Take care!

The last fortnight I have learned so many lessons and has been laced with so many firsts, it would be a pity not to pen them down.

To begin with, my husband and I earned the title of 'First POSITIVE couple' in the organisation he works for. In these times, you very well know in what we were found 'positive' in. No prizes for guessing! We gained so much attention that even the media houses can be put to shame for their coverage of current (in)sensitive topics. The only 'positive' part to it was were not hounded by any of them for earning this distinction. 

It was the very first time our daughter went away from us for 'safekeeping'. It was so heartening to see my husband's side of the family step in to take her without any hesitation and with open arms. I must mention that my mother-in-love (do not want to use the law-word!) is close to 70 years and has a full time online teaching job. She dropped everything and took leave with just a firm assurance  "I will take care". After so many years of staying in a nuclear family, it is a wonderful feeling of having a family to take care of. A maiden experience again in 'unconditional love'. Thank God for BIG mercies! We put all types of calling and conferencing calls to the best use. Moods were conveyed through emojis and voice notes. If not for technology, this distant family time would have been tougher!

One general feeling of gratitude is for the numerous messages and calls from so many friends, relatives, and well-wishers. Its actually for the very first time again I counted my blessings when the maid from Delhi conveyed concern when the local help from Port Blair offered help (never mind the distance!). So many called almost every day to check if we are alright.  All the messages and calls had the same words 'Take care!". Often I hummed "Somewhere in the youth or childhood, I must have done something good"! 

The icing on the cake was friends dropping parcels of food. Many genuinely offered 'let us know if you need anything", but some did not wait for us to call out. Tasty lunches, hot chapattis, fresh breakfast was all delivered at our doorstep till we urged them not to do so! These are the people who had the hidden words "I will" prefixed to the "take care". Though this list is not very long, I am glad to have known such rare gems whom I will hold dear for life. Adversities in life filter out the doers from the talkers and I am glad this happened to me, not as a way of judging but to know who is the 3 am person whom I can REALLY count on.

'Containers' of Love!

Yes, I also experienced loss of smell for the very first time in my life! Can you imagine someone who can smell stinky socks or a fragrant scent from miles apart, I just could not smell the strong smell of Vicks even when I almost put my nose inside it. I was so tempted to take the (infamous) train ride on the Central Railway of Mumbai, especially between Kurla and Sion. I could have actually enjoyed the ride without having to stuff my nose and do forceful deep breathing. If you are from Mumbai you would have got the joke, if not I urge you to take the train ride to experience 'it'  in better times to come!

When I was admitted for a few days to the hospital, it was for the very first time I saw the dreaded ' Mortuary' while getting to the Covid ward. I secretly wondered if I will take a journey back home or to that place. The magic of alternate healing energies sent in by various channels was experienced first hand. My deepest  gratitude to each one of them. The fact that I am here and writing this, I am thankful for the return leg and hope to live this new lease of life with renewed vigor and higher purpose. 

Excited to enjoy the colours of life once more, with a new lens (literally!)! 

As a true Indian I must leave you with some (unwarranted!) advice. Next time someone tells you 'Take care' listen carefully if they are asking 'you' to take care or saying "I will take care". Choose your pack carefully.

And lastly, for the first time I am elated to be 'negative'!