Tribute to my uncle

My mom, dad, kanna mama and shanti mami during my parents 25th anniv.

Last month the same time i landed in mumbai. I was too scared to face my family. You had left us without even realising how much it would affect us. To all of you who are reading this, i lost my mama(mom's brother) on this date last month. A cheerful person by nature, his untimely death was a shock. I was telling my brother the other day that it still seems difficult to accept that kanna mama is not amongst us. His vibrant voice keeps ringing in my ears. I remember his witty statements. I grew up with him till i was five. I don't remember them, but his affection towards me can never be described. What we say in hindi "Dildat Admi tha woh(A man with big heart)", he lived ever day for a day. A banker by profession, his ambition was to be a researh assistant in the field of physical chemistry. Brilliant student in school and college, he was always amongst the toppers.

I choked when i saw him sleeping quietly. A straight forward person, he was never hesitant to speak his mind. His dreams remain unfulfilled. I am sure he had many. Whatever I write, nothing can bring back those days where i argued with him on small matters. It would have been as dullard as an article about sachin. Well like millions of fans across the country, he was a cricket fan. He represented his college, this also he used to say proudly. He treasured his conversation with the little master Sunil Gavasakar. We are left with his memories. He has a left a void in our hearts.

Death happens Oh Too Quick.....
Death came
And now my uncle is gone.
Death took
The happiest child around.
Death cares
about nothing at all
Death thinks
of only the pain it causes.
Death happens
oh too quick.

Death came
And tore my family apart.
Death took
our dreams of a family
Death cares
about the tears that fall.
Death thinks
our misery is it's muse.
death happens
oh too quick

Death came
and now i must move on
Death took
my will to hold
Death cares
whether it drags you down or not
Death thinks
we can let go
But sometimes
Death
Happens
OH
To
Quick

Random thoughts

The wait is almost over and next thursday i would be joining DNA. My journey till today has been unpredictable, guess it would have been the same for everyone. As a kid i was fascinated by injections, medicine and i dreamed to become a doctor. Then somehow didn't proceed in that direction and planned to become an engineer. When i passed my 12th standard, i succeeded in securing admission in an engineering college. But then things didn't work out properly, where i fell seriously ill and doctors advised me to take rest for at least six months.It was the terrible phase of my life, where everything looked dark and i felt there was nothing left. I am indebted to my mother who helped to come out of this rough phase. She was a pillar of support and life took a new turn. I was advised not to travel and exert, as my immune system was weak. Anyways things happen for good and three years later when i graduated, things were much better. Hold on, i wasn't an engineer but a journalist. These three years also enabled me to enhance my skills in veena and the gestation period in 2003, enabled me to research about music. My bonding with music strengthened then i assume.
When i joined ACJ, i was entering a new phase. Initially it was tough to stay away from family and of course from Mumbai. But as days passed by, things worked out properly. I had my own share of fun. I always dreamed to attend the season from day one and ACJ provided me that opportunity. I freelanced for kutcheribuzz. It was a great experience where i saw the real face of my profession. As a student of music and journalism, it was a great learning experience. But also saw the other side of journalism. But my editor supported me and gave me a free hand to write. Three months later, when i was placed in DNA, i was elated. But today as the day approaches i am clueless about my job. Things look completely different from where i began in the year 2003. It has been a smooth sailing,but may be i haven't sailed through storms. I know when i work, it would be completely different. One may wonder why i penned down these things. Even i don' t know. When i was wandering through the streets of matunga, yesterday, these thoughts hovered. I realised, life goes on irrespective of anything, but at every stage you learn, at least i learnt. So i rewind back but it taught me.

Its been exactly five days since i came back to mumbai. Bliss is one word that can describe my feeling. However the past few weeks were traumatic for my family with my uncle passing away on 25th April 2007. It was a shock for all of us. I came to the city to attend his funeral and rushed back for the convocation. I was all excited to come back, but with his demise there remains a void that cannot be filled. I feel for my grand parents who were attached to him more than anyone else in the family. I have been trying to write about him and my days in mumbai post convocation, but couldn't gather my thoughts.

On the other hand, i successfully graduated from the Asian College of Journalism on 3rd may 2007. All of us were eagerly waiting for this day since the year dawned on 1st may 2007. My year in ACJ was eventful though had some bitter experiences. Within two weeks i would be on the field working for DNA, a newspaper based in Mumbai. Eagerly waiting to join, life begins again at this juncture. When i joined ACJ, my main aim was to finish with good grade and get a decent job. I am happy that i did both. However there remains a void, probably missing mylapore and concerts.