Raksha Bandan – As the word says
it all – A relationship that protects. It is, to me this time of the year when
the heart flinches, aches and the mind hurts but at the end, the heart and mind
come to a conclusion that “Kailash is up above the world so high and Like a
diamond in the sky (in my eye too).” The struggle that the heart and mind faces
to console each other is truly beyond any words. I am in a way lucky to have
many brothers in my life who always give me a piece of mind, when I always needed
it so badly. Three years after his demise, every memory remains so fresh, so
painful and some memories very joyful. When I pulled down and confined myself
from not celebrating this festival any more, there came souls few beautiful
souls with their arms open to hug me as their sister, to protect me as their
little sister and to make me laugh again. They make sure that, I celebrate the
sisterhood and brotherhood relationship with them in Rakis and in spirit. Thank
you Gowthaman, Venkat Anna, Velhu Anna, Prem, Raj , Sudhir and Sathya . These people have never let me down at any cost. They stay with me through thick and thin. This year,
Ashwin, Vignesh and Karthik Kumar, made me feel good through their unconditional
love, and thanks for this!
The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
Said, the greatest writer. True. Mercy hath blesseth me that takes it. There are yet another two beautiful souls,
who came into my life, as such a blissful friends, sisters, and what not. These
people kindled the burning spirit of patriotism with in. The included me in
their Desh family. They made me realize that I can thank and also pray for the well-being
of the Men in Green, who are battling in a fluid situations across the borders
of our country. My dreams for sending Rakis to border was always there behind
my head and I would send the Rakis to the soldiers’ home. May be one or two,
whom so ever I knew. These two wonderful ladies, Adrija Sen and Anasuya Mitra –
founders of Desh, made possible the vision I was dreaming. Having sent few
thousand rakis to the border, I had the joy of meeting Capt. Naveen Nagappa – A
Kargil Veteran, and celebrate this joyous festive with him. After three years,
I started celebrating this festival, back in India. And that joy knows no
bounds. The ecstasy of receiving blessings, receiving love, receiving
Shanmathis, receiving hugs, receiving time to spend with loved ones, receiving
a letter of thanks, and many more, that ecstasy cannot be described in words.
These brave Indian Faujis always keep us at the receiving end and they
gracefully, big - heartedly stay at the giving end. But, again, this is purest
bliss. A Raksha Bandan with those who protect us, always and in all ways.
Endharo Mahanubhavulu…
PS:: Thank you Indian Army for your sweets, Thank You 56APO for your letter, Thank you Mrs Sowmya Naveen ma'am for your beautiful shanmathi, Thank You Velhu Anna for the love, Thank you Venkat Anna for your presence, Thank you Prem and Raj for the promotion as Aththai, Thank You Raji Di and Anu Di for the confidence and yes, Thank you Kailash for being the Best Brother ever that I can never compromise on anything less !
