Lifz Beautiful

Have innumerable memories from our times and ordeal together. Had promised myself, will jot down every single thing we went through but just cannot get myself to do it. They are still as fresh, still as painful and it seems very unlikely that they will mellow down any time soon. These are just some of the moments that we, my mother, and I shared during those taxing times. They have always remained hidden deep within, but if sharing can heal...so be it! Six years and sill the ache is just as intense and memories just as clear. Still haven’t found a life that can be lived without you. Every morning first waking thoughts are of you, every night the tired mind thinks only of you. In every moment of gratitude, you are bowed to and in every pain, you are looked up to. The final year spent around you was the most painful yet so precious… Your chemo sessions were a breeze, the chemo months horrendous! Never again were two days alike…at times you were chirpy and gay and at others, you...

We in India take pride in belonging to the biggest democracy! How cool is that!!! We’ve the power to choose the people who’ll ru(i)n our country, have the ‘ baap’ of all powers - freedom of speech to express ourselves without any inhibitions and all the other privileged powers that come with belonging and living in a ‘democratic’ set-up. We have a microscopic view of all the things that happen at macro level, we fight for injustice that happens at the National level (yes, we do that…thankfully!), always look at the bigger picture and debate over larger issues that may or may not affect us. No harm at all, in fact it only proves, we are sensitive, kind, caring, empathetic,compassionate, conscious, logical, brave, articulate, sensible citizens who have only good in the heart and well being in the mind for others. What then happens to the above attributes closer home? Our homes are the screens where we get to see the real life pictures. On one hand we have a microsc...

Halted due to a slow moving traffic,  I rested my head on the backrest. The words outside stared starkly at me,  through the narrow slits of my eyes. 'This was my actual destination but I took a life time in reaching here' I looked beyond the carved words  and realized  my eyes were on a cemetery ground. The words did state the truth... where we begin, where we head and finally where do we reach... For every little emotion in life, we always have a choice - for love, we've hate and for laugh, we've cry.  But at the end, do we really have any say? That's the only place to go once life turns away.  Why don't we then, learn to live without a choice?  Why can't we just love and only laugh? Why do we then frown, when it's only our smiles  that will beautify each stride of our lives. The traffic eased and the car rolled ahead, I glanced back to behold the words again, The meaning of 'Life' manifested thru ...

And this follows the 'The most desired sojourn'... Goa or Kerala??? The decision was made by a surprise that made things easy for us, literally! Our daughter, the drama queen that she is, 10 days prior to our Anniversary, post dinner, in middle of a family tête-à-tête,  takes the centre stage in our humble living area and asks for attention in no uncertain terms. Once gained, she with her nose up in the air (very loyal to her this distinct trait) and hands animatedly spread, as if those were the parts that were to do all the talking, announces - 'Yoohoo, you are booked for Kerala!!! Travel, stay and authentic Southie meals all taken care of (more exclamation marks)!!! You both just have to pack and leave home in 4 days and stay out of my way for 10 days after that.' Husband and I look at each other and give the daughter our trade mark look, husband - a frown and me - a smile. Please explain, I demand. She nonchalantly looks at us and factually states,' oh, you...