To The Man Who Loved and Lived-Part 10

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It makes me angry if I see WhatsApp, Facebook or Instagram on Father's day.  People are all sharing pictures of their father or father of their children. I've nothing against anybody. It reminds me of my loss, which I'am unable to make peace with. The pain is constant. Only memories are to hold on to. Those memories are the treasure now.
My father had a weird sense of humor. He was not hesitant to bring upon death in conversation. Probably that is why we always make fun about our impending deaths and it was never shushed up. Whenever I called him to wish on Father's day he never says Thank you. He says Father's day is the day when one's father dies every freaking time. As I roll my eyes I could hear him guffawing at the other end. I could see his eyes crinkling and his body shaking with laughter. And we continue our chat like any other day. While growing up Father's day was not trending and it is a recent phenomenon. Still he never once said we are aping foreign culture by celebrating Father's day. Now you know how I become the global child.

Whenever I go home for holidays everyone in dad's office would know of my arrival. No, I'm not that nosy or loud. I always have this habit of painting both my parents' nails with latest splash. He would flaunt those colours proudly with elan announcing his daughter's visit. How many fathers will indulge their children's quirky nature in this way? I don't know any.

When his hair is grown a little I used to put a tiny pigtail on him. Yet, I didn't want his colleagues to see this. On appearance he looks serious, strict, fierce, and little scary. Only loved ones knew his soft, mushy, and childish side.

Many people don't know I started watching cricket for Rahul Dravid. I had a huge crush him. I never stuck any posters of him on wall or anything. And it would not even get noticed when you have two cricket fanatic brothers coexisting. Coincidentally I was vacationing at home when Rahul Dravid got married. And my father started pulling my legs by saying "Ah he is married now".

Same goes to Shahrukh Khan. He was my favourite since Baazigar. No, I didn't wait for Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge to happen. However, I never had any crush on him. And my father never missed a chance to make fun of him whenever SRK appeared on television. That would lead to a squabble and me sulking for the rest of the dinner. He used the same trick on my brothers who adored Sachin Tedulkar. It took us sometime to understand his tricks or probably we grew out of that adoring celebrity stage.

And he was our partner-in crime in wrestle mania. This theater form was introduced by my brothers and we're all hooked simultaneously much to the annoyance of mother. Even after we flew out of nest my father continued with this pastime. It was a delight to see him enjoying this mock combat and drama. He will be so engrossed in it shaking his head, laughing, cheering. And we discussed about it as if that is most important topic in the whole universe until the novelty of this drama faded out. Mother used scold us all saying we all have violent streak in our gene, otherwise how can anybody stand such an aggressive and rough show.  

As he is not coming back memory is all I've and memory is all I shall cherish.

The Month That Was May-2020

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When the lock-down 2.0 was lifted the private vehicles were allowed to move intrastate as well as interstate with passes. We had applied for passes in Taluk office. It is here we witnessed the disaster caused by the unplanned 4-hour notice lock-down. The entire area was crammed up without any social distancing and police were trying really hard to control the crowd. People from other states looked horrid and helpless without knowing the local language and no clear instructions on what to follow. Have you ever wondered why News channels do not give such information, which could help the stranded people? Does anybody know what to do when tested COVID positive? No, Arogyasetu app does not solve anything. We helped few people to get their documents in order. Fortunately, KPSclearpass website was up by noon and we obtained one-time one-way pass online. Still we wanted to see whether we will get the physical pass that we applied in the morning. The place was still jam-packed without any respite. As luck would have it we procured the physical pass as well. 

During the journey we were stopped once for the pass and twice for temperature check. The police on-duty looked haggard, overworked and tepid. The pandemic is taking a toll on everybody in individual capacity. Though we weren't instructed we compulsorily followed the home-quarantine measures.

The home was not a disaster as was expected. Sadly all our garden plants died but for aloe vera. They paid the price for our mistakes and it is deeply hurting. If it was not for our beloved 'Aloe' we wouldn't dare to venture out gardening again. For me our little Aloe is the Corona survivor, the symbol of hope. The labour of repotting, seeding, sowing, propagating, watering continued. The joy of seeing the tiny seedling is immense and rewarding. The once forgotten dream of becoming the farmer has kicked in again. If my father was alive he would be proud I guess!

We had lot of catching up to do with movies and we did; Thappad, Angreji medium, Street Dancer, Varathan, Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Extraction, Chaapak, Trance, Body, Frozen 2, Darbar, Ayyappanum Koshiyum, Haram, Bad Boys For Life, Ford Vs Ferrari, House Owner.

Reading took a backseat with hubby to goof around. 'A Woman is No Man by Etaf Ram was the only book I was able to read. I've the next months to compensate on that.

The first television series we consumed was fourth season of 'The Last Kingdom' followed by the superb Patal lok. I need to do a review on this show soon. To take a break from the intense crime thriller we settled on 'Four More Shots Please' allegedly Indian version of 'Sex and the City' much to Hubby's chagrin. Despite the reservedness both of us enjoyed the show. We concluded the month with Special Ops and Asur.

E. Brother is contemplating about quitting the job. The job market is not favourable in this pandemic. Anyway he is worn out from the current one and feels if he could not leave it now he probably will never be able to. Even though worried, I'm nothing but supportive in whatever decision he makes. 

We completed and celebrated our 14th year of being together in a quiet manner only to hope next year it would be a gala event. For the first time we had no choice on this matter. With no restaurants, pubs, theaters, and restrictions on traveling where on earth one can hope to go? For an introvert person like me social distancing is not a problem. However, I would like to have the options of going out anytime anywhere whenever I want. A small virus is causing havoc all over the world and bringing every one to their knees.

May has been kind.  Hoping for better June.