the Pride of a Finisher …

Sunday morning and it has been raining through the night, Aditi is worried as she has registered for her first TCS 5km run and doesn’t want anything to ruin it. We get ready and reach Kanteerava Stadium by 7:30 am – thankfully the rain has stopped and many of the other category runs are already underway. After dropping Aditi near the starting point, I walk across towards the finishing line to watch and cheer the other runners.

Its a carnival of sorts with various NGOs dressed for different causes with placards and Props – breaking into a song and dance to create awareness. It was nice to see the NCC cadets helping the disabled and the senior citizens complete their race, with the organizers, volunteers, police and others cheering them. The pride of the finishers is palpable. So important isn’t it to continuously test our limits, most often to find that they existed only in our minds. I am also looking for Siddharth, my nephew, to join me – as he so aptly put it, while Aditi did the 5km for the run, he completed a 5km to locate me. Its so good to finally see him – the last few months have been hard with the sudden demise of his father and then his maternal grandmother. Last we met was at the final rites of his grandmother, and we have been speaking regularly, but a hug any day, says much more, doesn’t it?

We spoke of the immediate shock, grief and emptiness that is followed by weeks of feeling lost. Much like Buddha’s story, Why does one loss remind you of others? Losing both my parents to cancer within a span of 4 years, while still in my twenties, was difficult. They were very much loved by their families and friends, who were all shattered by their demise. In almost all social functions, someone still seeks me out and talks about their memories of my parents at length. It is amazing how a family closes in the ranks – with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and inlaws creating that safety net, with someone there for you at every step, like a Giant warm hug. As Ammu asked me seriously once, after our holiday in India – how come we have so many Tatas & Patis? And ofcourse, the children helped – there was never a dull moment at home.

Speaking of hugs, aren’t some people, the best huggers. Their warmth totally envelopes you into a cloud of security and hope. I used to be so shy of physical displays of affection but Geetu aunty and Govind uncle changed that for me, and Aditi’s chutney hugs have made many a day for me since.

Aditi joins us and her joy of completing the run with a better timing than her expectation, is infectious, we take a selfie together with her holding her medal proudly. We are all hungry and debate on the closest restaurant – and decide to walk over to Woodlands – sad though to see the place run down. We have Masala Dose and Vadas with coffee, and we talk of future plans. I hope these cousins develop the same bond that we have. After we return home, Aditi joins her meeting with her team in Germany, I play with Kaaju and then fall asleep reading a book, to wake up to Durga holding a hot cuppa coffee – I wondered for a moment if I have slept through the evening and night, but then realise that its still early Sunday evening and time for my class with Brinda.

All of you will be accessing this through the new blog site and I am hopeful that you will like it. While I am thankful for the encouragement from all of you, a special mention to Praveen for the layout, to Akash for the title, to Dr Maithri & Dr Reshma for the bio, to Jashar for formatting the images and Aditi, Ammu & Akash for being a very patient and honest sounding board to my crazy ideas. And not to forget my 6 year old One+ 5 which will retire soon.