arun’s blog

I came for my masters to Germany in Sep’06. Within 2-3 months, the weather became gelid and started to snow, as it is now. It is extremeness for people from Southern India, Chennai especially. Also, snow is a silent depressor. It puts you in a state of depression even without you realizing it. Fortunate for me, I find comfort in solitary and gregarious phases. However, I have been deprived of a plethora of events and experiences one could enjoy back at home. The glorious nostalgia owing to the lacunae of this period can be countervailed by only cherishing those memories. I prefer to defer writing on those other ebullient moments I miss, dedicating this blog solely to the ONE & ONLY BEST thing that 2007 had to offer me; a new member to our family – my sister’s baby – Samyuktha!!

It was November 18th, one fine Sunday morning, when I got the call from my father (conversation translated to English).

Dad: Hey Arun, How are you?

Me: Hi pa, I am fine! How are things there? How is akka (sister)?

Dad: I called you in that regard only. Your sister has given birth to a baby girl today!!!

Me: Really??? Awesome, Wondrous, great!!! I won the bet with akka. It is a girl.

Dad: Yes, yes, you did (laughing rhapsodically). The delivery went fine. She is resting now.

Me: That is good. Have athimber (Sister’s husband) and akka come up with a name?

Dad: I don’t know about it yet.

Me: This is great news. And I am stuck here.

Dad: Yes, we know! Your mom was also saying the same. We miss your presence. However, I have to get back to take care of some chores here. I will call you again in the evening. Mom will also be available.

Me: Ok pa, sure. Convey my heartiest regards to Athimber and Akka. I will mail both of them. This is great news!! bye.

(We spoke in the evening). I was filled with a feeling of ineffable ecstasy, a state of euphoria, a sense of gratification, exuberance and excessive joy; though I feel I express them nonchalantly for no apparent reasons. While delivering emotions to one’s expectations in especially demanding situations has been always a challenging task to me, it should be fairly conspicuous that I am certainly not emotionally detached. I had to mention this because, I have encountered a lot of people who misunderstood me to be aloof or an introvert before they became close to me. And I really take my time before I express myself and confide in one completely.

Within a couple days, I was linked to snapfish. Though it is a step short of reality, I smiled with joy as I looked at the photos; she was very cute, and small. Because I am 6′3” and people always have this amusing look when I lift a baby, the thought of me lifting her and others grinning at that made me smile. It gave me a greater sense of satisfaction. A few weeks later, on various occasions, while speaking to my sister, I heard her babyish rambling and occasional crying. These things you realize and feel the absence only when you miss it. To a person experiencing it, it may seem very ordinary. Those were the best days of 2007.

I wanted to put an effort into writing and expressing my thoughts, that struck me and are worthy of, over which I was pondering on a few moments ago whilst hovering over a bunch of sites mindlessly. I can’t wait to see the little princess. I wish her a healthy long life and happiness and my love to athimber and akka.