The Pen Dialogue

Adorably called 'Sona Chacha' by his loving nieces and nephews, my living legend, my Dad is an assured owner of a vibrant personality that cannot be ignored. Admired for his distinctive charm and quick-witted humor he is an effortless crowd- puller to any age group, making him the most favourite person among his kith & kin. At 75, still as curious as a cat-his exclusive far sight and rare intelligence keeps him updated about not only the current world situations but also the latest awareness on communication,  travel, technology and way beyond. An avid traveller and nature lover, his enthusiasm to the next holiday destination has dates marked well in advance on his personal calendar.  We were a nuclear family of five-I being the older of my two brothers, customarily brought up in a household where we had unannounced relatives and visitors swarm into our home, from across the country to be warmly welcomed by my parents with open arms and doors all year round. By the way, th...

 A big part of growing up years is identified with sketches of a long, silent sometimes roisterous corridor flanked by airy, ventilated rows of classrooms on either side. The repititious uniform worn all through the years of school life, favourite, some not- so- favourite teachers, friends I bartered lunch boxes with only to find the aroma of their food more mouth- watering than my own. Classmates I was discreetly envious of for being more popular and accepted among others. Deeply etched remembrances of the past, frequently evoke pleasant memories of adventurous teenage years. This early relaxed Sunday morning is one of those when I leisurely view nostalgic moments in my mind's eye. Hurriedly cycling back home after a long, dusty, exhausting, sometimes eventful week-day at school to a chilled, larger-than-normal sized glass of cold coffee- a daily ritual welcome drink in our home, that my siblings and I gulped to beat the scorching summer heat. For most part of the year, we preferr...

It has been an eventful period of incredible 32 years in marriage-  an amalgamation of many marvellous times, many quite testing. Uncountable moments of joy versus intolerable, frustrating ones. P hases when you know "its getting better"that quickly passed in the blink-of-an-eye to aching insecurities of "its only getting worse" that bogged us down.  Overwhelming years of sheer bliss; Others of extreme distress.  Simple- to- deal with situations,sometimes endless days of massive challenge. We have shared  peals of laughter and also painful tears.  Flashes of unforgettable memories to the forgotten.  Yet through it all - bouncing back each time, not letting go of what is and striving towards common goals, made our association even stronger. Life has neither been constant nor in any way unique, but what remained unchanged is that we stood together and beside, not realizing more than 3 decades spanned  by.  Grateful for my beautiful children who brin...