My neighbor since 1997, who managed to survive on
self dialysis thrice a day, has finally found peace in his death. :rip:
He showed in his own quiet way
how a man has to manage courageously
his ONLY & indifferent son and his wife living abroad,
the number of incurable diseases with lifetime contract,
and his wife who had taken to a wheel chair after
an unsuccessful knee replacement surgery in 2012.
He would do every house hold chore.
He was an expert cook in Kerala style.
He hosted lunch every year for about 50 people
during the Onam festival - home cooked saddhi!
This year he had invited all his hospital contacts,
his home nurse, auto rickshaw man with their families.
I told him that he should strain himself by cooking
to so many people when his health was so precarious.
(He was nearing 75 already.)
He said, "I am not sure I will live till the next Onam!
I want to thank everyone who is helping me!"
His words have proved prophetic.
All those who had come for the condolence were highlighting
the onam lunch prepared by himself and served with so much of love.
Morals of the incident:
Show kindness. Be brave. Do not complain. Feed more people
Even though the food itself goes out the body,
its taste and the pleasant memories linger on for ever!
He would always bring any special item made in his house-
on the insistence of his wife - my closest friend in the colony.
I will surely miss all those tasty delicacies and
his role model of silent-strength and smiles-in-sufferings.