Blessed in more ways than one!
When parents are the shadow of support; life is a true blessing. We may not realize this until we grow up, or until the moment when realization strikes your heart. It is then that we see our parents humbly taking in our pain, and lovingly giving us all their love, happiness and comfort.
So there is this one incident that proved to be my eye opener, rather I would say it was that one exact moment I was realized how blessed I was. Here’s how it unfolded.
It was the 11th of July 2022, and we had planned for an fantastic game of cricket in the evening. Well, as you know, it has been raining cats and dogs in Pune since the beginning of July, so that day too, the rain Gods decided to venture in full glory. But yeah, for the brave heroes of TSW, we weren’t going to allow anything to come between us and our love for sports. Not even the ruthless showers of icy cold rain! We were just back from a trek to ‘Torana’ and ‘Rajgad’ that morning – fiercely challenging the rain, travelling from and to Pune on bikes. So basically we had quite the adventure, yet we weren’t ready to let go of our one cricket match.
My mind was bustling with adrenaline, but my body was wise enough, and was signally me to stop, take a break and some rest. Still we planned the game of cricket. The game ended at 7 pm, and I somehow managed to push myself to travel back home. The exhaustion was killing me, I was literally struggling to change into a fresh pair of clothes. I put on a change of clothes, and headed straight to the closest doctor. Before any analysis, I told the doctor, “ I have a high fever, just give me an injection please!”
The doctor administered the injection and gave some medicines. I grabbed them and rushed back home, straight into my bed. I buried myself under several layers of warm blankets and sleep conquered me in no time.
A few moments later, my wife ‘Priya’ called me. She said she was not feeling well, and my mom had fallen ill too. So I came home and both of them headed back to the doctor. I slept and woke up after an hour; I checked my temp and it was 101.4. Mom and Priya too had more than 100 degrees fever. We were anxiously looking for the reason why all three of us may have fallen sick together. However, I simply gulped down another dose of my medicines and slept again.
All 3 of us, my mom, wife and myself, we had fallen sick. So the responsibility of my two children – Shiv and Pari, was still glaring at us and needed to be sorted. My fever was still very high that night. My mind was in a loop of vague thoughts, while being surrounded by the chirpy talk of my children and the hustle of chores by my wife and mom. It was almost 11 in the night when I woke up again, feeling a tad bit better. I saw my mom still in the living room, and I asked her why was she still awake. She humbly replied, that Shiv and Pari, were being notorious and hadn’t slept yet. My ears registered her talk, but my eyes didn’t hold up. I headed straight back to my room and went back to sleep.
Around 6 am on the 12th of July, I felt cold and shivery again. The fever had started rising, but when I checked my temp it was 99.9. Sure it had dropped, but my body was still lulled by medicines in a deep comatose. I was awake but was still lying in bed.
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I heard mom coughing in the other room, I checked and there she was, working in full swing to get my daughter ready for school. The picture of her working with energy even though she was sick, feeling low and weak, shook me. I could barely walk, and she was working like nothing ever happened. I was in deep thought, wondering and admiring her mental power.
I checked my temp again and it was 102.5. Without further ado I called up my family doctor, Dr. Shailesh. He suggested a few tests and prescribed medicines. The rollercoaster ride of my fever subsiding after medicines and then rising again after the effect wore off was constant. I had to eat a hearty meal because of strong medicines. My wife and mom lovingly made sure I ate well, and on time. But as for me, I was sleeping for 3 nights and 2 days; checking urgent messages in between, replying and going back to sleep was I did during this time.
In these 60 hours my mind was in constant state of thought, and awe. They have been a revealer of how much a mother could love her child. And the answer is immeasurable! My mother was just as unwell as me, yet she stood by me, and my family like nothing ever happened! Where, how and when did her will power reach such great heights? How does she get the energy to stand when all I could do was lay down and watch the world go around? Who would’ve taken care of my kids when my wife and me, both couldn’t be there for them?
When I think of it, I cant help my tears. My mom and dad, have not only supported me in my career, but also stood by me, in sickness, even when they themselves were not feeling well, and at such a senior age.
I have thanked the Almighty a million times, and it still cannot compare to the tiniest speck of the ocean of gratitude I feel for having humble, strong and loving parents. I am blessed to have been born and raised by them.
Thank you mom and dad. I am lucky to have you.
“Tumhich Majhe Vitthal Rukmini”
(Your both are my faith, my worship and my God)