Daddy Taught Me!!!

Daddy Taught Me!!!.

Zindagi Abhi Baaki Hai… :-)

“There’s a story behind everything… But behind all your stories is always your mother’s story… Because hers is where yours begin!!” – Mitch Albom

You all must have watched this program aired lately about our own favourite cricketer Yuvraj Singh. But nopes, this is not about him. During his conversations, when he mentioned his mom as his absolute support, while he was fighting his battle to survival, I couldn’t help myself remembering a few people who happen to be in my life – some inspiring me and some still being my greatest support.

Being brought up outside your birthplace and a short yearly visits, keeps you away from knowing a lot of people far around you. I have been one of them. It was during my 12th boards that we had a visitor from Kerala, who was my dad’s cousin sister’s son. Though we had never met before, he became a part of our family and made a place in our hearts soon with his charm. He was an elder brother to me, that I always wished I had, and also my best friend. With all the most amazing degrees one could possess in Accounts and Finance, he was at his highest peaks of his dream career. But as the fate could strike, during one of his project visits in Chennai, he met with an accident. The hit and trauma were so severe that the doctors had to scrape off half his brain, which had been crushed beyond repair. He stayed in coma for a few months, and though he came out of it, he laid there just like a vegetable as he had lost most part of his brain. Though not strong enough to pick him up, there were two hands waiting to embrace him and hold him tight – his Mother. She knew, doctors had given her back a baby as they did years back when he was born. But she did not lose hope. She knew she could feed him, clean him and raise him again. Its been more than a decade now and she still believes ‘zindagi abhi baaki hai’ for him. She has raised him big enough again so that he communicates a bit and does a few things on his own.

I was attending one of my cousin sis-in-law’s party 5-6 yrs back. After dinner, as always, we all sat down having chit-chats, singing old hindi songs and lots of laughter. Amongst all the smiles was just another person, my sis-in-law’s aunt, whom all used to call chitti with love. She is vibrant, full of life and the most amazing, loving person. And with her introduction came to me a shocking reality of her fighting the deadliest, blood cancer. It was an absolute shock to me. Truth as it was, she had her cancer in the last stage. Doctors had held their hands up. There were times when she used to vomit all green. All had lost hopes and that’s exactly when she decided ‘zindagi abhi baaki hai’ cause she had two lil kids to look after. It took all her will power and her unconditional love for her children to fight back her condition. And here she is still pondering all her love till date and busy bringing up her children.

When I got married, I met many new people with amazing stories and a totally different lifestyle. It took me some time to know them and be comfortable with them. But there was one person who caught my heart instantly – my husband’s elder sister. She had been one of my greatest inspiration and my mentor in many ways. The best thing she taught me was to be calm and happy even when life is trying hard to be the toughest on you. She is blessed with two sons. Though she believes it’s a blessing, many wondered how. Her younger son was born with mental disability. Doctors said he would grow physically like a normal child but his brain would not. Everyone felt sorry for her and pitied her. Due to the fact that these children are not treated as normal, like other kids, most of the times they tend to live deprived of attention, love and care even in their own home. My daughter, though 7 yrs younger to him, used to treat him like a baby when she was just 3 yrs old. He was growing up but di had to look after him like a toddler. She used to pick him up and walk even when he was 12 yrs. She had to treat him and do things for him 10 yrs below his age. But again, di decided ‘zindagi abhi baaki hai’ and raised him up in such a way that even I am amazed sometimes. He is 17 now and he goes to school, plays football, watches his favourite TV shows, makes sure he gets what he likes and most importantly has become independent in most ways.

Mentioning all these amazing and great women I have come across in my life till now, there is one very important person I can’t miss to introduce at all.

This goes down to the early eighties in a small village in Kerala. She had just given birth to her son a couple of months back and could merely celebrate and cherish the new life in her arms, when she came to know that her 2 yr old daughter had an attack of polio which led to paralysis below hips. The news devastated her initially. Her daughter would not be able to walk another step or even sit on her own ever. Her husband had been recently posted on job to Iraq for 2 yrs. She was all alone for her kids. But she gathered all her strength and determination back together not losing any more time. She knew she could not let her daughter live a life of a vegetable for rest of her life. She decided to challenge her daughter’s fate and fight till she would succeed. When everyone around her said she was wasting her time and energy for nothing, she would carry her daughter, leaving behind her just born son at the mercy of her relatives, and walk miles to an Ayurvedic hospital. She believed her daughter could be on her feet. She believed her daughter would walk through her life again independently. She believed in her faith. She believed ‘zindagi abhi baaki hai’. This lady, my friends, is none other than my own mother. And here I stand today, in front of you, on my own feet and as independent as one could be. I owe my whole life to her.

Every mother, including me, is special cause we give birth to a life and raise them to our best. But there are few who devote every breath of their life to just make it best for their children. I am sure while reading this many must have thought of at least one person whom you could relate this with. Do share it with me cause knowing them would be a pleasure. 🙂