The Day After

Sun has been milder for some days. Today it seems even more. Birds have stopped chirping these days. They must have felt bad, for a fortnight i did not heed to their chirping, or have I been cut off by the door which is closed? Even milkman wondered, "why only two"? He did not ask, though.

The sofa back and seat covers are unruffled. They have been same for a day now. Not a toy nor litter of any other kind in site. Every inch of house is spick and span. Every item has returned to it's original place.

Silence is deafening or are my ears ringing? Communication between the only two souls has reached its new depth. Phone calls have been at reduced frequency.

We will overcome. We know these are after effects of family, younger ones, gathering for a short period. That was not real, this, current state is real. Children have their life goals, their achievements, their families.

Enjoy when you are together, and remember the togetherness when you are just two!!

It was planned. It was not just a wish, it was a desire, and an earnest one. It had been long they all met. Some of them had not mourned their mothers who they had lost in these eight years, together. They wanted to relive their childhood.

They also wanted to enjoy an event as in past and for that an event was pre-decided, performing 'yagnopavit' sanskar of the eldest boy child of fourth generation of my parents.

They started arriving from east and west crossing pacific and atlantic, the children of the family which was the root. Barring one or two, all reached home as decided.

It appeared extensive planning had been done by children, knowing me fully well. They had worked out what they will do each of the seven days they are together including what they will eat (not missing out on any of their favourite dishes), who will do what and when.

They started with 'remembering our childhood', all of them got around a bag full of old pictures. Fortunately the hall could accommodate not just the revellers and pictures but also memories.

Children recalled what happened, when and how much they enjoyed and described the past to the youngest generation. Pictures were shared to be taken away.

They remembered each one of their three mothers they had lost and sobbed in silence. Together they overcame grief quickly to prepare for next day.

They had planned to travel to river Narmada to pay homage to lost relatives. Travelling in a bus together was arranged. This must have helped them getting back to normal after tearful homage.

They planned for a day out and visited a touristy place returning late all fagged out.

Next two days they got into event management mode. They had lined up minutely, each task and executed the same to perfection, each one contributing to make sum of parts greater than one.

The festivities got fillip because of participation of local extended families and shared meals of all cuisines.

The final event was culmination of the a week long celebration of togetherness.

While two younger generations were together there was a suggestion to squeeze in an hour of group discussion to guide the eldest three of the youngest generation to think about success and goals in life. Children had created a short presentation, which paucity of time did not allow them to present. It will be carried forward virtually.

They planned their departure so well that it did not create void. Each one of them returning after a time gap.

Today the final batches reached their nests, one in west and the other in east. They will call up. They will exchange notes and recall good times. They will remember and sob. I will too. We are same gene!!