It’s been one year. Time. Heals?
Appa (1951-2008)
Last year, by this time it was all over. The end of a troubling and painful battle against nature and what was meant to be. He braved it all along and never really winced too much about it. It’s been a year since and I can only wonder what it would have been like if he was still around. Healthy, of course!
I looked at this photo for a few minutes today and in a flash, saw what I had seen of him in the last 27 years of my life. And it almost felt like he was looking back at me.
Deepika
June 26, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Rethas….
This is Ishu… dont have a face book account and logged in to look back in time…
Bhaskar mama… the image in my mind is of a brisk man, full of smiles..
Someone who has just ‘been there’ at any hour of the day for us… be it midnight or sunshine he was always there with anxious eyes in the lobby of the hospital where my dad was admitted every now and then..he would come with no calls made to him.. he would give – with no asks… I feel ashamed – I could never express my gratitude to him – till the very end… We miss his presence – truly..
Ishu
June 27, 2009 at 8:36 am
Words cannot describe the completely unselfish,caring and giving nature of Bhaskar kaka…he was always jus a phone call away fr handling any crisis at my end…and the first person we wld call …thats the one thing that everyone who has had the good fortune of knowing him wld agree..that he wld drop everything to rush to help us out….and most of the times he has just sensed our need and come by…it is our loss and our bad luck we didnt get more time with him..i will always cherish my times with him and my holidays in chennai at my parents home where he spent a lot of good times with my kids too…what kind of “nature” is it that allows good people to suffer so much!!..that i will never come to terms with or understand….bhaskar kaka- always in our hearts….
Suman
June 27, 2009 at 9:42 am
Been close to them. Practically grew up in their house. Spent more time in their house than mine. Hard to look at my friends face and say – “Don’t worry buddy. Everything’s gonna be Ok. There emptiness cannot be bridged. It feels different and I hope I can stand by my friend with courage to help him through the hard times – BB
Bharath
June 27, 2009 at 10:54 am
Bhaskaer was more of a friend than brother. We had many common friends. The picture put up is taken at Mustafa Singapore along with me and vishnu. A deeper look at this picture it speaks a lot.
Nakkal nagalingam – what he is called in our friends circle – is missed by all.
Any way we have no control on such things and life carries on.
Take care
Chukku
June 27, 2009 at 12:16 pm
To put it across blatantly, the fact that Bhaskar kaka would never be seen around us has still not sunk into me. For some reason X, I have a thought lingering – all Brothers of Swarna family will come back.. we will all get back to our hay days… In simpler terms – “Hope”
Vasant kaka (fondly remembered for his cooking… sadly, I dont know much about him)
Gopi kaka, also for his cooking, patience, humming, timeless tales
Prabhu kaka for his vigour and vibrance at any gathering, immitating others..
Daddy for his nakkals!
Bhaskar kaka also for his nakkal, never-ending help,
…..
Truly timeless.
I cannot hold myself from telling about my comepetition with Bhaskar kaka… who is fairer?!!!! He clearly used to win each time showing off his “White” arms
Missssss you Bhaskar kaka….
Vaish (Vishnu)
June 27, 2009 at 1:21 pm
From Kailash: (via email)
“How quickly a year passes. In many ways Bhaski is not gone. Just last night Dhruv asked me about him – wanted to know if Bhaskar aja would still be able to know that Dhruv really misses him and wishes that he could come to his b’day – June 26th.
We often reminisce about Bhaski and think about how much he meant to us all.
Gone but not forgotten – never. He is just on an extended assignment.
Kailash”
saturnring
June 28, 2009 at 11:54 am
Hi Rethas…I can *so* truly empathise…I lost Ashok on the 19th of June…and it’s been just over a year…voids don’t fill up…though much touted as the healer, time just manages to build a patina on the surface…Your question and your dad’s pic on your blog made me feel like writing this comment…
Amazingly our lives have been intertwined in a weird way…first through Gopi uncle, Rajesh and Suman then through auntie Vishalam and Lullu, and then again in the loss of our dearest people..I was touched by your post…and the lines 1951 – 2008 really hit SO hard. It reminded me of how unbelievable it was when Ashok’s picture was in the paper with 1957 – 2008 written below it…Wish you all the very best in life. Both Rahul and you are great guys… keep the courage..keep the faith and keep smiling
Rachna (Neelu)
June 28, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Hey rethas, Two things that makes a person’s life complete is the way he had led his life fo himself and other is what people speak about him after he is gone.I guess with so many positive comments he has live his life completely in all ways.
The best thing for me would be the sabarimalai trips. The 1st year he walked with me the entire distance. I would second the nakkal angle totally. i think he was the only one who could match me in that and better me sometimes.:)
Dont worry..He may be gone physically but his memories will love forever.
Bharathwaj
June 28, 2009 at 11:06 pm