"Though the heart be heavy and hurt you may be feeling,
If there is time for praying there is time for healing.
So if through your window there is a new day breaking,
Thank God for the promise, though mind and soul be aching.
If with harvest over there is grain enough for gleaning,
There is a new tomorrow and life still has meaning..."
The climax of the anticipation and preparation. The eager wait to be ensconced in all things familiar - the sights, smells and sounds of homeland. The familiarity and warmth of the arms that embrace you. Or the excitement of going to a new country, city or even continent. Of stepping into uncertainty, not knowing what this vacation or relocation bodes. The simultaneous buzz of excitement and anxiety that seizes you as you step into the unfamiliar.
***
Months of waiting and hours of pain. But there is ecstasy at the end of this agony. Of seeing the tiny creature you created and incubated in your body. Celebrations and jubilation at the addition of the newest member to the family. The excitement of bringing the new one from hospital to home. The new arrival after which life ceases to be the same. Ever.
DEPARTURES
Preparing to transplant oneself back again. The end of the getaway that was temporary. Overwhelming emotions that eventually find it's way as a trickle down the cheek. Happiness at the memories made and time spent, overcast with the imminent end of it all. The hesitant goodbyes. The collective sigh at the retreating figures, for those remaining behind. Of hoping to see them soon.
***
The dreaded wait outside the OT or ICU. The endless pacing back and forth. Imagining the worst-case scenarios and yet praying for the best outcome. Sometimes it's a long drawn wait for Death to come calling. And sometimes, a sudden and cruel quirk of fate - an accident, an infection, a sudden downward spiral of health, a heart attack. The goodbyes that one's never EVER prepared for. Coming to terms that the person you knew has vacated the body; that it's the last you will see of them. Of the disbelief that they no longer exist. Of life with them playing as a random slideshow in the head. And imagining a future without them.
***
Footnote - Airports and Hospitals. They share the irony of being the place that witnesses joy and despair in parallel.
P.S. It has been ages (specifically, THREE whole years!) since I posted here. I was casually checking my blog the other day and alarm bells went off in my head. I, in fact, scrolled through my blog, read random posts and sat in disbelief for a minute (or two). Did I write those? Was it me, really?
I don't know what excuse to offer - well, that's what it'd be - to get writing get away from me. Or vice versa. This is a blog I started in 2006. And although never prolific, I have always come back to it and penned down my thoughts. Since I've turned up after such a hiatus, I won't make tall promises. But I'll try to be faithful to this little piece of myself on the WWW. There's a part of me reflected here, and I would like to keep going for as long as I can.
Revisiting old Malayalam movies is one of my favourite things to do. The Malayalam film industry might be going through an upheaval of sorts, with technological advancements, creative story lines and snazzy treatment. But if you want some soul, you need to go back to the past. I strongly maintain that the 1980s and 1990s had movies with depth, powerful characters and heart-touching stories. One such movie that moves me, no matter how many times I watch it is - Kamaladalam (Lotus Petal)(1992).
I am sure no Malayali is unfamiliar with this movie, directed by Sibi Malayil and written by A K Lohithadas (if you are....Seriously?!)
Just to jog your memories: Nandagopan (Mohanlal), a genius of an artist and dance teacher turns an alcoholic and drug addict after his wife Sumangala (Parvathy) commits suicide, in the whim of a moment. As he drifts on aimless, he gets a pupil, Malavika (Monisha) who wants him to revive his pet project, 'Sita Ramayanam', which he had meant for his wife to execute. His life ambition comes to fruition, but at the expense of his life itself.
What's to love in the movie?
1. For the love of arts– The glorious way in which the performing arts, mainly classical dance, is used as a backdrop. This is one film which tries to bring a common man close to dance without sounding scholarly. It is the vehicle which carries the movie forward. The life of an artist, his dedication to his art and how one must approach learning it - are some of the sub-themes that stand out. I especially love that sequence in the movie, when Mohanlal is challenged to put his money where his mouth is. He explains and demonstrates his interpretation of 'Aananda nadanam aadinaar...' (which was Monisha's Arangetram performance he'd disrupted).
2. Stellar performances– I doubt if the casting could have been any better. Vineeth as Soman aka Somashekharan Unni, the jealous lover of Malavika; Monisha herself; Parvathy as Sumangala, Murali as Vineeth's brother, Oduvil Unnikrishnan as the Principal of Kerala Kala Mandiram and Monisha's father.... why even Nedumudi Venu as the irritating Secretary Velayudhan fit the role to a T! Not to mention, Mohanlal - who portrays the protagonist perfectly. Though not a trained dancer, he rendered the role with aplomb.
A little trivia here - the now famous television-cum-film actress Asha Sarath was offered Monisha's role (which she of course had then turned down).
3. Theme and mythological reference– Though the movie predominantly pursues Mohanlal's character and narrates the story from his perspective, the female leads Parvathy and Monisha are the pillars that hold it up. Much has to be said about Sita, the main mythological character, from whom the female leads' characterizations are derived.
To begin with, Nandagopal's composition is 'Sita Ramayanam', his take on Ramayanam as seen by Sita. In a parallel to the famous Agnipariksha episode where Sita undergoes the fire ordeal in order to prove her chastity – Suma immolates herself, when she feels Nandagopan disparaged her (almost devotional) love. As if to prove that she was earnest in her intentions and love for him; something he failed to see.
Then there is Malavika, whose hatred for Nandagopan turns to devotion, admiration and then love. She confesses it to Nandagopan – who then reminds her of Guru-shishya relationship and chides her for giving into this weakness. All is sorted, unbeknownst to Soman. He poisons a soft drink at the performance venue with the intention of killing Nandagopan. Things literally go out of hand, when the bottle gets mixed up with the others.
In a riveting and befitting musical climax, all the leads and their stories are brought to the limelight, with Malavika's final act – a wronged Sita's monologue when she's asked by Rama to prove her fidelity yet again. And that song and performance is the pièce-de-résistance of the movie: Sumuhoorthamayi swasti.
A very beautiful song penned by Kaithapram and composed by Raveendran master, it highlights the various moods of Sita– from anguish to ire – as she bids adieu and cries to her mother, Vasundhara (the Earth) to split and take her in. And end her life in this unjust world, once and for all.
To draw yet another parallel, this Sita's (Malavika's) grievance can be considered directed towards Soman, who is Rama at the moment – having doubted her purity and her faith.
This climax makes me cry EVERY time I see it (and no, I'm not ashamed of it!) Talking of which, you need to see it, right NOW!
The lyrics below (I HAD to put it here, as trying to translate it would do no justice and in the context, it is relevant):
We feel for Soman, who has triggered a chain of events he can't undo. It's a nail-biting wait to know who consumed the poisoned drink. Even as Nandagopan starts spewing blood and everyone's alarmed – he doesn't let anything stop Malavika's Arangetram (having interrupted it himself previously). Perhaps the arrival of Suma's apparition is a tad melodramatic. But it does convey a sense of completion. He envisions her dancing as Sita and then joins her in the other world. He has reached his happy place. He's finally liberated from this world; something he couldn't do on his own.
Closing comment– I have always been curious as to why the movie was titled 'Kamaladalam'. After a bit of digging into mythology, my personal conclusion is that this goes back to the Agnipariksha of Sita. In some versions of the Ramayanam, it is said that lotus flowers sprouted at Sita’s feet to protect her from the fire, or that the coal at her feet turned to lotus flowers. Alternatively, it's also said that not a flower petal in her hair was singed by the fire because the Gods knew she was pure, and had protected her through the ordeal. So there you go; one more reason why I say this movie is Sita-inspired!
P.S. I am very interested to know if there are any other theories for the title. So if you do know, humour me in the comments section!
He was making some money now. In this day and age, when people hardly had time to lift their heads from the devices in their hands, he made some money. It surprised him too. Perhaps it was because his was a dying art. Magic. Well not dying, really. Just that he did not know how to make money with his gift. Anything commercialized well would sell, he knew. But he had inherited his father's simplicity along with his talent. He was not zealously ambitious, had no drive to be famous or earn heaps. His father had barely made ends meet. And so did he. At least he had no family to feed. Alone and wandering, he made with what he got. A one-man show, in every sense.
It had been only a few days in this new spot. He usually targeted small parks, where he could put up his acts. He would mostly perform during late afternoons and evenings, when people would be out and, perhaps, be willing to be amused. It was becoming harder to draw people's attention and interest. People had their smart phones - their life partner, entertainment centre, book, guide, friend and much more rolled into one! But his amiable disposition and earnest love for magic reflected in his work. People would occasionally pause and see him. At the end of his little performance, he would walk around with his hat so that people may appreciate him (monetarily). He had noticed that if parents were around with kids, the odds were in his favour.
It was one such generous day, and he had just completed his performance. Being a weekend, the turnout was better than usual. His hat had become heavier than normal too. He waved, the audience gently clapped and everyone dispersed. He noticed that there was a boy still lingering around. He seemed a bit shy, and it seemed like he wanted to say something. He smiled at the boy, as he was sorting his earnings for the day. The boy smiled back. The boy was shabbily dressed, but his face radiated innocence. "You liked my magic?"
The boy was thrilled at being addressed. "Of course Magic chacha! I love magic. Umm...I can call you that, right? Magic chacha?"
"Of course, of course... you can. So you love magic, huh? What is your name?"
"I am called Chotu by everyone".
"Okay Chotu.... so what is it about magic that you like?"
"Whenever I watch you perform, I am amazed at how you bring things out from thin air; and how things disappear or break - but you bring it back or put it together!"
"Oh, is that so? Well, it's not very easy you know. It takes a lot of work and discipline to be a good magician. You think you can work hard enough, Chotu?"
"Yes, yes.... I absolutely will, I can. Will you teach me magic, Chacha?"
He let out a hearty laugh. "Ah, so you want me to teach you too? Good good."
"Yes Chacha. But I think I would like to make some small changes to the acts, if you don't mind. That is what I want to learn".
This is getting interesting, he thought. A boy is going to tell me how to better my acts!
"Oh, is that so? May I know what changes would you like?"
"Yes Chacha, definitely. I need to understand if those changes can be made."
"Okay, okay - sure. Go ahead, let me hear them."
"I love how you pull a bunny out of the hat. I think bunnies are cute. But, do you think you can teach me to pull biscuits out of a hat?"
"Biscuits?! Why would people want to see you pull biscuits out of a hat?"
"Chacha, actually, it's for Munna - my younger brother. He is too small to understand things. When he gets hungry, he just keeps crying. Now, you tell me Chacha - can we explain to him that there is no money and we can't buy food? Mai and me, we can go without food. But he doesn't understand. So if I could learn to pull biscuits out of a hat, he could eat that. He would stop crying, I think."
"Oh. So.... do you go hungry often, Chotu? Where is your father? Does he not earn?"
"No Chacha. Mai told me that one day Baba disappeared and left us alone, to fend for ourselves. Which brings me to the next act. You normally make a ball disappear, and then you bring it back, right? Is there any way you can bring a person back? I think it would help to bring my Baba back. We don't know where he disappeared to. From that day the smile from Mai's face disappeared as well. I think if Baba came back, the smile would come back too."
He choked and tears welled in his eyes.
"It would be tough, you know. Bringing back a person..."
Chotu interrupted him "I thought so too. Well, there's one act which I think, needs no change. The one where you pull a coin from behind someone's ears? That is perfect! I think that once I master that, I will be able to pull out some notes too. And then we'd have some money to live with. I don't wish for a lot you know - just some money. So that we can live. I don't want to get greedy - Mai says that one must not be greedy; God punishes greedy people. Do you think so too?"
"I, well... yes... I agree with your Mai..."
"I will try my best to learn, Chacha. Will you teach me the acts, with these changes?"
Looking into those naive eyes, he could not muster anything except a very weak "Yes".
Chotu beamed with happiness and pride, not being able to believe his good luck. "Chacha, you know what, Mai says that all this magic is nonsense! Can you believe that? Now I am going to learn this from you and surprise her one day. You wait and see! When can we start?"
"Let us start next week, okay?"
"Okay. I have to go now, Chacha. But you will be here, right? Next week?"
"Yes. I will."
"Okay then!"
Saying this, Chotu frolicked away.
He packed his things and started walking. Walking away as fast as he can and as far away as his legs would take him.
He
felt a sudden need to scratch his foot – must be a mosquito. Without opening
his eyes, he reached for his toes, scratched it and turned on the bed.
‘Oru maathrayenkilum kelkaathe vayyan nin Murali
pozhikkunna gaanalaapam…’****
He
heard K J Yesudas singing in his home. Amma
had switched on their tape recorder, and it was belting out her favourite devotional
songs. It was that time of the day when M S Subbulakshmi, P Leela, K S Chitra
and other maestros performed for them. Amma
never failed to play the cassettes in the morning – it was one of her ‘things’.
The tapes were worn, and at times Yesudas sounded muffled or the songs dragged
a bit, but that ritual never changed. It also meant she was done with her
morning puja and she had moved onto
her kingdom – the kitchen.
He
felt someone gently shaking his shoulders. “Wake up Kanna…don’t you have to go to school…” It was Ammamma’s voice. She bent and gently kissed on his cheek and
ruffled his hair. His Ammamma smelt
of Chandrika soap, Cuticura talcum powder and incense sticks in the morning. He
always associated her with purity – his Ammamma
in the white mundum veshti, fresh
like morning dew. He refused to open his eyes. Ammamma shook him gently again, amidst her ‘Rama, Rama’ chants. He heard a creaking noise, and felt the
diffused sunlight on his face. Ammamma
had pushed opened the wooden windows. He felt the morning chill, despite being
under a blanket. He rolled himself into a ball. She left and he fell back into
sleep.
He
woke up with a start, to realize he had been whacked on his behind. “Get up,
lazy bum!” It was Rukmini. He waved his arm to retaliate, but he heard her anklets
as she left the room. “Look Amma,
Appu’s still sleeping! Why is it that he gets to sleep till seven and I have to
wake up at five in the morning?!” He heard her complain loudly. “He doesn’t
have to write his 10th standard public examination this March. He’s
only six years old, Rukku – let him sleep longer. Why don’t you act your age
and stop whining...” He heard his Amma
from the kitchen. He smiled.
He then
heard the sounds of a broom at work; must be Chechi sweeping the courtyard, after which she’d have to get ready
for school. He opened his eyes and looked at the walls. Today, the damp patches
had created a new set of designs for his pleasure. One looked like an elephant
to him. He kept staring to see what else would emerge. “Kanna, wake up now…you
will get late” He heard Amma calling from
the kitchen. He decided it was time and got out of bed. He walked out and saw Appa sitting at the table, across the nadumuttam. He went to the kitchen, and
saw Amma at work on the stove. The idlis, sambar and chutney she made for breakfast was placed on the counter. She was
busy preparing Appa’s lunch. The
smell of coffee came wafting out. He took a deep breathe in. He liked the smell
of coffee.
Amma’s back was wet from the
water dripping from her hair. It looked as if she had stepped right out of the bath.
He saw that it made damp patches on the back of her blouse; just like the ones
he saw on the walls. There was a small strand of mullapoo in her hair. Whenever the jasmine hedges in the courtyard
produced some buds, Amma would make a
strand for the Gods and a small one for herself. He liked seeing flowers on Amma’s hair. She turned around, and saw
him standing at the door. “Ahaaa…Kannan is up? Now be a
good boy and brush your teeth. Amma
will come by the time you’re done and Amma
will help you get ready for school” He nodded as he smiled. He kept walking
till he reached the table. Appa was
reading the morning newspaper. He was waiting for his breakfast and coffee. He
put his paper down, and smiled at him. He smiled back.
Appa left early in the mornings
for work, because he had to catch a bus and a train to reach the bank. Some
days, he doesn’t see him leave. As he looked at Appa, he realized that Appa’s
face looked tired and old. Was it that he hadn’t he noticed it before? The
lines on his face, the increasingly greying hair…his friends’ Appa looked young, but his Appa….
Amma served breakfast and Appa was having it quickly. He walked out
to the verandah. He heard Amma and Appa talk about money for the maid, some
books or guides for Chechi and
medicines for Ammamma. He looked at
the sky. It looked as if it would rain. He didn’t want it to rain today – at least
not during the short break. He wanted to play outside, as it was becoming
increasingly rare to do that, thanks to the monsoons. Appa took his black grandfather umbrella, tucked the small leather
bag under his arm, took the lunch bag and left.
*****
“Get
up Kanna…do you want to go to school today? Feeling better?” It was Ammamma. He rubbed his eyes while
opening it; it hurt these days, with all the crying he did. He looked at Ammamma. She still looked miserable;
like yesterday. She didn’t wait for a response and left the room. These days, he
hardly slept well. He tossed and turned before he could sleep and anything
could startle him awake. He stared at the ceiling. He didn’t know what to do
with this onslaught of emotions he felt; it always felt the worst on waking up.
He
got out of bed, and walked out. There was no music, like before. Chechi was seated on the ground, leaning
onto a pillar of the nadumuttam and
staring intently at the ground, like she was lost in thoughts. He saw a silent
tear run down her cheek. He looked around for Amma. She was seated on the table. He could see that her eyes were
red and puffy from constant crying. Tears were silently streaming down her
face. She had given up on wiping that steady stream. He looked helplessly at Ammamma – it appeared she was busy
trying to attain peace of mind through prayers. She had her eyes shut tightly,
forming furrows on her aged and crinkled forehead. She was chanting prayers
under her breath.
He looked at the three of them, one by one. He then looked up
at Appa’s photo. Amma had replaced yesterday’s garland, with a fresh string of
jasmine today. He looked at Appa
smiling in the photo. And he felt something tug at his heart – how could Appa smile when all of them were crying
for him?
He
went back to bed and curled himself. He shut his eyes. He should get back to
sleep. Things would perhaps get back to normal, when he would wake up next time.
****
For
non-Malayalis, here’s the meaning/explanation for some of the words I’ve used –
****Famous
Devotional Song of Lord Guruvayurappan, sung by K J Yesudas
Amma – Mother
Ammamma – Grandmother
Appa – Father
Mundum veshti –
the two-piece clothing, draped/worn like a saree (or a half-saree) by Malayali
women
Chechi – Elder sister
Nadumuttam – the inner/central
courtyard or quadrangle (a traditional architectural element of olden days)
I know, it's been really long - like really long, since I've updated this blog. I wonder if anyone who used to read me before even remember me now! If you do, say 'hello'! Maybe more on my absence on blogs in a later post. How are you all doing? I've been infrequently catching upon the blogs in my Reading list. Good to know you'll are still writing.
It’s customary for me to write a New Year post, reminiscing on how the year went by. It normally comes up before/on New Year’s Eve. But since change’s the only constant, here I am, doing it on New Year's day.
Looking back, it’s one of those years that flashed by. Well, I said the same about last year too. Is it something about the life we live today? I guess it is. Each day gone even before we realize it dawned. The fast pace of life coupled with being busy at work, makes you live life from one weekend to the other (and still it seems so transient). Minutes rushing into hours; hours into days; days into weeks; weeks into months – and then into a whole freakin’ year! When it ends is when it suddenly dawns – a year actually did pass by. What did I do?
I remember the last New Year. On Jan 1, 2012 I watched a movie – Sherlock Holmes 2. They say what you do on New Year’s Day in an indication of what lies ahead. And I did end up doing that for the rest of the year; and in plenty! I think I watched more movies at a theatre this year, compared to what I had watched in my entire life till then! I was disappointed, surprised, depressed, bored, impressed…
Yes, my list of movies at the theatre include the kinds of JTHJ, Mausam and Heroine (yes, I do make bad choices!) to Talaash, Barfi, Ustaad Hotel, Thattathin Marayathu; to a bunch of animated 3D ones too – Ice Age 3, Brave, Hotel Transylvania et al. And I closed the Year with a movie too – The Rise of the Guardians. This came as a surprise plan – I really didn’t have anything cut out for New Year’s Eve. But I am glad I watched it. It is an endearing movie which makes me reaffirm my belief in hope and goodness.
If I had to summarize my year – it was like the movies I had seen. This year, I have been disappointed, surprised, depressed, bored and impressed – for reasons that affect me, my family or friends. I don’t remember being put on such an emotional roller-coaster any time in the past. There’s a part of me that died; a part of me that grew; a part of me I saw, which I didn’t know existed. I've been pushed into the abyss; I have been on the clouds. It’s been quite a year – nothing much has changed at the face of it – I still work at the same place, I still live in the same place, my marital status is the same, I pretty much look the same (except for some weight I managed to gain!). But something inside me has changed; and hopefully it’s for the good. And I enter this New Year on the note of hope and optimism, just as in the last movie I saw. The headlines, ‘breaking news’ and general bleak outlook notwithstanding – I hope for the best; because as one of my favourite quotes go, “I hope for the best, since hoping for less doesn't seem to improve the results.”
So here’s to a New Year sans resolutions, only hope. Let it bring all what you need, and not what you want. Cheers!
No? Really? What did you just say; you are ‘yourself’? Straight as an arrow?
We all pretend. We all do. We all need to.
You pretend that you are not bothered by the aimless drifting of your life. You pretend that you do not see others’ miseries. You pretend that you don’t care that your life has no meaning. You pretend that you don’t see the running tap, the burning light or the wasted papers. You pretend to not see the growing pile of waste, the growing concrete jungles, and the reducing greenery.
You pretend that your son’s behaviour didn’t hurt you. You pretend that you are fine with marrying a man you don’t love. You pretend that you are not hurt that your daughter chose a guy she met yesterday, over you. You pretend that you didn’t notice the lipstick marks on your husband’s shirt. You pretend that you can’t see the inches of flab that has been piling on you. You pretend to not worry about price tags. You pretend that your break-up doesn’t hurt. You pretend that the volatile argument you had with your boss is not affecting you. You pretend that you are okay that your job’s not giving enough time to be with your family. You pretend that your failing marriage isn’t making your life miserable. You pretend to not see the single digit that your bank balance account becomes every month end. You pretend that not finding time to pursue your hobbies does not matter. You pretend to ignore the growing silence between you and your friend. You pretend that not having time to read a book is okay. You pretend that getting or giving bribes to get things done faster (or easier) is perfectly fine. You pretend that giving up on something you love to do, just because it won’t earn you money doesn’t take away something from you.
You pretend that you have all the time in the world.
The best thing in life is that we don't know what life is going to be like.
It's like taking a shot in the dark. Like flipping a coin. Like picking a door from the three doors a lovely lady presents to you on a TV show. Like spinning the wheel of fortune and waiting to see what it's going to throw your way. Like choosing a road when you are at crossroads. Like throwing dice and waiting to see the numbers.
Life doesn't come with an instruction manual. You have to go in it alone, with only your instinct to guide you; and experience, with time. You have to take that chance, not knowing what the outcome will be. You will make the wrong choices (perhaps more often, than not). But that's your life - the choices you make, the decisions you take (or don't). Would you live it any differently, if you knew what it was going to be like? Most importantly - do you want to know what it's going to be like?
And that's the beauty of it. You don't know what it will be like. And that's the best thing that life gives.
I took all of it – my disappointments, my misgivings, my heartaches. I took all the sleepless nights; all the tears. I took the hurt; the despair I felt. I took the anger that was boiling within, like molten lava waiting to surface. I took the sense of self-pity which laid on me like a cloak. I took the frustration, the dejection, the sense of rejection. I took the pain that stung like a thorn perpetually lodged within me. I took all the dark clouds storming my mind. I took all the ‘would haves’, ‘should haves’, and ‘could haves’. I took all the ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’; the ‘why nots’ and ‘what ifs’. I took the feeling of worthlessness, which had gripped my heart in its brutal fists, paralyzing my existence. I took the frown from my face, the gloom in my eyes. I took the droop off my shoulders, the knot in my stomach. I took the fear of loneliness, of not being understood; and far worse, of being misunderstood. I took all the unanswered questions. I took boredom by its horns. I took the indifference I had for the world. I took the impatience I had with life. I took it all.
I dug a hole in my heart. I patiently layered it all – looking at it for the last time. I had buried it, just like that. Years of torment lay compressed. Like a man buried alive. Clawing to come out in the open; dying to be alive. But I had buried it once and for all.
I sowed the seeds of hope. It lays there, dormant – unwilling to try. Unwilling to sprout. But I’m sure one day it will burst with all its vigour. It will nourish and flourish. The pain and all that lay beneath will be its succor. It will be a plant, a tree tomorrow. It will flower and fruit. It will be the mainstay of my existence. The sun will kiss it, the rain will bless it. The bees will hover, the birds will nest. The squirrels will run up and down, the rabbits will hop about. And in its shade I will lie down and smile. Tomorrow, I will not see the hurt or the pain. I will see that tree. The tree that grew despite it; or perhaps, because of it.
There
are a few things I’m scared of. Not cockroaches (really!); perhaps
lizards (I think I’m disgusted by those than scared). Snakes!
I’m petrified of those. It doesn’t help that I dream of them once in a
while. But nothing scares me more than death. Not mine actually; but
those close to me. Any accident, natural disaster or calamity, robbery
gone bad, terrorist attack – I’m thinking,
what if it was someone close to me there? It scares me to lose
any one of my family members. But it’s an inevitable truth. An
uncomfortable fact we sweep under the carpets and hope that it’s gone.
It never is. It’s just hidden.
Perhaps I hadn’t given it much thought, until I witnessed my
Achachan die. And it’s something that made a lasting impression on me; more than I thought.
Achachan had Alzheimer’s disease and was slowly caving in. He
could do most of the things on his own, but it was as if his childhood
had revisited him. Those who know about this disease would know that
they behave like kids – they are adamant, forgetful,
angry, moody and at times playful too! It is quite something to see an
able man lose his memory; and it’s with a sense of sadness we realized
that he’s losing his sense of self. Memories come in snatches; they
remember far back into their life than the recent
past. And they could scream at you, annoy you, go wild – and you know
you can’t take it personally; it’s just the disease catching up with
them. His helplessness, coupled with your own on seeing him like this
is something everybody in the
tharavadu took time getting used to. We used to visit regularly and Ammamma would have her share of stories on his antics.
My
uncle was around; he had come down from Dubai for a short leave, and
was planning to return on that fateful day. It was early
in the morning; I was wiping the car or so. I am not sure what exactly
happened. The details are a blur – I could hear loud crying sounds from
inside the house. And I remember rushing in.
Achachan had tried to stand up and then his limbs started failing him, I suppose. My
Amma was hugging him and crying ‘Appa…Appa…’ relentlessly. Everyone had gathered in the bedroom and had surrounded him.
Achachan was slowly falling back into the bed, he had gone limp.
His eyes rolled back, I think. It was certain the end was near. But it
was a truth no one wanted to accept. And yet, there they were, pouring
the last drops of water into his mouth. A physician
was called in immediately. Of course, he only arrived to certify the
one truth no one was ready to deal with, at that moment. He said the
needful and quietly left. To this day – the scene haunts me; it’s been
eight years since then... and yet. Seeing
Amma crying out loud desperately; the anguish, the pain. I don’t
know how I can describe what I felt. I was quite shocked, I think. I
hadn’t been around when anyone was dying, till then. And it’s something
no one is ever prepared for.
To see the lights go out of someone’s eyes. I don’t think it has
prepared me any better. It is something I don’t wish on anybody. But
again, it’s a tough situation – everyone wants to be around at the last
moment. You would hate it if you weren’t there;
and yet, to see someone so close just slip by. A breathing, living
personality becoming just a body – sometimes you think, is that the last
thing I want to remember him by?
It’s
at times like this that I wish our ages would just freeze – me forever
young, a child to my parents; my parents forever of
the same age. And we just wouldn’t die. No one would! But then, that’s
just wishful thinking on my end. Those who are around today won’t be
there tomorrow. That’s the ultimate truth.
I had hardly heard of this movie – okay, so I’m not the most updated person on Malayalam movies; granted. It would be quite another thing if I were in Kerala and missed it; but I’m outside and some releases can go unnoticed. It would have been the same in this case, but for the song ‘Appangal embadum’. A friend introduced me to this song, and later I caught it on TV. The song did the trick, for I was curious; curious to catch this movie. And then I saw two blogs raving about the movie – but I didn’t read them. I just browsed them to figure out if this was recommended. After having been disappointed one day (it was sold out on a weekday in Mangalore!) – I booked a show for the next day. And I wasn’t disappointed.
---Do not read if you want to watch the movie. Spoilers ahead---
