Going ahead!

Got up at our usual time, went through the chores and were ready on time.

The biggest news was the way the Supreme Court Collegium transferred a Delhi High Court judge to the Allahabad High Court on supposedly different reasons. It was in this judge's house that unaccounted money (to the tune of 15 crores) was found by the fire service people when they'd gone in to douse a fire! And the top court says that the transfer has nothing to do with the sordid findings!

The insulins were taken for the day and the jobs of the day were carried out.

The maid was at work.

The morning had begun with us wishing Rema, my sister, many happy returns. Came to know that my aunt, Indira kunjamma, also shares the same date of birth with my sister. Wished her many happy returns too!

The day was quite hot!

   

A normal day.

Got up at our usual time, with Lekha lighting the lamp as I switched on the devotional music on the television. The sister had come around a trifle after 7 to administer the insulin.

Sajish had come in by a half past 7 to give me a haircut. Phew, my head felt lighter at the end of it. He’s off on a pilgrimage to Sabarimala early Apr. Lekha gave him a ‘dakshina’.

A quiet day thereafter. Aniyan had called.

A hot Wednesday!

Got up as usual, the chores and Lekha and I were on the same page. Early morning cuppa followed by the usual happenings.

The sister administered the morning insulin and after the mandatory break had breakfast.

The maid had come by, earlier than usual as she had meet her doctor.

Today’s the last day of the Guruvayur temple’s annual festivities.

A quiet evening thereafter!

Got things done.

Got up before 6, opened up the house with Lekha lighting the lamp in the puja room while I switched on the early morning devotional songs on the television. 

It was morning tea followed by the nurse’s visit for the insulin administration. The mandatory breather and my breakfast. Lekha had her’s soon after and then went for her medical review with Dr (Mrs) Sodhi.

My bath followed by the work on the laptop. Attended to a few phone calls and had stand easy of green apple, gooseberry and buttermilk.

A quiet afternoon and siesta.

Earlier the pressman, Selvam had returned from his leave and pressed a sizeable backlog of clothes.

Tailpiece.

Yet to pinpoint the whereabouts of Sangeeta Goil. Meelu is trying to get me the information.

My laptop is back.

The day had begun as usual. Lekha and I had begun the day together.

The nurse had come by, on the dot, to administer the insulin.

Later, spoke to Satish Bhat regarding substituting insulin with medicines and have fixed 24 Mar as the date when we meet. That's when Lekha meets Dr Padmanabha Shenoy for her review.

It was a quiet day.

Pradeep brought my laptop in the afternoon.

Lekha’s sister comes by.

Dateline 15 Mar

Preetha, Lekha’s younger sister, had fetched up from Tirur this evening. This was to facilitate their darshan of Guruvayurappan during the annual temple festivities. The ‘tantric’ is known to the family.

The evening was full of activities and it was yakkitiyak covering all subjects under the sun!

Bruno’s 22nd Remembrance Day.

22 years back, at around a quarter past 6 in the morning Bruno, our pet Doberman, passed into the mist of time. We used to stay at 9/97, Arjan Vihar at Delhi Cantt.

Had taken him for his customary walk in the morning. He was ill for the previous one week and I used to take him to the vet at the Rashtrapathy Bhavan, to administer medicines.

That morning, I’d set him on the ground, removed his collar and chain and muttered, “Bruno, you can run wherever you want and once you’ve finished, I’ll take you back”. I walked back a few paces from him and pranced around….,.however, he didn’t move an inch, continued with his fixed gaze on me.

Was he laughing at my ignorance about the terrible pain  that was going to befall us by his impending departure from us? 

Since he didn’t show any inclination to move, I’d taken him in my arms and went up the stairs and somewhere in between, there was a tug and his face that was looking at me - all the while - just went slack and rolled down lifelessly against my body.

Lekha and Maman were sad.

Epilogue.

He was buried, behind the block, with us in attendance at around a half past 10. Bunty and Babli helped us to plant floral and fruit-bearing trees at that time.

Tailpiece.

Remembered him and his delightful capers. The pain of his departure continues to dwell deep within us, even today.