25 years later....

M A D H U S H R E E     R A M A K R I S H N A

Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.

25 Years is a lot of time. A lot of things happened in the last 25 years; each shaping us in it's own unique way.

A lot happened the year I turned eight years old. It was April. Mumma was heavily pregnant with her fourth baby. Her water broke on the eve of the Tamil New Year. She had a smooth and effortless delivery, Nanna said. He was there in the delivery room with Mumma, throughout. At sunrise, our baby brother was born and we named him Sridhar. We had a grand Tamil New Year - the best one ever!

A few weeks after Sridhar was born, many of our relatives kept bugging my Mumma to get a tubectomy so she wouldn't have any more babies. Nanna of course, was totally against the idea. He startled the whole family and the whole of Mumbai when he publicly claimed that he will undergo a vasectomy. As an 8 year old I had no idea what it meant - I somehow found out later in life. There was a lot of praise and applause from the public. At the same time there were some really rude demeaning comments and memes that started to circulate over the internet. Most of it were about him being 'less manly'. Nanna gave a very curt and befitting reply to all those who trolled and mocked his decision.

In my country it's usually the women who are forced to undergo a sterilization surgery despite the health risks. Vasectomies are usually less riskier and a much more simpler process.

In a largely male-dominated patriarchal society, such as India, where male sterilization is still not accepted socially, with many saying it impacts a man's virility, the family planning programme has traditionally focused on women.

Nanna underwent the vasectomy. If I look back, I would say he is the best father, best brother, best son, best husband and very soon he will be the best grandfather too. (I'll come to that part soon, wait!!!)

So Mumma had a son, Nanna went through a vasectomy, the twins and Vasu started schooling, Lakshmi Bhamma moved into the RK Mansion. It was the best few months of our lives. But the best years in our lives never last much, right? Tragedy struck us in July 15 that year, when our beloved grandfather experienced a heart attack the second time in his life. The first one was a few months after Nanna and Mumma married. He survived the first one, since it was a small cardiac arrest. The second one that came was a huge one. It brought him crumbling to his knees, calling out for Nanna. The heart attack claimed his life and he passed away in Nanna's arms. Everyone was shattered. Nanna was even shattered. July 15 became the day he lost his birth mother and his father.

Two years later, Lakshmi Bhamma passed away peacefully in her sleep. The entire night before she passed, she told me and my sister the beautiful story of how she met the love of her life. Mumma and Devi maasi were distraught.

Yashoda Bhamma led a long life. She'll be turning 90 this year.

Life went on. We grew up from kids to teenagers, and from teenagers to adults. Sridhar grew so fast, and right now he's majoring in English Literature in the University of Madras. Vishnu decided to take on a career as an illustrator for a famous children's comic in Mumbai. Vasu took after Devi maasi and Shyaam maama. He currently has himself buried under a pile of books and notes as he prepares for his LLM exams. He's planning on tying the knot very soon with his long term girlfriend, who used to be from a junior batch at the university where he did his LLB. 

Anushree became a Bharatanatyam dancer like Mumma's best friend Ahaana. She received all the training from Ahaana Aunty from age 5. Anushree is planning on opening her own dance academy in Mumbai. 

Bhagyashree - or rather Miss Bhagyashree Ramakrishna MBBS, the brightest of us all, the batch top is now a hospital resident-in-training at one of Mumbai's leading hospitals. Nanna was touched the day Bhagya decided to follow her dreams of being a surgeon. He kept saying how his long dead sister, Devakshi aspired to be a surgeon. Right now, Bhagya is inside the OR helping with a bypass surgery, or busy making out with the Assistant Pharmacist: Varun.

And finally to me..... A degree in financial accounting, a masters in finance and another masters in economics. 4 years as RKGOC'S Finance Manager, 2 Years as the Head of Finance and almost 1 years as the new CEO of RKGOC. Two years ago Mumma decided to resign from her long reigning position as RKGOC's CEO. Mumma trained me for one year before she officially passed the baton. Right now, I am Madhushree Ramakrishna - Oberoi, CEO of RKGOC.

Oh yes, that reminds me about Sid. You remember that little boy I met almost 30 years ago at the orphanage, who was adopted by Mr. Oberoi? Sid and I grew up together. We went to the same school, same high school, same university. We realized our feelings for each other on the day of our high school graduation. 

We both confessed, and we began dating. We dated each other for so long, and just 2 years back, we got married. Oh, it was a dream wedding! Just as magical and whimsical as my parent's! We got married in the nadumuttom of Elysium. I decided to wear the sari Mumma wore when she married Nanna for the second time. 

Sid specialized in Digital Marketing, and currently he heads the marketing team at RKGOC. He's been a loving husband, a supportive brother-in-law and the much adored son-in-law, and a caring father in four more months.

Devi Maasi and Shyaam Maama retired last year. They both live in grandpa's Goa villa with Yashoda Bhamma. The twins, Vasu, Sid and I live in the RK Mansion, while Vishnu and Sid live in Nanna's luxury apartment.

What about Nanna and Mumma?

They both grew old together. With the years passing, their love for each other grew stronger and stronger. Despite the silver hair and the wrinkles, the romance and the love they share remains young and juvenile even till now!

So when Mumma passed on the CEO position to me, Nanna whisked her off to Elysium, where they would be spending the rest of their lives. Recently they opened a blog on growing flowers, where they also sell flowers. They enjoy growing and tending to all the flowers and plants that grow in our garden at Elysium. Now that they both are retired and unemployed, they have all the time for themselves - 24 hours of the day! They spend the whole day reliving their most fondest memories, going through albums, walking in the garden. 

Every Friday night Nanna writes a letter - for the six of us, and to Sid. The letters reach us on Monday morning. One of the reasons we look forward for Mondays. The letter is a fine mix of what Mumma and him have been doing throughout the week, what they are planning on doing, and of course giving us a few random advises. Sometimes the letters come accompanied with Mumma's handmade cookies.

Life's good.

THE END

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And for a few announcements....

Happy Mother's Day!

Here's wishing all moms out there a very happy mother's day! The amount of love and sacrifice you have done for us is immeasurable - for which we are eternally grateful.

And to my very own mom,

Thank you!

Also stay tuned for one more chapter regarding my next work!