Life takes different meanings with every situation we face.  Very few of us really have a deep insight of what life really means and how imperative it is to live it too the fullest. It is widely said it is a one time opportunity love it and live it ! My dad told me once ,life is not a bed of roses and from that time I have learnt one thing that is life always gives you a test and then makes you learn a lesson and its always on you whether you learn it the harder way or come up with an easy solution.

I can define life in one statement , Life is what you make it, what you sow is what you reap. It gives you opportunities, happiness, failure, success, love , respect, freedom. Its not your fault if you are born underprivileged but undeniably you are the one solely responsible if you die poor.

A line with a profound meaning that reminds me of my grandfather who led life with this motive. A boy born to a not so wealthy Brahmin in a small village of a few 1000 people . Who would know what difference he had from the rest. He was ambitious and did not want a life that was served to him , he wanted it to be dignified and worthy . A hard wearing will and a determined soul is what were his weapons in the arduous  journey ahead. He wasn’t afraid of working hard that is what made him distinct. 

I recall those days when I used to feel tired and complained that I didn’t want to go to school and stay back home to relax, when my father told me about my grandfather;  waking up in the morning even before the sun was ready to rise , taking care of himself at an early age of 5, with a breakfast of night’s chapatti with a little sugar  which was a luxury, he ran to school which was far away . Achieving things the harder way quantifies it all.  For me till now; I have been in a cocoon which keeps me safely inside shading me from all fears and struggle to make things my cup of tea , but not everybody gets the same . They learn to grow up themselves and build a shield for themselves and this is what makes one respect life and serve as a true inspiration for others to follow their footsteps in the sands of time.

Life is a process in which you grow each moment and the time that is gone never reverts back only the moments can be cherished. The four phases of life come and teach you all forms of responsibilities and lessons and make you wise as you pass them and at each stage there is always something that you learn( Old people always say I haven’t greyed all my hair just by standing under the sun) it’s a sign of the achieved experience and the imprint of the journey. I have never asked my mom why haven’t I got to see her parents because I know it would made her cry , I miss them, if they would have been here they would have pampered me all the more.

I write these philosophical lines in memory of my maternal grandparents and my grandfather. My grandfather, who has been with me in the most crucial time of my life when I needed utmost support; he was the one to stand by me, with the courage to send me so far to live my dreams. He has always been a coconut with a quality to control all that he can and always given a positive direction to all those he has loved. He is a support system for me and my father and I know he will always be there for us no matter in what form. I keep them alive with every thought and memory I bear along with the love and respect that completes it. His love be it in the form of having breakfast with me , or giving me money when I used to return back to my college or sit and talk to me or call me with names such as madras babu , pyaari babu and chuniya are the jewels of my life. He is within all of us distributing his strength and will power for us to cross all barriers that life bestows on us with the ultimate courage to accept all that comes with a smile. He contributes to giving my life a shape and a meaning making me what I am. I know he will be encouraging in every decision I take and that will keep me going. Children always  talk about their grandmom bed stories but I have a different set of grandfather stories specially when we had a power cut at our place which I  have tried to compile in words. The time I have spent with him makes me feel privileged.

 This is for my dad, for the first time you have asked me to manage something alone ( how to be brave how to be strong watching you stand there all my worries and doubts go one step low…..) for me everything what you desire is what I dream of you are my priority , my happiness and I can cross any bound to make you feel proud . Its was a tough time but you have kept everything intact and this couldn’t be without my mom and brother. All three of you , you are precious to me and being so far its just the three of you who keep me going .

 I love u……

This is all that I could contribute.

Anvika Kumar