes to be called.

Day 1 - when I met Raji, I saw this hep person wearing cool top and jeans, well combed hair, excellently maintained figure. String of achievements to talk about - Successful Gynaec, written & published cookery books, opening her own Nutrition Boutique for ladies very soon, extremely successful, beautiful and she seemed to have it all - enviable career, daughter, family everything. She came across as a super human being - able to juggle work/life, yoga/dance/hobbies/reading all into one day. (I thought - "wow... amazing that she can actually do so much in the same 24 hours she too has... I am sure there is something going on in her personal life, which is why she must be here")

Day - 2 - I came to know she is struggling to come to terms with her 11 years old divorce. Her daughter is a child prodigy when she started driving a 4WD at the age of 4. She did her maiden rally from Hyderabad to Bangalore at that age. Today she has joined Bangalore Medical College to study medicine. (I thought again, "Now I know why she is in the Landmark Forum. Just like I thought yesterday, this should be the dark side of her personal life, which she wants to complete")

Day - 3 - Raji came on stage to share her story. She was orphaned at the age of 3.5 months. She grew up at an orphanage that was not allowing girls to go to school. One day, the caretaker caned her so much that her skin peeled off and stuck to the cane. She walked over to where the cane was lying, picked up the piece of skin, stuck it back to her arm and determined "I am going to school and will be successful one day". From that day onwards, she worked as a house maid to earn her living and take herself through school and college. She won 18 gold medals and went on to study medicine and become a gynaec. (I thought "Do I really know this person well enough to judge her life?")

But fate had something else in store for her. 2 years back she was diagnosed with Cancer.

My impression of Raji changed drastically from a super woman - to - an achiever, a fighter and simply a WOMAN in 3 days time.

So, despite having the name of Rajalakshmi, she went through sheer poverty and misery to where she stands TALL today. And that too with equal elan. Hats off to you, Doctor. May you be all the more successful in your life. I am sure with the positive attitude that you already have, cancer can be easily defeated. Wish you all the very best!!!