Return back

Its after a long time that am writing the blog. Actually, managing any change be it thrust on you by your choice or circumstance impose it , requires considerable amount of your time and attention. As a result, other activities are pushed aside and consequently delays creep in. If these are put aside for a long time, there is a fair amount of chance that one may forget it altogether. To avoid reaching this stage, i am back at my desk rumanating about the world around me.

A few days back, i met an aunt- my neighbor at Parel, where i stayed many years ago. She is a pleasant and charming lady. Then, she was extremely busy managing her house and work, and never, would she participate in any social activities or bother to make friends with anyone except perhaps us (may be geographical distance matter to her). i used to always admire her for the way she carried herself. Slowly, as she befriended us, we came to know that her children were with her in-laws and soon they were going to be back with her. Her husband always thought that the people around them were not so polished and cultured, so their kids should not mingle with us. But, she felt that the kids should play and enjoy. As always, the will of her husband prevailed and the family kept a good distance from us.

Her mother-in law, incidentally, became a friend of my mother. She would crib continuously about the children (a girl and a boy) and the pain they cause her. My mother would make utmost attempt to make her realize that its a good that the kids care so much for her too in return. But, she would hardly care to listen.

After so many years, i met my aunt in train. She looked much older but still charming. She recognized me immediately and gave a pleasant smile. As i enquired about her life and about the kids, she told me something that shook me terribly.

Her family had been on a vacation in 2000. On their way back home, they met with an accident, wherein her husband's limbs were hurt and her son's face suffered brutal bruises, luckily the skull was saved. Her diaphagarm was torn and one lung collapsed. Luckily, all of them were alive, the whole family was hospitalized.

A year afterwards, Uncle (her husband) died of heart attack. It was so sudden and shocking, that she too fell sick. Her house is near an hospital, but the utter helplessness of not being able to save him, affected her morale badly.

Now, she seems to taken the traumas in her stride. She is now unable to work as she is incapable of sitting or standing for long time. But, the need to support her children education ( one is in 12 th and other in 8 th) has instilled in her tremendous strength and is now ready to under take work.

What struck me about her was her strength and her grace. There was no dramatisation of the events, simple plain narration as though these events were normal events.
Maybe, this is what they say is 'grace under pressure'.